Homelessness divides Olympia and forces people to re-examine their politics. Emotions converge on an encampment under the Fourth Avenue Bridge.
Housing and Homeslessness
Because Virginia operates a decentralized social services system, employees at the local level are rarely held accountable for the life-changing decisions they make for Virginia’s families.
Climate change is fueling devastating wildfires in California, and in some cases, low-wage immigrant workers are cleaning up after them. They sweep ash out of houses and strip debris from burned buildings.
In October 2019, a stretch of dry weather and strong winds sparked dozens of wildfires across California, killing three people and destroying hundreds of homes. For the low-wage immigrants who work in those homes, fire season brings its own dangers.
Despite Olympia’s efforts, hundreds of people remain in unsanctioned camps around the city. They invent ways to stay alive and help each other survive.
How did people end up on the streets of Olympia? Some can point to a catastrophe that bent their lives toward homelessness. For others, it almost seemed like life was moving in that direction from the very beginning.
The state's housing crisis has resulted in more and more families like Tanya Harris' living in substandard and overcrowded conditions, and local health officials say those conditions threaten residents' health.
This story was produced as part of a larger project led by Will James, a participant in the 2019 National Fellowship.
Other stories in this series include:
Episode 1: The Rain
Introducing: Outsiders, a story about homelessness
This story was produced as part of a larger project led by Will James, a participant in the 2019 National Fellowship.
Other stories in this series include:
Introducing: Outsiders, a story about homelessness
Episode 2: What Happened Here
Low wages and a stagnant housing market have pushed Salinas families to the margins. Advocates say the city’s low-income farmworker community bears the heaviest burden.