SEATTLE -- Seattle Police visted camps of homeless men and women living in the West Beacon Hill greenbelt area known as "The Jungle" Thursday, letting them know they will soon be evicted.
The eviction will happen next week, but first officers and social workers with the Seattle Human Services Department walked through the area in an effort to connect the homeless residents with social services.
"The Jungle" is located alongside Interstate 5.
The outreach follows an incident two weeks ago in which several neighbors called 911 reporting gunfire coming from the camps. About 40 police officers responded, scouring the camps looking for weapons or victims of crime. But none were found.
However, the search revealed "the need for outreach for the homeless there," according to Seattle Police spokesman Sgt. Sean Whitcomb. "There is unreported and underreported crime in the area that needs attention," he said.
Trespassing signs are expected to be posted next week, and residents will have 72 hours to leave.
