Army veteran Crystal Beeler made it clear that she wants the Olympia City Council to address the issue that Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 318 says involves the actions of homeless individuals living in the nearby Unity Commons.
“I wholeheartedly believe that everyone deserves a home,” said the post’s commander as she sat in the post’s bar on April 22. “But at what rate? We are law-abiding, tax-paying citizens who fought for our country, and we’re being told that we don’t matter. That’s how I feel.”
The VFW Post is located at 2902 Martin Way East, at the northeast corner of Pattison Street. Unity Common is located 200 feet to the west at the northwest corner of Pattison Street Northeast.
Speaking at the April 9 City Council meeting, Darcy McGardee, the post’s treasurer, asked the city council to provide oversight and enforcement in order to curb illegal activities in the area.
“We watch them walk right out of the building, cross over to our property and urinate,” she said. “I thought we were promised to have oversight of these buildings, and we don’t see oversight.”
Beeler pointed out that homeless individuals have camped on the post’s property, started fires, purchased drugs. Post members no longer park on the west side of the building for fear of being accosted. She added that she has been physically threatened.
“On a number of occasions, I have been spat upon and run at,” she related. “And I’ve had several individuals threaten to kill me. I think they think because I’m a woman, I will back down. I won’t.”
Post member and Navy veteran Wayne Mugartegui pointed out that the Olympia Police Department has been called numerous times but is slow to respond and accomplishes very little when it does show up.
“They tell us there’s not much they can do,” he explained, “so I encourage everyone here at the post to call because then it’s on the record,” he explained, “and it should be a big one from all the calls we’ve made.”
To address the situation, Beeler said she has contacted Unity Commons and talked to two people from Interfaith Works and one from the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), the two entities responsible for the residents.
“We’ve never had a formal meeting, but they are aware of what we are experiencing,” continued Beeler.
Unity Commons is a five-story affordable rental building that is comprised of a 58-bed 24/7 enhanced shelter on the ground floor operated by Interfaith Works. The second through fifth floors have 65 permanent supportive housing units for homeless individuals and are operated by the Low Income Housing Institute.
“The shelter is a really visible provider and is certainly closest to the VFW,” stated Ivy Ayers, Interfaith Works’ interim executive director. “The Martin Way corridor has one of the largest and longest established encampments … and over the past two years, we’ve seen a 12 percent increase in the number of unhoused individuals counted in the yearly census.”
She added that Interfaith Works does not mean to shirk its responsibility to the community but wants to acknowledge that there is a rising need for services and a larger, complex context to the community issue of homelessness.
Jon Grant, LIHI’s chief strategy officer, sees things a bit differently.
“Our site staff report that our residents at Unity Commons are not instigators or party to any street disorder the neighborhood is experiencing,” he wrote in an email dated April 23.
“Because they have their own private rooms as tenants in the building, there would be no reason for them to be outside the building causing an incident. If a tenant in our property violates the lease … our residents have a lot to lose if they cause a disturbance, as affordable housing is very scarce,” Grant added.
Speaking at the April 16th city council meeting, Beeler recounted how she recently cleaned up the post’s parking lot for three days in a row and found 17 needles and 43 packets of tin foil.”
Sitting down for an interview on April 22, Beeler said, “I want the city council to realize that Olympia is not just that square mile or two of downtown. We’re told we’re part of Olympia, but we don’t feel like it. We’re told ... that the city is focused on some things and has forgotten about us. You won’t forget about me, because I will be at every city council meeting.”
When asked about the situation with VFW Post 318, Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne, an Army veteran, said that a meeting is planned during which city officials will meet with post personnel.
Council members Jim Cooper, an Army veteran, and Clark Gilman did not respond when asked for comment.
“The city is already responding to concerns raised by the VFW,” the mayor said. “This will continue in the coming weeks and months.”
He added that the city will coordinate with Interfaith Works and the Low Income Housing Institute on follow-up efforts to address the VFW’s concerns.
Beeler remains to be convinced.
“I have a heart, but I don’t think I am heartless because I want some kind of policing up of the criminals – not necessarily the homeless – but the criminals that are harassing our patrons. I hope the city takes action; they said they would when Unity Commons was opened.”
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
JW
Expect no help from the city. Taxpayers and law-abiding citizens are not their priority. Their priority are the thieves, drug-addicts, trespassers, and *** offenders that are infecting our capital city.
Tuesday, April 30 Report this
OlyGuy
And the pipeline of city council members to state representative continues with Lisa Parshley. More virtue signaling and no action to help residents. I am a veteran as well and you'd think they would care about the VFW situation, but they don't. They won't do anything, the police won't do anything, and city employees won't do anything. Welcome to Olympia, land of the homeless and home of the addicts.
Tuesday, April 30 Report this
ChuckCross
I suggest Ms. Beeler consider taking her site cleanup materials and leaving them on the floor at the city council meeting -- bring reality to the elected folks. You might also consider leaving your collected detritus at the city managers office.
Wednesday, May 1 Report this
HappyOlympian
JW forgets the endless love heaped on developers and the people they sell new homes to, they pay no taxes. Tragic, but the fact is the Commons has become a cesspool along with much of the Martin Way corridor. The next building nearly complete, certain to be a horrible waste of good intentions and tax dollars. Every space the city/county creates to benefit marginalized populations turns into a drug-fueled nightmare.
Wednesday, May 1 Report this
Terrilovesanimals
I see it and I feel for the VFW as well as businesses in that area. Solving the homeless issue is more than providing tax payer paid for living quarters. THESE people need to have skin in the game too! They all need to work for what they receive. Even if they are getting any kind of welfare or other benefits then they still need to work. LIHI or anyone else in charge of these facilities need to have rosters and timesheets for everyone in them. Sorry, but us taxpayers work so they should too!
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