EVERETT, Wash. — A proposal in Snohomish County would mandate environmental testing for toxic drugs at county-owned housing for homeless people.
It came after dozens of people were forced back out on the street when a low-barrier facility in Everett shut down after being contaminated with meth and fentanyl last year. Low-barrier housing means people do not have to be sober to live there.
More than 60 people living and working at Everett's Clare's Place supportive housing complex were forced to evacuate because of meth and fentanyl contamination. Four months later, it remains closed.
It's being used as a cautionary tale for Snohomish County.
"I view this as a very common sense proposal," said Snohomish County Councilmember Nate Nehring.
He is proposing an ordinance that would require regular testing for toxic drugs in any county-owned homeless housing. Tests would be conducted at least once per year, perhaps up to once per month.
Nehring said his ordinance is about keeping people safe.
"When we have people who are abusing drugs and causing contamination it causes significant health and safety issues to those who are working to get clean as well as the staff who are trying to work with these folks," he said.
Erik Nelson recalled what happened when Snohomish County provided housing vouchers to the motel across the street from his Lynnwood car dealership. The county offered vouchers so homeless people could stay there, ostensibly while seeking treatment.
"It was kind of the wild, wild west," Nelson said. "Toward the end, they had some shootings out front on the sidewalk."
Snohomish County ended up buying that motel and another with plans to turn them into low-barrier housing for homeless people, but when county officials got inside the units they were so contaminated with meth and fentanyl those plans were put on pause indefinitely.
"I don't think the county knew what they were getting into when they bought those places," Nelson said.
There have been several cases across the area where homeless people being housed by either private charities or local governments have found their properties polluted with toxic drugs.
Under Nehring's proposal, tests would be conducted in common areas only.
It's unclear, however, what would happen if the drugs were traced back to a specific person or apartment. Some worry that if a person were to be thrown out, they could spiral deeper into addiction, even death.
"We want them to get clean and sober and become productive members of society," said Mike Kersey, president of the homeless advocacy group Courage to Change. "What's happening now just isn't working."
Citing similar concerns, council members defeated a proposal last year by Nehring to mandate drug testing for those staying in taxpayer-funded motels.
KING 5 News reached out to several council members who refused to comment on this latest proposal because they had not yet seen it.
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers issued a statement, Friday, in support of the plan.
“As we look for ways to increase our affordable housing stock and care for some of our most vulnerable residents, we need to make sure Snohomish County owned housing remains as safe and secure as possible,” said Somers. “My office has worked with Councilmember Nehring on his proposed ordinance, and we feel it is a useful tool to ensure we are protecting our residents and these public investments. Maintaining a healthy building helps us best serve our neighbors who are most in need.”
A public hearing is scheduled before a possible vote March 20.