Fighting to Keep the Homeless out of their Yards

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By Melissa Wagner

Story Published: Jul 26, 2010 at 5:42 PM PDT

YAKIMA -- Beer bottles, garbage and human waste. Neighbors on S. 6th St. tell KIMA they have to deal with this daily, as the homeless use their back alleys to hang out. KIMA met a family that says they're fed up with the mess. And they have an easy solution. But will the city listen?

When we drove down the alley in the 100 block of S. 6th around 11a.m., there were already three men hanging out. Drinking and leaving their trash behind.

KIMA asked one man, "Do you live in this neighborhood?"
He replied, "No."
We asked, "So why do you drink out here?"
He answered, "Because we can."

They start out drinking at an abandoned house on the corner of S. 6th and Chestnut. There are dozens of beer bottles left over. But they don't just stay here, at the end of the block. they move on down and that's where they're hanging out behind other people's homes. People who live there and have to deal with it every day.

People like Laurie Akins and her husband. They've lived here for ten years. And take pride in their backyard. But others stumble in and use it as a bathroom.

KIMA said, "I'm going to tell you I smell urine out here, why is that?"
Laurie answered, "Because they like to pee in the alley. I've called police before but by the time they get here they're gone. They have to actually catch them in the act of peeing."

But that rarely happens. In fact, only 9 calls have come to YPD since the start of the year, to report on trouble here. So Laurie says she has a better solution.

"They put in a portable toilet and a dumpster," said Laurie.

KIMA asked, "You're willing to live with this situation as long as they have a Porta Potty and dumpster?"

Laurie laughed and said, "Well yeah, because then they can use the bathroom and throw away their garbage instead of doing it in my yard."

KIMA discovered the city tried that once before. Three years ago, Yakima put in a Portable bathroom. But removed it quickly, saying it was bringing more homeless people here. The mayor told me the council will take another look at the problem if neighbors petition for it. Until then, Laurie and her husband may be forced to trying on their own to keep the homeless out of their garden.

The abandoned home on the corner of S. 6th St. was just bought by Neighborhood Health. The group hasn't decided what to do with that property. But it is aware the homeless use it as a hang out. The Executive Officer told KIMA she'd like to see the city bring the Porta Potty back, because the homeless still need a bathroom.

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