You may have noticed a homeless encampment over by 63rd and 8th Ave NE (near where I-5 exits if you’re going to Whole Foods). It’s being sponsored by the University Lutheran Church, who sent this release:
The Church Council at University Lutheran Church (ULC) unanimously agreed at its Tuesday, November 11th meeting to sponsor SHARE/WHEEL’s Tent City 3 (TC3) at their current Ravenna neighborhood location for the duration of their stay at this site. A ULC Town Meeting held after service on Sunday, November 9th sent unanimous consent for sponsorship of TC3 to the ULC Council in anticipation of their deliberations and vote.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) which owns the land on which TC3 is located and the Seattle Department of Transportation have agreed to allow Tent City 3 to remain at 6301 8th Avenue NE until mid-December as long as TC3 is sponsored by a faith community. As the sponsoring entity, representatives from ULC will check in at least weekly with the residents at TC3 and assist as needed until their next move in midDecember to Seattle Pacific University. University Christian Church has agreed to assist University Lutheran in order to make this transition period for TC3 go as smoothly as possible.
Tent City 3 vacated their previous camp at Haller Lake United Methodist Church on the 11th of October. The Haller Lake church had offered to extend TC3’s stay on their property, but the encampment had promised the surrounding neighborhood they would leave in October. Not wanting to break their word to that neighborhood community, they asked 31 other religious institutions for space. Not finding a host congregation, they relocated to the WSDOT property in the Ravenna neighborhood.
SHARE/WHEEL and other organizations have been trying for years to get the City of Seattle to devise an orderly process for encampments to use public lands with sponsorship of a faith community. University Lutheran Church is hopeful that this is a good test case and a strong step in this direction.
About SHARE/WHEEL
Tent City III Tent City 3 is a community of around 100 homeless men, women and families joining together to solve the shared problem of having no place to stay. Everyone must be sober and non-violent, and they have a stringent Code of Conduct. TC3 formed in March of 2000, and has moved over 70 times. Tent Cities are Interim Survival Mechanisms, and are one part of the Crisis Response of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. The privacy, storage, 24-hour access, and ability for couples and families to stay together combine to make TC3 a place to get one’s life back together.
About University Lutheran Church
As a metropolitan congregation, University Lutheran Church is committed to be a vital ministry in the University District of Seattle as well as throughout the world. We offer a variety of liturgies for worship throughout the church year and challenge our members to sing new songs and make a joyful noise unto God every Sunday.
As a Reconciling in Christ Congregation, we affirm the dignity and worth of people of all races, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identity, social status, age, physical capability and economic condition. We belong to the University District Ecumenical Parish, and celebrate the diversity of expression of faith in our community. We are a Greening Congregation, and strive to be faithful stewards of God’s creation. As an Advocating Congregation we make our voices known to our governing authorities on behalf of those who are crying out for justice and peace.
ULC houses a SHARE/WHEEL women’s shelter every night, the Elizabeth Gregory Home Day Center for homeless and at-risk women, and the Sanctuary
What can neighbors do to help?
How nice of SHARE/WHEEL to offer up someone else’s neighborhood to a bunch of people who haven’t been screened and won’t be monitored during the day. I bet SHARE/WHEEL cares so much about the community, they went around the neighborhood and asked the tent city’s neighbors what they thought about this idea, right?
Hayduke, can you explain what your screening experience was like when you entered the neighborhood? I know that I didn’t go through that when I moved here. Do you expect all of your neighbors to go through a screening?
I agree, Hayduke
I visited the camp when newly.opened. I know they were in communication with the city and I believe neighborhood groups. The site is under I-5 and a bit of space from single family houses. I hope we can have a good discussion here, that benefits neighbors and homeless folks.
Justin’s answer is the best, but Hayduke:
“SHARE/WHEEL’s Tent Cities are democratically organized. They operate with a strict Code of Conduct which requires sobriety, nonviolence, cooperation and participation. Security workers are on duty 24 hours a day. Litter patrols are done on a daily basis.” This is also more than can be said for most neighbors.
For ways to help, check the website, and also click the link to Greater Seattle Cares
http://www.sharewheel.org/Home/tent-cities