Plan to close Jungle encampment will be a regional effort, Olympia announces
The city of Olympia announced on Friday that plans to close the encampment between Martin Way and Pacific Avenue known as the Jungle will be a regional effort with the city of Lacey, Thurston County and service providers.
According to a May 8 news release from the City of Olympia, representatives from the three jurisdictions, as well as Intercity Transit and folks from local homeless response and behavioral health systems, will meet regularly to figure out next steps.
This will include “near-term mitigation and longer-term transition planning,” according to the release.
According to previous reporting from The Olympian, Mayor Dontae Payne said he does not expect to close the encampment by the end of this year.
Workers will be conducting outreach and engagement at the site, according to the release, as well as coordinating with service providers to get people into shelter, housing and treatment plans. Staff have been at the site several times a week to provide food, water, clothing and other basic assistance, according to the release.
“This is a regional issue that requires a regional response,” City Manager Jay Burney said in the release. “I’m grateful for our partners coming together to support this work. Our shared goal is to reduce harm, improve safety and sanitation, and support people living at the site as they transition to safer shelter and housing options over time.”
According to the release, the city has closed more than 14 encampments in recent years, and the Jungle is the last remaining long-term encampment. It has been active for about 10 years, according to the release. The encampment is home to dozens of people.
The city has created a webpage on its site with more information regarding the regional effort, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions page.
According to previous reporting from The Olympian, Payne originally announced that plans were being developed to close the encampment on Jan. 14 during the county “State of the Community” event in Lacey.
During the Jan. 27 council meeting, Payne said no decisions had been made, including a timeline for closing the encampment. He said it’s early days, and city and county managers are working with their teams to begin developing a plan.
The city’s FAQ page does not include information on when the city expects to close the encampment, or how much it will cost to close it and move folks into housing or shelters.
The FAQ states that the population at the Jungle has grown over the past six months as other encampments have closed in Olympia and neighboring jurisdictions.
“Drivers include the broader regional need for shelter and affordable housing,” the FAQ states. “This is why finding viable housing options for people is key for encampment closures.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 12:36 PM.
.jpg)