Homeless advocate: '471 ain't going to do it'
SEATTLE -- Police and social workers will be roaming the streets on Tuesday night to help the homeless find a warm place to stay, according to the city. And some of the homeless are smirking.
Emergency shelters at City Hall, the Seattle Center and the Frye Hotel will remain open to help the homeless, according to the Mayor's Office. So far 471 people have been helped, but the homeless say that's just not good enough.
The homeless have set up tents outside City Hall to protest the city sweeps through homeless camps. They want to deliver a message: there are thousands who need help.
"One night count last year had about 2,300 folks sleeping outside on the street sleeping on the street, and those are just the ones we were able to count. And we didn't even cover the whole city of Seattle," said Natalie Novak of Real Change. "No, 471 ain't going to do it."
Across the Sound in Kitsap County, the cold is getting colder. Low teens are expected Tuesday night, and at least 130 families are homeless.
"We know of the 130 seeking shelter, 33 of those families are in cars or on the street, so they have no shelter at all," said Darlene Cook of Kitsap Community Resources.
Cook warned Emergency Services, and Emergency Services sounded the alarm.
What resulted were disaster declarations from Bremerton and from Kitsap County. They're believed to be the first disaster declarations to protect the homeless.
As the first step, the Kitsap County Fairgrounds have been turned into an emergency shelter with cots for women and kids. More will be moved in if more show up. The lights and heaters are on. And nearby, women from the Mission Creek Honor Camp spread hay in kennels set up for the pets of the homeless.
But the shelter is more than 6 miles from downtown Bremerton. So there are free bus passes to get the people there. And the people and stores in Bremerton are donating blankets and throws.
"It's the cold wind that comes through that just chills people to the bones," said Cook.
The fairgrounds will only be open from 6 p.m. until dawn.
At City Hall the protest will continue until morning. Real Change is planning a mass distribution of parkas, blankets and cold weather gear on Wednesday morning.
Emergency shelters at City Hall, the Seattle Center and the Frye Hotel will remain open to help the homeless, according to the Mayor's Office. So far 471 people have been helped, but the homeless say that's just not good enough.
The homeless have set up tents outside City Hall to protest the city sweeps through homeless camps. They want to deliver a message: there are thousands who need help.
"One night count last year had about 2,300 folks sleeping outside on the street sleeping on the street, and those are just the ones we were able to count. And we didn't even cover the whole city of Seattle," said Natalie Novak of Real Change. "No, 471 ain't going to do it."
Across the Sound in Kitsap County, the cold is getting colder. Low teens are expected Tuesday night, and at least 130 families are homeless.
"We know of the 130 seeking shelter, 33 of those families are in cars or on the street, so they have no shelter at all," said Darlene Cook of Kitsap Community Resources.
Cook warned Emergency Services, and Emergency Services sounded the alarm.
What resulted were disaster declarations from Bremerton and from Kitsap County. They're believed to be the first disaster declarations to protect the homeless.
As the first step, the Kitsap County Fairgrounds have been turned into an emergency shelter with cots for women and kids. More will be moved in if more show up. The lights and heaters are on. And nearby, women from the Mission Creek Honor Camp spread hay in kennels set up for the pets of the homeless.
But the shelter is more than 6 miles from downtown Bremerton. So there are free bus passes to get the people there. And the people and stores in Bremerton are donating blankets and throws.
"It's the cold wind that comes through that just chills people to the bones," said Cook.
The fairgrounds will only be open from 6 p.m. until dawn.
At City Hall the protest will continue until morning. Real Change is planning a mass distribution of parkas, blankets and cold weather gear on Wednesday morning.