CAMP SECOND CHANCE: Community Advisory Committee relaunches, gets newest stats

The Community Advisory Committee for West Seattle’s only sanctioned tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance (9701 Myers Way S.) has relaunched and is open to anyone interested, whether to be a committee member, or just to attend its meetings, currently held online. The latest happened Monday afternoon. The numbers are often the most interesting information that emerges, and this time, they were:

-69 tiny houses (more than most comparable “villages,” operator LIHI says, which tend to have about 40)
-4 units vacant
-81 people sheltered in them currently (1 had arrived just yesterday)
-33 people “abandoned” their units – typically after being there from a night to a week – most citing the location, that it’s not near services, and has deficient public transportation
-Housing found for 14 people so far this year, a “higher rate than last year” per CSC staff

Activities at CSC right now include preparing for Fire Marshal inspections – the units’ fire extinguishers have to be replaced each year. The nonprofit Weed Warriors has been leading removal of invasives, particularly blackberry vines, around the camp.

Major donation needs right now: Food. They get dinners from Operation Sack Lunch on weeknights, but that’s it; they’re working on other partnerships, but donated food would really help. Shoes and clothes too – here’s a list.

Also, CSC is in management transition – the site’s current manager is moving to another role with LIHI, and while seeking their replacement, they’re about to bring on a new case manager too.

If you’re interested in being on the CAC email list, either for notification of meetings or for possible CAC participatiohn, you can contact Marta at marta.kidane@lihi.org.

SIDE NOTE: It’s been almost exactly nine years since Camp Second Chance moved from a Tukwila church to Myers Way in July 2016, originally on an unsanctioned encampment, then eventually on city land for which it eventually was given permission.
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