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KXLY

‘Not enough places to go’: People stay warm as legal battles linger at Camp Hope

Posted: November 9, 2022 6:58 PM Updated: November 10, 2022 5:06 AM byVanessa Perez

SPOKANE, Wash. — While legal battles linger over Camp Hope, people there are trying to stay warm in frigid temperatures. The abatement lawsuit to clear Camp Hope will be heard in court on December 5.

Winter has come early, and camp leaders are receiving a glimpse of what could come. Service providers have put up a warming tent in the middle of Camp Hope to keep people safe during the cold temperatures. There are plans to add a second warming tent in the coming weeks.

Earl Anderson has lived at the camp since the summer, and says living in those conditions can be harsh.

“So far it’s been a challenge because I have to go back to that cutting my own wood in the morning to survive. That’s basically what’s going to happen in the winter is the warmth and then being able to cook on that fire,” Earl Anderson.

“Last night I think it was down to 16 degrees, something like that. That’s where everything freezes solid, and that is harsh, and we understand that. There’s a limit to what we can do to mitigate that,” Camp Hope manager Maurice Smith said.

The warming tent has propane heaters so people can receive a break from the freezing temperatures at night. People can also utilize the resource tent during the day.

“This is boy scout camping on steroids, and there’s a limit on how much you can do, and so we are providing firewood for controlled fires where they can cook and heat outside of their tent.” Maurice Smith.

The wood fires are permitted with patrols happening every 15 minutes according to the Spokane Fire Department. The department has installed fire extinguishers around the camp.

People are being encouraged to go to the Trent Resource Center. Smith says some people have left the camp and have gone into shelter.

“There are not enough places to go. If we cleared the camp out today their would not be enough places for these people to go, and so we’re caught in a dilemma of having to keep them alive in frigid weather, and we’re doing the best we can to keep them alive in frigid weather,” Smith said.

According to the city of Spokane spokesperson, Brian Coddington, 33% is being used in the city’s shelter space, and there are about 1,000 beds in total.

“There’s space in the system, and there is no reason someone should be being told right now that there’s no space and no place to go. There’s no reason somebody should be in a field overnight, in the freezing temperatures with snow, and ice when there is an indoor roof, beds, and meals that are available for people to go, and connect to services they’re accessing there right now,” he said.