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Homeless Refusing Help While Encampment is Cleared

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The Sweep is On

Accompanied by police, crews moved in Thursday morning and dismantled the drug encampment next to the Starbucks in Burien. Numerous campers rejected shelter or services. Some tried to move into “Camp Constantine” down the street, but that one is currently full.

I also noticed several homeless men and women who have been on the streets since last year. Again, they are rejecting the help because they are caught up in the unending cycle of drugs and mental illness. It’s time for an intervention and accountability.

Jonathan Choe

Journalist and Senior Fellow, Center on Wealth and Poverty
Jonathan Choe is a journalist and Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute's Center on Wealth and Poverty, covering homelessness issues for its Fix Homelessness initiative. Prior to joining Discovery, Choe spent several years as one of the lead reporters at KOMO-TV, consistently the top rated television station in Seattle. His in depth stories on crime and deep dive investigations into the homeless crisis led to measurable results in the community, including changes in public policy. Choe has more than two decades of experience in television news behind the scenes and in front of the camera for ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and Tribune. He has also been nominated and honored with multiple industry awards including an Emmy. Choe spent several years teaching classes on emerging media and entrepreneurship to under privileged youth in inner city Chicago. As an independent journalist, Choe also contributes regularly to the Mill Creek View and Lynnwood Times and has reported on exclusive stories in the past year for Daily Wire and The Postmillennial.