Measure that would ban encampments in Seattle parks, build housing qualifies for November ballot

The charter change would instruct Seattle to keep public spaces clear of camps once new homeless services are in place.

SEATTLE – A new constitutional amendment that would direct the city of Seattle to clean up homeless camps qualified for the November vote following a signature-gathering campaign.

“Compassion Seattle” is an electoral effort sponsored by a group of executives from Seattle’s business community and community. The measure would remove camps from public spaces by providing more permanent housing and funding for the treatment of mental illness and addictions.

The campaign garnered 64,155 signatures to achieve the proposed constitutional change when it voted in November. That is roughly double the required signatures.

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If the measure is passed, the city of Seattle would have to develop according to the amendment text “policies and procedures to be directed against those people who are in public space”.

The amendment recognizes that the city seeks to avoid the dispersal of people living in camps, except in safe shelters “unless staying in place raises or affects particular public health or safety issues the use of public spaces by others ”.

Groups behind the proposal include the Downtown Seattle Association, the United Way of King County, the Chief Seattle Club, and several nonprofits that address housing problems for the homeless.