Silverdale Way RV and trailer encampment cleared by Kitsap County officials

Nina Baker, Kitsap Sun
·2 min read
More than 30 people living in vehicles had been parked at a site just off Silverdale Way, where a former community center had stood. The county enforced a no trespassing order after the site had drawn numerous complaints this summer.
More than 30 people living in vehicles had been parked at a site just off Silverdale Way, where a former community center had stood. The county enforced a no trespassing order after the site had drawn numerous complaints this summer.

A parking lot along Silverdale Way where a number of RVs, trailers and cars were set up as semi-permanent residences without county approval was shut down Monday morning by Kitsap County's Homeless Action Response Team.

According to Kristen Jewell, housing and homelessness program coordinator for the county, the Homeless Action Response Team, or HEART, had implemented the plan to remove residents from the encampment about a month ago, and has been working with individuals at the encampment to locate new places to live. Monday was the residents' final deadline to move out.

The HEART team conducted over 30 outreach visits to the encampment, offering different opportunities for residents to relocation for after the encampment was shut down, Jewell said.

'All I want is a place to live': Kitsap County seeks solution as RVs fill Silverdale lot

Everyone who lived at the encampment had left the lot by morning, except for a few people who needed money for gas, which Jewell said the HEART team paid for, and one person who's trailer was inoperable and needed access to a tow service. Jewell said the HEART team provided the tow service for the individual, and the trailer is currently stored elsewhere with the owner's consent.

The property along Poplars Way was cleared of all RVs and trailers early Monday, after Kitsap County officials requested that all individuals living at the site move. The county's homeless outreach team helped with gas and towing services, and each individual has been connected with a case worker.
The property along Poplars Way was cleared of all RVs and trailers early Monday, after Kitsap County officials requested that all individuals living at the site move. The county's homeless outreach team helped with gas and towing services, and each individual has been connected with a case worker.

All individuals who resided at the lot are now in case management services with the County, Jewell said.

The encampment, which was located off Poplars Avenue at the former site of the county's community center and just east of the Haselwood YMCA, drew concerns and complaints from many residents.

David Emmons, President and CEO of the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, said that the Chamber has received many complaints from Silverdale residents about the encampment. He typically forwards those comments to Kitsap County Commissioner Ed Wolfe or other staff at the county commissioner's office, Emmons said.

"Part of the issue is the lack of affordable housing," Emmons said. "People just don't have anywhere to go."

Wolfe, who in May confirmed that the site had been the source of dozens of complaints, said that the closure of the encampment was good for the county. He also applauded the HEART team for conducting the closure in what he said was a humane way, and said that providing services and housing to the encampment residents is a top priority for the county.

"Services were provided, and we will continue to be provided if people will accept them," Wolfe said.

Wolfe said it is likely that county crews will place a fence around the prior encampment site, but that he can't ensure that a similar encampment won't be set up at another location.

Wolfe is in his final term as a commissioner and will be replaced by either Josh Hinman or Katie Walters in the November election for District 3.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Kitsap County trailer encampment on Silverdale Way shut down