Olympia's Jungle: Housing Over Removal | Seattle News

Olympia’s mayor is rallying the state for urgent help to tackle “The Jungle,” a sprawling 21-acre homeless encampment near I-5, where nearly 300 people live amid rising safety concerns—including a missing teen and a brutal assault. Rather than forcibly clearing the site, officials are pushing for a phased, housing-first strategy, ensuring units are ready before anyone moves. Mayor Dontae Payne insists no one will be displaced without shelter, warning that a rushed shutdown only fuels new camps. State Rep. Andrew Barkis backs the effort, calling the encampment a dangerous drug hub and urging swift, compassionate action to break the cycle of homelessness. The city’s mission: provide stable housing, not just relocate the crisis. 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/063db4442735f7fa