The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has responded to a lawsuit filed by the city of Spokane over a homeless encampment along I-90 known as Camp Hope.

The city has accused the state of failing to stop drug and criminal activity at the camp and is asking a county judge to let them clear it immediately.

However, WSDOT says they have been making progress in moving campers off the property, with the number of people at the encampment decreasing by 86 percent since October’s count to just 65 people last week.

WSDOT argues that closing the camp before providing housing and job training resources could push the homelessness problem and people back into the streets.

Camp Hope will present its argument against the abatement tomorrow afternoon.