More closures of Ensign Road to come as city looks to clear entire RV encampment
The days are numbered for those living in RVs and other vehicles along Ensign Road in Olympia. Rich Hoey, who’s now leading the city’s housing and homeless response efforts, said the temporary parking permit program started four months ago will end next month.
That’s because more units are becoming available at the city’s upgraded homeless mitigation site, Quince Street Village. Catholic Community Services has been working alongside city employees to inform folks on Ensign Road of the opportunity to move into the village and have heat, electricity and a bed that isn’t on four wheels.
Gabriel Ash, Catholic Community Services’ program director, said he and site supervisor Candis Hannah have been meeting with Ensign Road residents this week to answer questions about Quince Street Village. They’ve been providing totes to those making the move so they have a place to store their belongings in their new tiny home.
Hoey said 10 people have been moved from Ensign Road into tiny homes this week, bringing the total number to 21 people living at Quince Street Village. Technically, the site is at capacity, but more tiny homes are being built weekly, which means more are made available weekly.
The goal is to house 100 people, Ash said, and to begin an intake process after that to continue servicing those most vulnerable in Olympia.
Ash said he’s heard all week that the new group from Ensign Road is settling into Quince Street Village smoothly. He said many people have been willing to make the move after having their questions answered by staff working one-on-one with individuals.
Hoey said the city is in the early stages of ending its temporary parking permit program on Ensign Road, meaning no one will be granted new permits to park on the street anymore. Having dozens of vehicles, many of them quite large, parked on the road for extended periods of time has made it difficult for emergency vehicles to access Providence St. Peter Hospital.
“It’s important we take that step,” Hoey said. “It’s the city’s responsibility to maintain the road and support public access and safety.”
Hoey said the city has been working since they started the permitting process in May to let people know their stay on Ensign Road was temporary. And instead of pushing everyone out all at once, he said the city is taking a phased approach as more tiny homes are constructed at Quince Street Village. That way housing can be offered to those having to leave the area.
This week the city towed away six vehicles that were swapped for a stay at Quince Street. Two more were driven off site. Hoey said the city originally issued 33 parking permits, and about 70 people originally lived in the area. He’s unsure how many people are left, since some may have moved on their own.
Catholic Community Services expects to have all 100 Quince Street Village units available by the middle of October, and Hoey said that’s when they’re signaling the end of the parking permit program and long-term stays on Ensign Road. Closures will happen on a weekly basis until then as the city gets more people to move, so crews can clean parking spots and place blocks and no parking signs safely.
“It’s important to us that we go about this in a safe, organized, respectful and compassionate manner,” Hoey said. “That’s been the operation so far.”
This story was originally published September 23, 2022 at 5:15 AM.
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