Seattle preschool condemns city's 'woeful inaction' to deal with nearby encampments

SEATTLE — Leaders of a Seattle preschool sent a scathing letter to city hall this week, condemning the lack of action to address issues from nearby homeless encampments.

Gloria Hodge, the center director of the Hoa Mai Vietnamese Bilingual Preschool near 2900 Rainier Avenue South, wrote in the letter that the school has dealt with "persistent harassment" from people in the encampments.

We are deeply concerned with the escalating violent crime surrounding the unauthorized and authorized encampments in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle," Hodge wrote, "and the city's woeful inaction which continues to impact the health and safety of our community, specifically the children, families, and teachers.

The letter cites violent crimes near the school, including a stabbing at 27th Ave South and South Winthrop Street on Feb. 1. There were two homicides near encampments in the area in last fall, includinga man who was beaten to death on a sidewalk and a fatal shooting at an encampment that was later closed and removed.

RELATED: City of Seattle begins clearing problematic Beacon Hill encampment amid safety concerns

"Hoa Mai is not immune to the surge in violence throughout Mount Baker. Egregious threats of harm include but are not limited to, four burglaries, a shooting resulting in death in June of 2021 within steps from napping children at our program, consistent piles of refuse dumped on plaza grounds, a large metal a-frame hurled over Hoa Mai’s fence, adjacent to children eating lunch, and persistent harassment toward families by unhoused persons during drop-off and pick-up times," Hodge wrote. "Despite continuous outreach, advocacy, and requests for support, we remain ignored."

The school is next to the Mount Baker Transit Center and the Tent City 3 sanctioned encampment on city property. In addition to the sanctioned camp, there are several illegal encampments on the streets nearby and in the woods above the transit center.

“This isn’t all one camp, it’s split up with different mayors or elders of the camps. Neighbors just started to get tired with it and asked if there was anything we could do to help," said Timothy Emerson with homeless outreach group We Heart Seattle.

Emerson and his crew have worked with folks in one of the camps over the last week to place them in detox, housing services, or reconnect with their families.

“We were able to connect everybody to resources in one way or another," he said.

Emerson acknowledged the drug use going on in the encampments around the Mount Baker Transit Center.

"The use of fentanyl and methamphetamine is a mind altering thing and I wouldn’t want it near my child’s school," Emerson said.

For now, Hodge, the preschool director, said they have hired security and they are preparing for their next steps if the safety concerns aren't addressed.

“It’s very challenging to operate the program for the children when it’s constant crime in the area and we’re not being heard," Hodge said. “It’s the encampments, it’s the homelessness, it’s the addiction.”

The Seattle Mayor's Office provided the following response about what is being done address safety concerns in the area:

The City of Seattle is working to urgently address the issues reported by community related to unauthorized encampments in the Mt. Baker neighborhood that are impacting residents, nearby schools, and neighborhood businesses.

The City’s Unified Care Team (UCT) is currently monitoring two unauthorized encampments in the Mt. Baker neighborhood – one located at S Winthrop St. and Cheasty Blvd. and one along 27th Ave S from S Winthrop St to S Hanford St. Both sites have been scheduled for removal by the Unified Care Team by mid-March, pending the necessary shelter availability.

Prior to these scheduled removals, SPD will be assessing the sites to determine what police actions may be necessary to improve public safety in the area. SPD will also provide directed outreach and patrol in the area as resources allow. Residents are encouraged to report dangerous or criminal behavior by calling 9-1-1 for emergency situations or SPD’s non-emergency number (206) 625-5011 for other criminal activity or incidents.

Following removal of these sites, the UCT will provide frequent monitoring of the area to quickly address any repopulation.

One sanctioned encampment, referred to as Tent City 3 and operated by SHARE/WHEEL, is currently located at the King County Wastewater Treatment facility in the Mt. Baker neighborhood. This sanctioned encampment regularly and voluntarily moves locations; it is scheduled to remain at its current location until June 30. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority is responsible for coordination with SHARE/WHEEL for Tent City 3 operations and can speak to safety and security measures related to this site.