Olympia Planned Closure of The Jungle Encampment

The city has begun a phased process to close the final large homeless encampment within its municipal limits.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Camping

Isometric editorial illustration of a modular housing structure on a wet urban plaza, depicting municipal housing transition policy. — Olympia officials have initiated a phased closure of The Jungle, the city's final large homeless encampment, as part of a multi-year housing transition. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Olympia officials have announced plans to close The Jungle, the city's last remaining large homeless encampment. This decision follows years of similar site closures as the city works to transition residents into housing.

Why it matters

The closure represents a significant milestone in local efforts to manage homelessness, though the city continues to face a regional shortage of available shelter and housing options.

Olympia has shuttered 14 encampments since 2021, while 290 individuals were included in a by-name housing assessment conducted in May 2026. Individuals who arrived at the site after this assessment period are ineligible for the city-specific housing list.

The players

City of Olympia

This is the municipal government responsible for managing public land use and social services within the city limits.

Thurston County

This regional government body operates the Coordinated Entry System that manages access to housing and shelter resources.

The details

The city will execute the closure in stages, securing and cleaning each area as residents relocate. Outreach staff are currently directing newer arrivals to the Thurston County Coordinated Entry System to help manage their housing needs.

The city has closed 14 encampments since 2021.
City officials performed a by-name resident listing in May 2026.

Culture Shift

The city's strategy follows the protocols established by the Thurston County Coordinated Entry System. This move reflects a broader societal shift toward centralized management of homelessness rather than allowing uncoordinated encampment growth.

Residents may see increased activity from city cleanup crews and outreach staff in the vicinity of The Jungle as the site closure progresses. Public access to areas where closure work is underway will be restricted until cleaning and site security are complete.

The takeaway

This closure marks the end of a multi-year effort to clear large encampments across the city. Residents affected by these changes are encouraged to work directly with regional outreach staff to navigate the available entry systems.