Olympia's RV parking and homelessness policies came under scrutiny on Tuesday after the city council heard testimony from a mother whose son was murdered by occupants of a long-term parked RV.
Shauna Montoya, holding a photo of her late son, Nathaniel Alexander Montoya, recounted how he was killed on April 30, 2023, by individuals living in an RV that had been parked in her neighborhood for over a year.
"Previous to Alex's murder, somebody had knocked on their motorhome. Then a week later, someone knocked on their motorhome at 2 a.m. They decided to drive around and find anybody they could. They brutally murdered Alex. They beat him to death and stabbed him 10 times in front of my home. I heard his struggle. I ran outside. My son died in my arms," said Montoya, who lives on East End Street. near 20th Avenue and Elliott Street.
Relaying the information from parking services, Montoya explained that the perpetrators were chronic alcoholics and drug addicts who had lived in the RV since 2017 and had been contacted multiple times by homeless services.
She expressed concern about the community's lack of warnings about potentially dangerous individuals and called for stricter enforcement of RV parking rules and better communication about risks to neighborhood safety.
Veronica DeSarmin, who owns a 32-unit apartment complex on 20th Avenue and East End Street, shared the same sentiment about motorhomes parked in their neighborhood.
She expressed concerns about an RV parked beside her property, particularly on the south end, where drug-related activities are occurring.
Veronica worried about her tenants' safety, as they cannot use their decks or open windows due to the nearby motorhomes. She is having difficulty renting out four units because potential tenants are concerned about the situation.
Despite these ongoing issues, a significant increase in property taxes—from $34,000 to $67,000 in one year—is adding to her frustration.
DeSarmin emphasized the lack of accountability and enforcement regarding the motorhome situation and requested that the city address these problems and give property owners more rights.
Anita Donaldson expressed frustration about the motorhome parking situation, saying that drug deals, theft, and car break-ins are occurring in the area. She tried reporting them to parking authorities, but despite sending emails and pictures, she received no response.
Darian Lightfoot, Housing and Homeless Response director, explained the current policy requiring RVs to move every 24 hours and be at least 1,000 feet from the previous location, with a 500-foot separation between RVs to prevent congregation.
The Housing director outlined the city's collaborative approach to addressing RV residents, starting with the Homeless Response team engaging individuals and conducting assessments to get them on coordinated entry for housing.
If housing cannot be found or if individuals are unwilling to engage with services, the matter is escalated to parking services. If that proves ineffective, the Olympia Police Department is then involved in the next level of engagement.
Lightfoot emphasized that this tiered approach allows the city to prioritize housing solutions while having enforcement mechanisms in place when necessary.
Lightfoot highlighted the city's progress in reducing the number of people living in RVs from about 150 to around 10-15.
Lightfoot added that when they can move people from RVs into tiny home villages or permanent supportive housing, these facilities have on-site clinicians and behavioral specialists equipped to handle residents' needs.
She emphasized that this approach allows them to leverage their relationships with individuals to help them understand that living in neighborhoods where people feel unsafe and lack proper support systems is not ideal.
Lightfoot stressed that their goal is to relocate people to environments where they can receive appropriate care and support rather than leaving them in situations that may cause concern for individuals and the surrounding community.
Mayor Dontae Payne acknowledged the need to balance compassion and accountability in addressing homelessness and RV parking issues. He suggested that the city could do more by revisiting its current ordinance and looking at what neighboring cities, particularly Lacey, are doing.
Lacey City has implemented a four-hour parking ordinance, which has been upheld by the state Supreme Court.
"I am very interested in exploring more than this and understanding this and why we have set the parameters that we have. We are trying to balance accountability and compassion," Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne said. "I would appreciate if we could do more to enforce our ordinance as it stands."
Payne noted the stark difference in approaches between Olympia and its neighbors despite their proximity. He wondered if the Regional Housing Council had ever discussed these disparities. The mayor believed these issues require a more regional approach; especially as local governments change their responses to homelessness.
In addition, Payne addressed the recent US Supreme Court decision allowing the local governments to criminalize homelessness. "The US Supreme Court does not reflect the values of the City of Olympia. We are not going to do that. We are not headed in that direction. We will continue to take an approach that takes the compassionate route and gives consideration to those who have the least among us in our community."
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anothername
I am all for compassion and helping those in need who want to be helped. But the majority of the folks in RVs are not locals, do not want to be helped, and are doing criminal activities. I am happy to have my tax dollars help those in hard times who want to become productive members of the society. Otherwise if they are behaving like criminals they need to be treated like criminals.
Friday, July 12 Report this
Larry Dzieza
Mayor Payne is asking the right questions about the “stark difference in approaches between Olympia and its neighbors despite their proximity. He wondered if the Regional Housing Council had ever discussed these disparities“.
Let’s get those answers about a truly regional approach that doesn’t leave Olympia carrying a disproportionate share of the costs and impacts.
Friday, July 12 Report this
JnNwmn
The neighbors living near Burri Park on East End Street near the Deer Run apartments spoke at the
City Council meeting. Dontaye Payne asked the homeless coordinator, Darien Lightfoot, how residents can contact the city. Lightfoot said residents had to submit a message online and complain to code enforcement. Dontaye asked what were the rules about Rv parking with someone living in the RV. Lightfoot said move every 24 hours and no RVs within sight of another RV, IE 500 feet. Dontayne said it would be good if the City enforced the rules. Tonight, July 11, at Burri Park, the same 2 RVs are parked close to each other on Eastend Street. A 4th 3rd RV was parked North of there last night, and then drove around the block to park south of there. Is the city Response Team suggesting to RV residents where to park now ? Why is the response team not contacting the live aboard RVs at Burri Park and tell them the rules? The RVs have been there for over a month and do not meet City guidelines to park and live in their RVs. The nearby residents do not receive call backs and have not been told that they have to submit an online code complaint. Even the Mayor did know this. Compliments to city homeless response members for their good work. But the neighbors should kno w the rules, and the rules should be posted at City parks.
Friday, July 12 Report this
TheVirtualOne
I am very sorry to hear about Shauna Montoya’s son. Unfortunately this is the same old story. The local government does not care enough about its law abiding citizens who pay taxes to do anything about those who are breaking the laws. We are all tired of hearing lip service from the local politicians about being “compassionate” towards those who are drug addicts and thieves. This is resolvable if we enforce the current laws and give our police department the backing they need to get these people off the streets and in jail, where they belong.
Friday, July 12 Report this
JW
The city of Olympia has proven time and time again that their priority is not the taxpaying, law-abiding citizen, but the drug addicted thieves, murders, and *** offenders roaming our city.
Friday, July 12 Report this
BillString
Indeed. Just another instance of the Olympia govt doing nothing about the cities problems. They would rather waste money on bike lanes and pointless statues than on anything useful. Here's an idea- make designated RV spots in front of the mayor and councilors houses and favorite places, where they are forced to deal with the mess that they have allowed to fester.
Friday, July 12 Report this
Mugwump
Real compassion, compassion that would actually help unhoused people who suffer from addiction and/or mental illness, is treatment, if necessary compulsory treatment. It's absolutely true that not every unhoused person is an addict or mentally ill, those people only need affordable housing. But, from observation, it would seem that at least a significant minority, if not a majority, of unhoused people suffer from diseases that cause them to act in anti-social ways. Can we as a people ever get to the core of the "homeless problem"?
Friday, July 12 Report this
Boatyarddog
BillString.. your comment is the only one here suggesting that someone should allow RVs to park in front of elected officials homes?The idea was to help the situation by suggesting possible non-aggressive actions to better the situation, not heap more angst upon undeserving persons,yes our elected body are humans too. I Applaud those comments that have merit here.
Friday, July 12 Report this
DalePutnam
Reference Boatyarddog's comment. If suggesting RV's consider parking in front of elected official's homes is "aggressive", when it appears such parking is fully legal under Olympia's current rules, is it aggression by the City (against its property owners who pay taxes) to encourage/allow such parking in front of other people' homes?
Friday, July 12 Report this
summer
The Olympia 5 years ago is not the Olympia today. There are many examples to give of why Olympia is an exceptional place to live. The first is people, their sense of community, their compassion, progressive inclusive nature, the propensity for the need of balance and equality. On the other hand, there are those who will take advantage of such nature.
In the last several years crime has taken its toll on the people of Olympia. Not safe in their neighborhoods any longer. RV’s, broken down vehicles, and those that prowl within them. The garbage and raw sewage left behind signals what a reasonable person might regard as disrespectful, and a blatant disregard for the community.
Now not all struggling to make ends meet fit into this category. There are complex issues, we all are aware of the dangers of pigeonholing all people that find themselves navigating the financial movement that has taken hold in this country. Common sense dictates that rules (laws) must be clearly communicated, and consequences must be consistent.
Where are the consequences when those who continue to access services do not follow the rules? Do they not have any personal responsibility?
An example is our emergency rooms filled to the brim with some who are trying to buck the system. For many reasons, and not minimizing mental health issues! Yet, I recently spent a prolonged period of time in a local hospital emergency room with my elderly mother. This allowed me firsthand to witness several people who suffered from alcoholism and drug issues. I listened to three patients who were outside the room on beds talking. They were all from Portland, and had case managers there. The nurses were trying to contact their case managers because they wanted to go back to Portland and needed bus tickets, and services. They laughed as soon as the nurses, who were truly kind to them walked away. They would be in Portland by morning and could return to Olympia to continue their vacation.
I was saddened by the manipulation and wondered what the cost to taxpayers of Washington and Oregon could be. More importantly, ask the people of Olympia what they think of their ever-increasing tax base, about the crimes in their neighborhoods, about their sense of security walking their dogs. The garbage piling up on the sides of the freeways, the harassment walking into stores, doctors’ appointments, etc.
Ask Ms. Montoya what the cost to her family has been since the murder of her son. Ask the people of Olympia how they think now about compassion and problem solving!
Where is compassion for those who have abided by the rules of life, and choose not to burden but to contribute.
Friday, July 12 Report this
Duffish
I am encouraged that the Olympia Mayor is trying to find a regional solution to the problem of RV's in neighborhoods. If the statistics are correct, there has been a large reduction in the RV's impacting neighborhoods, which is good. What is not good is the lack of enforcement of ordinances related to the location and movement of existing RV's in the city. People living in RV's outside of established RV parks come from all situations in life and it is just another part of the homeless problem. They need to have screening and determine what is best for them. If they do not want help, because they like the vagabond life, they need to move on. Under no circumstances is it right to have these derelict mobile homes desecrate a person's property and cause financial hardship. New ordinances must be developed with teeth to alleviate problems.
Saturday, July 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
Thank you D.Putnam for your comment.
As it is now unlawful to park RVs close together.
Personally, those that violate local laws should be evaluated case by case. Possiabley removed Case By Case. It is not fair to The Responsiable Homeless population to suffer because of others problems. Homelessness is at Crisis Levels, DO NOT Lump all homeless into An Category of criminal behavior.
Saturday, July 13 Report this