Tell Kitsap County Commissioners to Support Construction of Cabins for Homeless Families

OverviewLetter
Targeting: Steve Bauer (Kitsap County Commissioner), Charlotte Garrido (Kitsap County Commissioner), and Josh Brown (Kitsap County Commissioner)
Started by: Jennifer Cooper
Rather than do nothing about the rising homeless population in Kitsap County, Bremerton Rescue Mission is moving ahead with plans to construct a series of temporary heated plywood cabins on 2.5 acres of land in Bremerton, Wash.

Initially the group intends to construct six 12-foot by 12-foot cabins. Eventually there could be as many as 35 cabins that would house 45 adults and 70 children. The cabins would house the growing population of homeless families in Kitsap County.

Though the cabins are far from ideal, they offer more safety and protection from the elements than sleeping in a tent, on the street or in a car. They will also provide families with an address and a stable home from which to get back on their feet and into permanent housing. Some 2,000 homeless people call Kitsap County home, 500 of whom are children.

Several residents have complained that the site is not suitable for the cabins and that the homeless camp will bring crime and declining home values. Fortunately under recently passed state legislation, local governments in Washington cannot block tent cities and homeless camps sanctioned by churches. But that hasn’t stopped neighbors from crying NIMBY.

Bremerton Rescue Mission is doing the best it can to rapidly and safely house the area’s homeless families. Urge Kitsap County Commissioners to support construction of the cabins as quickly and safely as possible so that no families are left out in the cold.