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Tent City 4

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cyclopedic (talk | contribs) at 03:43, 18 June 2006 (→Controversy over Tent City 4). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Tent City 4 is a homeless encampment of up to 100 people operated by a group of homeless refering to themselves as the Seattle Housing and Resources Effort (SHARE). The camp was created in May 2004 and limits itself to eastern King County outside of Seattle. Minors are not allowed in Tent City 4, although there is a provision for emergency situations. Residents may use their own tents or community tents that are separated by gender. Portable toilets, dumpsters, and a shower are provided to address sanitation concerns. In order to control access to the encampment, there is only one entry/exit to the camp that is guarded at all times.

History

Brickyard Park and Ride - Near Bothell (May 2004)

In response to a statement by SHARE that they would occupy a county owned park King County Executive Ron Sims initially arranged to site it on a county-owned lands adjoining a park-and-ride lot near Interstate 405 and N.E. 160th Street. Community opposition group King County Communities For Fair Process filed a lawsuit to prevent the move, noting that the land was too close to a environmentally sensitive area and insufficient public notice. It was also discovered that the property in question did not belong to King County, but to Metro Transit, and as such was subject to the laws preventing camping on transit property.

St. Brendans Catholic Church - Bothell (May 2004-August 2004)

As a result of the Brickyard process, a last minute deal was made to locate the camp at a vacant lot near St. Brendans Catholic Church. The City of Bothell was unable to provide for a permitting process and took the church and SHARE to court in order to get conditions for community health and safety in place. In late July 2004, following weeks of negotiations, by a unanimous vote, a quasi-judicial City Council committee approved a land use permit that included several conditions that the church and camp had to meet.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page).

Northshore United Church of Christ - Woodinville (August–November 2004)

NUCC invites Tent City 4 to relocate to its property, giving the city 12 days notice in which to approve a temporary use permit.

In response to public complaints, the Woodinville City council proposed moving to a different site, an undeveloped plot of park property, for 40 days while they pursued permits to stay for an additional 60 days. The site was seen as preferable due to its location in an industrial, rather than residential, area.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page).

The city contends that in exchange for the one time use of this site, NUCC and SHARE signed a legal agreement promising that they would not return to the city without a valid permit in hand, and would allow sufficient time for public proccess to take place prior to the permit being issued. SHARE and NUCC contend that this agreement applied to public, not private lands; the issue has been revisited in mediation during 2006.

St. John Vianney Catholic Church - Finn Hill (November 2004-February 2005)

St. John's, near Kirkland, filed a request for a temporary use permit with the county on October 28 to allow TC4 to locate on church property beginning November 22. When the county failed to notify neighbors until November 9, church leaders announced it was their intention to begin moving TC4 onto church property beginning November 19.Kirkland Parish to Host Tent City 4. Seattle Archdiocese. November 14, 2004. Retrieved on June 12, 2006.</ref> A community opposition group sued, and won, in order to get the same conditions for health and safety that the previous communities obtained.

Kirkland Congregational Church - Kirkland (February-May 2005)

Following a prior vote by another church's congregation not to allow TC4 to relocate to their property and with only 5 days notice, Kirkland Congregational Church voted to invite TC4 to locate on church property. This brought another lawsuit from community activists citing the same issues as before, and won. Despite this, the Kirkland City Council suspended land use laws and allowed TC4 to remain without permits as long as SHARE signed an agreement not to locate in Kirkland before August 2006.

Lake Washington United Methodist Church - Kirkland (May-August 2005}

Barely a month after its move to KCCUCC, TC4 received an invitation to locate on the property of Lake Washington United Methodist Church. This advanced notice allowed the church to file for a permit 30 days in advance and for the first time since its creation, TC4 arrives at a location with permits in hand.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page).

Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church - Cottage Lake near Woodinville (August-November 2005)

WUUC was the first church to apply for a permit under King County's new rules for homeless encampments. Of primary concern with this site was the rural location with poor access to transportation and services for Tent City residents.

Temple B'nai Torah - Bellevue's Crossroads area (November 2005-February 2006)

Under its new permitting process Tent City 4 was limited by the City of Bellevue to 40 residents and 60 days duration. These limits were a result of the resources the Temple had available, and resulted in the Church and SHARE filing a lawsuit against the City of Bellevue to challenge the rules. The parties negotiated a consent decree where TC4 and its supporters acknowledged that Bellevue was within its rights to adopt these code changes in exchange for allowing TC4 to stay 90 days at the Temple and St Lukes sites in Bellevue and agreeing not to return to the city for one year.

St. Lukes Lutheran Church - Bellevue's North Towne community (February-May 2006)

As part of the consent decree between SHARE and the City of Bellevue a second consecutive stay within the Bellevue City limits and TC4 located at St. Lukes in north Bellevue as a result. The sites proximity to active bus routes, shopping center, and near Hwy 520 and Interstate 405 made for better access to services for the campers.

Northshore United Church of Christ - Woodinville (May-current 2006)

Three weeks before TC4 was required to leave Bellevue, NUCC requested that the city again provide the public park property for use by TC4 for a period of 60 days.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page). If the city was unwilling, the church announced it would evaluate whether TC4 could lawfully relocate on church property for 90 days without a permit. The city council declined to make the park available and informed the church that it would face a full legal response and code enforcement effort if it went ahead with the move. Despite these threats, NUCC announced that TC4 may relocate on church property on May 13. The city filed a motion for a Temporary Restraining Order with King County Superior Court on May 12.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page). After reviewing the city's briefing and hearing oral argument, Judge Palmer Robinson issued a temporary restraining order preventing the city from taking code enforcement action until the May 24 hearing and allowing TC4 to move onto church property, subject to certain conditions.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page). The City of Woodinville filed for injunctive relief, breach of contract and collection of damages with the King County Superior Court presided by Judge Mertel on May 30. Hearing of the case continued daily while the parties participated in court-ordered mediation to resolve the situation. Woodinville did not relinquish its claims during mediation and stood firm in its citizen supported resolve to hold NUCC and SHARE/WHEEL accountable to their previous 2004 agreement with the city and also seeking financial restitution to cover neighborhood security.[1] On June 9, Judge Mertel ruled the encampment and church were in violation of their 2004 agreement with the city and ordered the encampment to vacate the site by midnight June 17.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page). On June 13, 2006, NUCC and SHARE/WHEEL filed an appeal with the state Court of Appeals arguing that the city's land use code is an unconstitutional infringement upon the church's religious expression, that the church did not violate the 2004 agreement between the church and city, and that the church was denied its constitutional right to a trial by jury.[2] On June 16, the Washington State Court of Appeals found there were debatable issues on appeal and issued a stay of the trial court's decision.[3]

First Evangelical Lutheran Church - Bothell (August-November 2006) (Proposed)

On June 5, 2006, the city of Bothell announced that First Evangelical Lutheran Church filed a permit request under the city's new homeless encampment ordinance. The church has received authorization from the City to allow TC4 to move onto its propertly starting August 12.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page).

St. John Vianney Catholic Church - Finn Hill (November 2006-February 2007) (Proposed)

In May 2006 the Pastor announced in his monthly newsletter that they intend to become the first church to host Tent City 4 for a second time.[4]

Controversy over Tent City 4

While religious and spiritual communities, organizations, and some community members have welcomed and supported the presence of Tent City 4 in east King County, Tent City 4 has encountered vocal and active opposition from other residents of the communities it moves to.[5] Part of this opposition is because Tent City 4 has located itself without permits or public process it has faced opposition in the communities it moves to.[6] Despite assurances and reports by King County Sheriff's Office and other local police departments that there have been no increases in crime rates in areas TC4 moves to,[7][8] this opposition has also been fueled by increased crime rates, which have been supported by independent analyses by TC4 opponents.[9] Many suburban cities have created code amendments for permitting that attempt to balance the desires of churches choosing to host the encampments and community desires for rules that address their public safety and welfare concerns. SHARE and the Curches that host them assert that Tent City 4 is simply an imperfect temporary solution in the ongoing problem of homelessness within East King County, and that closing the camp will not eliminate the supply of homeless individuals who arrive at Tent City with no other apparent options.[citation needed]

After Tent City 4 found its first home in Bothell, another lawsuit was filed, and intense negotiations took place over issues related to the camp. Central to the lawsuit was the proximity to four schools and the resulting financial damage they incurred. The main points of contention included the city of Bothell's desire to require the encampment's residents to provide identification for warrant checks, and the church to either hire private security or pay overtime to the Bothell Police, and to provide liability insurance of at least $1 million. A judge hearing the issue refused to order these conditions; they may be included in finalized permit requirements. At that time the judge ordered SHARE/WHEEL to obtain permits for their encampments.

As a result of public pressure King County Councilmember Carolyn Edmonds proposed a citizens' commission be formed to study the siting issues. On June 1, 2004, the council voted to create the King County Citizens' Advisory Commission on Homelessness and Encampments (CACHE) to recommend policies and guidelines for dealing with homelessness.

On August 13, 2004, CACHE submitted its final report citing a need for homeless encampments "because current regional efforts are inadequate to meet the needs of homeless men, women and families"[10] and approving of the use of both public and private land to house the homeless encampments as a short-term solution. On the same day the dissenting members of the commission submitted their report to the council, finding fault with how the members of CACHE were selected, how the data was collected and used, and a general feeling that the report was affected more by inputs from special interest groups and county staff than the citizens it was formed to represent. The report also included recommendations for the handling of homeless encampments and alternatives to them.[11] The council included the report in the record and voted to direct the executive to consider its findings when drafting proposed legislation.

An article in The Woodinville Weekly quotes Tent City 4 residents who criticize SHARE/WHEEL's operation of the encampments, alleging that some expensive, high technology donations have been sold at auction to raise funds.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page). Another local paper that advocates for homeless issues, Real Change News, admonished the City of Woodinville for spending taxpayer money on legal fees attempting to exclude Tent City 4 instead of seeking proactive solutions to end homelessness and poverty.

The King County Council heard public testimony on February 7, 2005 on two pieces of amended legislation addressing the issue of homeless encampments in King County. This bi-partisan legislation, a result of months of compromise in an attempt to find a middle ground for all parties, was scrapped and a new one was drafted behind closed doors in negotiations between Councilmember Edmonds and the Church Council of Greater Seattle. In May 2005 this new legislation was moved before, and passed by, the council without advance public notice or ability to review and comment by the public. As a result King County has eliminated the ability for public input and Tent Cities can now be created in unincorporated King County without a permit. In a last minute move to secure enough votes for passage this issue was set to be revisited after one year and the new, nine-member, King County Council will address it in 2006. Legislation with the intent to bring County code in line with those of the suburban cites is being considered, but there is little unanimity between jurisdictions.

The county's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness identifies an end to tent cities by 2015, when a more adequate system of shelters, transitional housing, and affordable permanent housing is in place.

References

  1. ^ Tent City4 Information Page City of Woodinville. Retrieved on June 12, 2006.
  2. ^ Whitely, Peyton. Tent City 4's eviction appealed to state court. The Seattle Times. June 14, 2006. Retrieved on June 15, 2006.
  3. ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003067489&zsection_id=2002119868&slug=tent17e&date=20060617
  4. ^ Wright, Michael. From the Desks of Father Mike. The St. John Vianney Parish Bulletin. Retrieved on June 12, 2006.
  5. ^ Knutson, Jeanette. Church readies for Tent City visit. Northwest News. July 25, 2005. Retrieved on June 16, 2006.
  6. ^ Perry, Nick. Bothell residents vent over tent city for homeless. The Seattle Times. May 4, 2004. Retrieved on June 16, 2006.
  7. ^ Tuinstra, Rachel. Finn Hill homeless camp due to move. The Seattle Times. February 13, 2005. Retrieved on June 16, 2006.
  8. ^ Conover, Forrest. Tent City Final Report. City of Bothell. September 30, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2004.
  9. ^ Crime and Tent City. Tent City Solutions. Retrieved on June 16, 2006.
  10. ^ Hamilton, Sherry. Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Homeless Encampments releases final report and recommendations. King County Department of Community and Human Services. August 13, 2004. Retrieved on June 12, 2006.
  11. ^ Citizens Advisory Commission on Homeless Encampments Dissenting Report. TentCitySolutions.com. August 15, 2004. Retrieved on June 12, 2006.

See also

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