As Washington State grapples with the subject of ‘Housing the Homeless’ many suggestions are coming to light. Recently, in a Pierce County Council meeting, the suggestion was given to house the homeless on McNeil Island.
There are several pros and cons to this suggestion and as Washington State is searching for answers, many have weighed in on the idea.
Housing the homeless on McNeil Island presents several significant challenges that might make it an impractical option for Washington State.
One of perhaps the most glaring issues is that of accessibility and logistics. McNeil Island is just that, an island. Access to the Island is limited to that of ferry or boat. This would greatly complicate the logistics issues of offering regular transportation for staff and residents not to mention supplies and helping get the homeless back into the workforce. Essential services would also be limited on the island with no medical, mental health, or emergency services readily available.
Let’s also consider the fact that the existing facilities were once a prison and Special Commitment Center. There would be extensive renovations required before the facility would be ready to house the homeless. As a former penitentiary, the renovations would be extensive.