Washington state spent over $700,000 on giant boulders to deter homeless encampments

• Washington state spent over $700,000 on boulders to deter homeless camps in some areas.
• Some have criticized the spending and the message it sends to the homeless.
• But one official told BI the state first offered shelter to the homeless, and a majority accepted it.

Washington dropped a hefty amount of taxpayer money to prevent homeless encampments across the state.

The state spent approximately $718,000 on large boulders placed along areas where homeless people had previously congregated and camped, particularly near busy highways.