Homeless residents brag about makeshift 'mansion' near Seattle's famed Space Needle

[zenkai]

Residents of the mega tent "mansion" homeless encampment near Seattle's famed Space Needle are bragging about the practicality of their new digs, taunting local politicians: "If you can live on the street and not pay rent, then why would you pay rent?"

The recently constructed camp is located on a small patch of grass on Third Avenue and Broad Street, about a half-block from the Space Needle and surrounded by multi-million dollar high-rise condos.

"It is a form of protest," Melissa Burns, one of the "mansion" dwellers, told Q13 News. "We're staking a claim. We're refusing to cower in our tents."


Seattle has been under siege by an exploding homeless population since at least 2015, when ex-Mayor Ed Murray declared a "state of emergency" over the crisis. The city has struggled to play catch-up and is now beset with shelters at capacity and illegal encampments, such as the Space Needle "mansion."

Burns recently moved to the new camp with others after the city forced the group out of a nearby park.

"We've got the doors, the couch, the table," she said. "We've got the living room here, which is a mess right now because we're still constructing, but we're putting up the vinyl to cover it up, make it more attractive."

Burns said the sprawling abode is made of tents, wood pallets, chairs, umbrellas, tarps and whatever else people can put together. She conceded it's not a "discreet" construction.

"Some people are cheering us on, and some people are really angry about it," she said.

A city spokesperson told Q13 News officials have inspected the site, and will continue to monitor and evaluate it. Mental health teams are also working with Seattle officials to figure out if there’s any way to convince the people living in the camp to go somewhere else.

Spokesman Will Lemke added the city has no immediate plans to remove the camp, but that may change in the future if there is a problem or safety concern.

"It's certainly an eyesore. But I don't think they have a lot of options," Lou Bequette, who works downtown, told Q13 News. "So, I guess they gotta do what they gotta do."

I couldn't imagine living like this...

[McFuu]

Maybe if they spent more time finding gainful employment and a real place to live, instead of constructing their hobo city...

[Machismo]

Well, it's public property, so good for them.

[Dugna]

I know not fully related but reminds me of Yakuza lol.....

but yeah, dunno it seems alot of these people could just leave these big cities and stop being homeless, the amount needed to live in these places is insane and not worth it for many people now.

[Video Games]

In the richest country on the planet, why should anyone have to?

Because it's a choice.

[Celista]

Here in Pdx we are dealing with people who are "willingly" homeless due to massive rent increases. The problem is rent and wages not the people trying to delude themselves that living outside is as nice as having an apartment.

[EyelessCrow]

Given that the homeless situation in Seattle has been declared a state of emergency, i very much doubt choice has anything to do with it.

I live near Seattle and before I even moved out here I heard of trust fun babies, rich kids living on the streets to rebel against their parents. On top of that I think most homeless around here would rather shoot up with whatever money they can get than do anything else with it. I don't think every single homeless person chooses to be homeless but I think a lot do.

[Pooti]

I do not think you can lump every homeless person into a bucket and say they are homeless because X. Some I believe do just choose that as a way to live. Some are addicts. Some struggle with mental illness. There is no simple solution to the homeless problem, the solutions need to be tailored to the individual causes. Give them all a free place to live? That would certainly make them not homeless, but would likely also promote other people to choose that route. Many people will always choose the easiest path to existence. What I find interesting, is the common disdain for societies rules and practices, while also utilizing the resources to survive that would not exist without the existence of said society. They are not LEAVING to go forge a life someplace away from the society they thumb their nose at. The only thing I can compare it to, is children. They fight and struggle against the rules of parents while also expecting the family to provide for them.

[Video Games]

Given that the homeless situation in Seattle has been declared a state of emergency, i very much doubt choice has anything to do with it.

They chose to do drugs/alcohol instead of sobering up and getting help.

[Moadar]

What is the average income in the us $30,000 a year? I don't understand how people can live on less than $100,000 bare minimum. I guess you could by accumulating debt forever with no hopes of ever getting out from under it. Hobo mansion is probably better off than people that have to live in bad areas to afford housing.

[zenkai]

What is the average income in the us $30,000 a year? I don't understand how people can live on less than $100,000 bare minimum. I guess you could by accumulating debt forever with no hopes of ever getting out from under it. Hobo mansion is probably better off than people that have to live in bad areas to afford housing.

It depends where you live. The town I live in you can live comfortably at 30k a year.

[ghotihook]

What is the average income in the us $30,000 a year? I don't understand how people can live on less than $100,000 bare minimum. I guess you could by accumulating debt forever with no hopes of ever getting out from under it. Hobo mansion is probably better off than people that have to live in bad areas to afford housing.

I bought my own brand new house by myself and never worried about paying my bills 6 years ago. And I was making 45K a year. You can easily live on 30K. Especially if you don't mind having roommates.
But 45K is prob 100K in some places in California and New York. It's all about location!

[Lorgar Aurelian]

They chose to do drugs/alcohol instead of sobering up and getting help.

Are you really do clueless that you think that is the reason most people are homeless?

[Elegiac]

Here in Pdx we are dealing with people who are "willingly" homeless due to massive rent increases. The problem is rent and wages not the people trying to delude themselves that living outside is as nice as having an apartment.

Pretty much this; a lot of property in downtown Seattle is owned by foreign investors who don't actively rent it out. Combined with the gentrification going on due to an influx of moneyed Californians, and you get even basic residences in the city with obscene price tags.

[Celista]

Pretty much this; a lot of property in downtown Seattle is owned by foreign investors who don't actively rent it out. Combined with the gentrification going on due to an influx of moneyed Californians, and you get even basic residences in the city with obscene price tags.

Right. That's been a problem all along the West Coast, up through BC; people who aren't aware of this should read up about it.

Of course, we have always had homeless. It has existed at all points throughout history. Homelessness is multifaceted in the causes that contribute to it. But we are seeing a surge in homelessness that is caused by outside investors/commoditization of real estate, that has led to displacement of low-income residents, including the disabled/elderly, especially when coupled with a lack of low-income housing. Right now wait lists for low income housing in Portland is around 3 years, and that includes prioritizing those who are at most at risk of exposure to the elements (disabled elderly).

[Elegiac]

Right. That's been a problem all along the West Coast, up through BC; people who aren't aware of this should read up about it.

Of course, we have always had homeless. It has existed at all points throughout history. Homelessness is multifaceted in the causes that contribute to it. But we are seeing a surge in homelessness that is caused by outside investors/commoditization of real estate, that has led to displacement of low-income residents, including the disabled/elderly, especially when coupled with a lack of low-income housing. Right now wait lists for low income housing in Portland is around 3 years, and that includes prioritizing those who are at most at risk of exposure to the elements (disabled elderly).

To compound this, unfortunately the building boom going on in the PDX and SEATAC metro areas is mostly catering to an influx of white collar workers in the tech and healthcare sectors. There's been a couple of subsidised housing developments in eastern Seattle, but there's no adjusted quota on the proportion of housing that needs to be set aside for low income folks.

Because Republicans in the state senate, go figure.

[Deleted]

Because it's a choice.

That's a very bizarre choice of words... It's like saying people choose to get run over because they chose the risk of getting hit when crossing a road multiple times

[Rooflesstoofless]

Most of them just don't want to work and prefer to live that kind of life because what really matters to them anyone is getting drunk and/or high. Not everyone can be a six figure alcoholic. Most of us have to choose one or the other.

[Video Games]

Are you really do clueless that you think that is the reason most people are homeless?

I grew up homeless so I'm pretty sure you're the clueleaa one.

[Elegiac]

I grew up homeless so I'm pretty sure you're the clueleaa one.

And learned not a thing from the experience. Pretty telling.