UPDATED: March 15, 2023, first published March 10, 2023.
A survey conducted by the Lacey Youth Council shows that around 60% of surveyed students at North Thurston High School feel unsafe with the homeless population settled at a nearby Safeway store, which the students frequently pass.
Lacey Youth Councilmembers Sarah Towne and Ayiana Young, who are both students at the school, shared the results of the survey with the Lacey City Council at the latter's worksession on Thursday, March 9. The youth council met with the council to discuss the youth council's working plan for 2023, which the city council approved at the meeting.
Towne said that around 200 out of 1,400 students in their school participated in the survey and noted that among the participants, 80% pass by this Safeway at least once a day.
The survey also asked students to describe their interactions with the homeless population, which were not positive.
“We got responses talking about people trying to steal food or money or following them back to school,” Young said.
Young added that Police Chief Robert Almada had talked to them about the issue and informed them how the city is responding to homelessness.
“He made it known that we [the city] had to focus on being empathetic and building relationships with the homeless population before doing anything else,” Young said.
Reached after the meeting, Chief Almada clarified that it's the city's job, particularly that of the police and trained professionals, to work with the homeless population, and that this kind of work is not for high school students.
“I know that it may take some time to solve the [homeless] issue, but I do think it's really important for us to be safe as students,” Young continued.
City council members said they were aware of the issue and that there are ongoing affordable housing projects to address the issue, such as the conversion of the former Days Inn hotel, which is around four miles away from the high school and would have 162 permanent supportive housing units.
“This council gets emails on a regular basis about [the issue] and we know how dangerous it's become,” said Mayor Andy Ryder. “It's an issue that we're very aware of and we do have some resources on the way.”
The high school and the Safeway store stand on the boundary between Lacey and Olympia, with the school on Lacey’s side and the Safeway on Olympia’s. The Lacey City Council encouraged the youth council to also raise the issue with the Olympia City Council.
CORRECTIONS: March 15, 2023 -- This story was updated to clarify and correct some quotes and attributions.
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Honestyandrealityguy
Common sense. Until our "politicians" look for solutions, not just talk about problems, this nonsense will continue. I truly feel sorry for NW Christian Academy (next door) too. Can't believe the "leaders" would put our children in that position.
Friday, March 10, 2023 Report this
psterry
It is a matter of perception. Most people think the Hobby Lobby problem area is in Lacey, so Olympia doesn't feel any urgency to deal with it. Indeed, the Lacey encampment dwellers may be the ones displaced by Olympia's 'sweeps' of its own camps. If this is the case, the problem in Lacey was caused by Olympia.
Empathy is certainly in order for the homeless, but the kids should not be badgered or threatened.
Friday, March 10, 2023 Report this
UnretiredTeacher
If we have a Police chief advising students "to focus on being empathetic and [build] relationships with the homeless population", that's a whole other issue! We certainly don't need students interacting with a group connected to a high level of crime and other nefarious activities. They could work behind the scenes with professional organizations trained to assist this population in transitioning out of homelessness, volunteer at food banks, etc., but there is no way we want to encourage teenagers to personally interact and build relationships, which may well turn into themselves becoming victimized!
Saturday, March 11, 2023 Report this
pbaron1902
I second "unretired teacher"! It is potentially dangerous for youngsters to comuunicate with the homeless folks there. They have enough to deal with without trying to be social workers...
Saturday, March 11, 2023 Report this
Panagringo
Build relationships with the bums? Sure then it will be easy to buy drugs and stolen merchandise cheap.
Sunday, March 12, 2023 Report this
jhender
Just a reminder: high school students are still children. Advising children to "build relationships" with adult strangers who may or may not be mentally unwell or addicts or both is worse than a bad idea. I say again for the thousandth time, allowing addicts and the mentally unwell to live on the streets where they continue to suffer is not compassion.
Monday, March 13, 2023 Report this
username73737737
the chief of police seriously telling us to build relationships with random tweakers on the street? As a NTPS student myself, walking to school anywhere along marvin road is dangerous. I carry a knife in my pocket everytime I leave the house in case someone tries to mess with me. Of course with guns being so widespread, it probably won't help. the police in Lacey and Olympia really need to step up their game with crime prevention and police patrols. Almost all of the capitol city region including Lacey and Tumwater has become a slum. I blame woke policies and scared politicians.
Monday, March 13, 2023 Report this
AugieH
A quote from the article:
"Young added that Police Chief Robert Almada had talked to them about the issue and informed them how the city is responding to homelessness.
'He made it known that we [the city] had to focus on being empathetic and building relationships with the homeless population before doing anything else,' Young said.
Reached after the meeting, Chief Almada clarified that it's the city's job, particularly that of the police and trained professionals, to work with the homeless population, and that this kind of work is not for high school students."
The Chief did NOT recommend that the high school students build relationships with the homeless. He specifically said it's not work for them. Didn't others who commented on this article actually read it in its entirety?
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 Report this
Kruz81
It's not the city's job to endanger some because of others neglect to try and be contributing members of society. Offer them some help and if they refuse mive them out.
Thursday, March 16, 2023 Report this
Cobbnaustic
A tweaked out machete wielding homeless person yelling obscenities at a street sign is the last person I want to have a relationship with. LOL
Sunday, March 19, 2023 Report this