On Nov. 2, 2009, the story “Homeless camps sprouting under West Seattle Bridge” was published on our website, westseattleherald.com. Back then seven homeless people spent nights outdoors in sleeping bags or in a tent under the bridge between the 1st Avenue on- and off-ramp.

According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, complaints were made about “tons of trash” piling up at the encampment. On Dec. 10, the City of Seattle Customer Service Bureau posted signs on bridge columns to remove personal property within 72 hours. Most homeless remained, and a couple of dozen SDOT workers, and law enforcement, showed up Dec. 14. The workers cleared the trash, and in effect removed the homeless.

There is some disagreement as to whether some sleeping bags, tarps, tents, and clothes belonging to the homeless were also tossed into garbage bins. SDOT said no, the homeless said yes.

Nevertheless, after the area was cleared, and before the dust even settled, four of the same homeless returned that night. More followed. Soon there were five tents, and about a dozen overnighters. Because of expanding viaduct construction, it looks like just a matter of time before they are evicted permanently.

“Live day to day, that’s all,” said Al, 47, a camp resident who said his family is Native American Cowichan from Vancouver Island. He was interviewed in our Nov. 2 story and was one of the campers to return following the SDOT clean-up.

“I came right back,” he said. “If they want to arrest me, fine. What are they going to arrest me for? Homelessness? It goes around and around and around.”

Daniel, 26, was born in southern Africa. He also returned to his noisy home under the bridge.

“No job, no income, I can’t get a place to sleep inside,” he said. “I was here before the sweep. I took my tent, but brought it back. I’m used to this place. When the time comes I can move.”

Tracy and her boyfriend, Albert, lived in the encampment before Dec. 14, but moved to a different spot under another nearby bridge and have a dome tent. They return to this encampment on occasion during the day.

“We like to read,” said Tracy as Albert nodded. She said she reads Nora Roberts. He said he reads Stephen King.

“Our flashlight batteries ran out,” said Tracy, adding they can’t continue to afford to buy new ones. “It gets dark. It gets cold, no lighting. I get anxiety attacks, especially when I wake up in the morning.”

Zack, 25, and his wife, Caitlin, 22, say they are homeless by choice, and have been riding the rails across America for four years. Zack said he tattooed himself at age 15, “When I was really young and stupid. But I am not a violent person.” Sixteen little blue dots line his cheeks and crawl over the bridge of his nose, with his nickname, “Zito,” scrawled above his right eye. He acknowledged his ink intimidates some employers when he looks for work.

Caitlin’s long dark “rasta” braids and glasses give her an artist’s look. In fact, she likes to draw and incorporates her work in cardboard signs they use to solicit money and food, including dog bones for their black Labrador mix.

They said they are broke and out of work, but unlike the others, seem prideful of their circumstance. They have never gotten caught by a “bull,” or freight police, they said. They pitched their tent with the others but plan to hop a freight train to southern California, then eastward to Austin, Texas, any day now.

“I grew up in Front Royal, Virginia,” said Caitlin. “We went back there to visit. Most train riders ride on the West Coast. We eventually got there by hopping freights. The workers on the trains and most people who saw us thought we were Appalachian Trail hikers like they always see out there.”

Zack complained that, relative to other cities, Seattle is not welcoming to homeless.

“Here they put gates around bridges so you can’t put up a tent anywhere, and there’s ‘no trespassing’ signs all over. It pours like crazy in Seattle. It’s illegal to stay dry. Where the hell do you want me to sleep?”