In my last column, I wrote about how Thurston County has built a compassionate and admirable system to respond to homelessness and how that system now faces the challenge of long-term sustainability. But policy discussions alone cannot fully capture the complexity of this issue. To understand what is truly at stake, we must also consider the human realities behind the statistics and programs.
For me, this conversation is deeply personal.
Long before I served as a county commissioner, I spent years as a firefighter and EMT in Aberdeen. During that time, I spent thousands of hours in what was known as the River Camp, a sprawling encampment along the banks of the Chehalis River.
At its peak, it was home to hundreds of people living in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable. Those unfamiliar with it can gain a glimpse of its reality in the documentary The River, available on YouTube.
The River Camp was a place of profound hardship. Shootings, fires, and overdoses were regular occurrences. Emergency calls were constant, and the environment was dangerous not only for those living there but also for first responders and the surrounding community. It was a stark reminder of what can happen when individuals are left without safe, stable housing and outside of the safety systems and structure we build collectively, as a community.
The last remnants of the River Camp burned down in 2024 in a massive conflagration of tents, propane tanks, and loose ammunition directly beneath the Chehalis River bridge, threatening not only lives but also irreplaceable and vital state infrastructure. It was a dramatic and sobering end to a place that had long symbolized both the human toll of homelessness and the risks posed when communities lack sustainable solutions.
But it was also a place filled with human stories.
Behind every tent was a person, someone who had experienced trauma, loss, addiction, mental illness, or a series of setbacks that ultimately led them there. Many were struggling simply to survive. Spending so much time in that environment gave me a tremendous amount of compassion for the individuals who find themselves in these situations. It also reinforced a critical understanding: homelessness is not a single issue with a single solution. It is a complex intersection of economic hardship, behavioral health challenges, and social disconnection.
At the same time, those experiences shaped another perspective, concern for the broader impact on the community.
Encampments like the River Camp, and others we see today, can create significant public safety and public health challenges. They place immense strain on emergency services, affect nearby neighborhoods and businesses, and often expose the very individuals living there to ongoing danger and instability. Compassion for those experiencing homelessness must therefore be paired with recognition of these realities.
This dual understanding (compassion for individuals and concern for community impacts) has guided my approach to housing and homelessness policy.
Thurston County has made meaningful progress in recent years. Programs such as Unity Commons, Sandy’s Flats, Maple Court, and Quince Street Village represent a coordinated effort to move people from unsafe encampments into stable environments with access to services. These initiatives reflect a community willing to invest in dignity and long-term solutions.
However, as discussed in Part One, sustainability is now the central challenge.
To ensure that the system we have built can endure, we must focus on several key principles.
1. Balance Compassion with Accountability
Providing shelter and supportive housing is essential, but it must be accompanied by clear expectations and measurable outcomes. Programs should demonstrate effectiveness in helping individuals achieve stability and, when possible, transition to greater independence. Accountability ensures that limited resources are used in ways that produce meaningful and lasting results.
2. Prioritize Public Safety and Community Wellbeing
Safe and stable communities benefit everyone, including those experiencing homelessness. Addressing encampments in a humane and coordinated manner helps reduce exposure to violence, fire hazards, and health risks while also alleviating the strain on emergency services and surrounding neighborhoods.
3. Embrace Regional Responsibility
Homelessness is not confined to a single jurisdiction, and neither should the responsibility for addressing it be. If Thurston County’s services significantly outpace those of peer counties, we risk becoming overburdened. A balanced regional approach ensures that responsibility (and opportunity) is shared more equitably.
4. Focus on Long-Term Sustainability
As temporary state and federal funding diminish, local leaders must make disciplined decisions about how to allocate resources. Protecting and stabilizing the programs that have proven effective should take precedence over rapid expansion without a clear and sustainable funding path.
5. Maintain a Human-Centered Approach
Perhaps most importantly, we must never lose sight of the individuals at the heart of this issue. The people I encountered at the River Camp were not defined solely by their circumstances. They were neighbors, parents, veterans, and community members who deserved dignity, respect, and the opportunity for a better future.
A Balanced Path Forward
The lessons from Aberdeen’s River Camp continue to inform my perspective today. They remind me that homelessness cannot be addressed through compassion alone, nor through enforcement alone. It requires a balanced approach, one that recognizes both the humanity of those experiencing homelessness and the legitimate concerns of the broader community.
Thurston County has built a system that reflects our values. Now, our responsibility is to ensure that this system remains strong, sustainable, and regionally balanced so that it can continue to serve those in need for years to come.
By aligning compassion with accountability and regional cooperation, we can create a response that not only addresses today’s challenges but also lays out the foundation for long-term success.
The goal is not simply to manage homelessness; it is to create a system that helps people move toward stability while ensuring that our communities remain safe, resilient, and sustainable.
That is the balance we must strive for, and it is the path forward.
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Wayne Fournier is a Thurston County commissioner and former mayor who has spent more than three decades working in public safety. His column appears in The Chronicle twice each month.
