OLYMPIA, Wash. — Geoffrey Mueller has seen the homeless encampment below his Olympia property grow. It wasn’t a problem until someone crossed a line, his property line.
“It’s bothersome,” said Mueller. “It’s really an invasion of everyone’s privacy.”
Earlier this month, he found hoses and extension cords connected to the water and electrical outlets on his back patio.
The lines dropped down the back of his property to the encampment below.
A city of Olympia spokesperson said police identified the person responsible, described as someone from the encampment, but Mueller declined to press charges.
He is hoping police catch the person responsible for another crime Mueller said was committed a few days later.
Mueller said he walked into his home to find it had been burglarized and ransacked. While he waited for police to arrive, he heard a noise upstairs.
“Somebody came downstairs and managed to push me down and ran out the door,” said Mueller.
The 76-year-old said his shoulder has been hurting ever since he fell down.
Mueller has lived in the home since 1974, but it wasn’t new to him. His grandfather built it in 1923.
He said he would like the city to do more to help the homeless.
“There’s nothing that can be done to solve the problem,” said Mueller. “Or maybe just nothing is being done to solve the problem. And the problem is getting worse.”
City spokesperson Kellie Purce Braseth said the situation at the encampment should improve soon.
“I can’t imagine how distressing and frustrating these incidents have been for Mr. Mueller,” said Braseth.
She said, in addition to the city patrolling the area, clearing trash, and providing restrooms at the encampment, new housing options are opening this fall to give some of the residents places to live.
“Within a few months, we will cut the ribbon on our first supportive housing project, which includes 60 units and a 60-bed shelter,” Braseth said in a written statement.
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