Closing The Jungle Without Solutions | Seattle News

Olympia and Lacey officials are moving to shut down “The Jungle,” a sprawling homeless encampment, as part of a regional push to tackle rising homelessness—but critics warn the plan lacks real solutions. Ginny Burton, founder of a reentry support group, blasts the approach as a system designed to manage, not fix, the crisis. She insists accountability and transparency are missing, arguing that people need safe housing plus skill-building to truly thrive. Burton also highlights how funding often rewards system size over success, urging leaders to measure outcomes like long-term independence—not just activity. With Thurston County seeing over 200 more homeless individuals this year, the closure is urgent—but its effectiveness remains uncertain. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/62a5f07b810f0392