HomeMy WebLinkAboutKerry CambyNovember 6th 2013
To whom this may concern
I am writing this letter regarding TAFY 711 E 2nd street. I have lived at my home on 2nd street
for 20yrs.. I have been doing volunteer work for a local agency that helps needy families in our town for
13yrs.. I do realize that there are people that do need and use these agencies. I feel that the more
places there are for needy people available in our community ultimately hurts our town. By this I mean
homeless or "at risk" people get relocated here because of all the agencies available in our town.
Because of this, bringing more homeless and at risk people to our beautiful town.
I am writing this letter because the last time I attended a city meeting regarding TAFY, I spoke in
front of everyone at the meeting stating how I felt about TAFY moving to our neighborhood. After the
meeting I was accosted outside the doors of the meeting by the ladies in charge of TAFY. They wanted
to argue with me because I didn't see things their way. They said they wanted to be closer to the people
at risk and give them hugs. Which they couldn't do at the Serenity house dream center.
The location of TAFY is poorly planned. It is located close to the Dream park (skate park), Jesse
Webster park, and the YMCA where many children go. The type of people that go to TAFY aren't ones
that I would want my children to be around. I'm not sure how TAFY monitors or cares to see if sex
offenders or people of that nature attend their place. My son was attending church, when one of the
ladies in charge of TAFY invited him to go there to TAFY. My son was only 11 yrs. old at the time and not
even close to being homeless. I don't know if it's to try to get more kids there or what the motive was, but
I feel it isn't a safe place for good kids to be. 1 see many questionable people over there daily. - Yes I
mean daily, even when they're not open. They are smoking, making drug deals, and talking and/or
yelling with very offensive language. They arrive at all hours of the day and night. Before TAFY opens,
and after hours when they have AA meetings there. I hear people and car doors slamming every night
around 10pm - midnight or so. When TAFY is open they serve food there (which is good, but they also
serve food 4 blocks down at the Salvation Army church). I watch people go into TAFY for a bit, come out
with food, and then leave their trash in our parking strip or on our lawns.
When we first moved into the neighborhood, it was a peaceful place to live and a great place to
raise children. Since TAFY has moved in, I see "druggies" and "shady" people daily. Our neighborhood
has had a problem lately with people breaking into backyards and garages. My husband recently had to
call the police twice because there was signs of transients staying in our neigbors garage. The house is
up for sale and has been empty for sometime now. On Oct. 31st, there was a transient sitting in the
backyard of that house in front of the garage. An officer actually talked to the man after my husband
called the police on that occasion. Renters in the house directly nextdoor to TAFY don't stay long as
soon as they realize all the problems that come along with being neighbors to TAFY. When my husband
talked to that new neighbor there, she said that her garage had also been broken into. She was
complaining about the people and the parking situation. She's only been there a few months and has
young children. She probably wont stay long either. I don't let my son, nieces, nephew or any children
play in our frontyard or ride thier bikes up and down the sidewalk because of the people that go to TAFY
and hang out in front of the place and in the parkinglot.
Nov. 1st a little before midnight, the police were called there before the meeting ended. I know
this because I heard a female talking to the officer. The next afternoon, they were there again for a
different reason.
If the ladies that run TAFY could work with other agencies in our town, it could make and help
them better. Rather than creating another place for the "needy" to bounce to and from. Begging for
donations & volunteers for thier place takes away from supporting the already well established
organizations and agencies in our community. First steps family support center, Salvation Army,
Foodbank, and Serenity house dream center are just some of the organizations that help the needy in our
area and provide more services than TAFY, including case management, food, hygene items, clothing,
shower, laundry, phone, computers and short term overnight stays. most of the agencies are walking
distance from TAFY.
TAFY deosn't provide anything different. Just asking the community for donations to support
their cause to enable street life people to keep doing what they do. With their no questions asked policy,
they are just a nuisance to our neighborhood. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Kerry Camby
712E2nd st
Port Angeles WA 98362