Frequently Asked questions about Tent City:

(From a St. Joseph's handout. Comments in italics from Andrew Taylor, based mainly on what he heard at the meeting).

What is Tent City?

Tent City is not a permanent place to live. It serves as temporary shelter and it exists as a launching pad to help people get back on their feet.

Tent city is a group of up to 100 homeless men, women, and, in rare temporary cases, children, who live together in a group of tents on the property of a host. They live only on land onto which they have been invited. In the community, there is a large, 20-man tent, a big tent for single women, and smaller tents, including some that are only large enough for one individual. There is also a large supply tent and welcome / information center where tent city residents can pick up bus tickets, come with concerns, or take care of other important matters.

How many people live in Tent City?
Up to 100 persons (plus up to 20 "drop-ins" who arrive at the door and are allowed to stay for one night)

Is Tent City legal?
Temporary encampments for homeless individuals are allowed in Seattle under the terms of a 2002 agreement between the City of Seattle, SHARE/WHEEL, and ElCentro de la Raza. The agreement sets a number of conditions for temporary encampments, including setbacks from property lines or screening, the maximum number of residents in a an encampment and duration of encampment in any one location. No public health or safety rules have been waived by this agreement.

Why does Tent City exist?
Apart from the basic reason of there not being enough shelters in the city of Seattle or King County to house all the people who are homeless, tent city exists for several reasons. The primary reason given by the residents was so that families could stay together. It is the policy of shelters to separate the residents by gender, so this Share/Wheel sponsored program offers the families an alternative to the shelter model.
The other major reason for tent city to exist is that of safety. It is often too dangerous for people without homes to be on their own, sleeping in public places and under overpasses. There have been incidents in the Seattle area where a homeless individual was killed arbitrarily due to be exposed and vulnerable by his or her self. The third reason is that it makes it more convenient for homeless people to go about living what would be though of as a more "normal" life, going to work, interviews, and appointments without having to carry all their possessions with them during all hours of the day.

Who lives in Tent City?
Men, women and occasional children who have become homeless due to many and varied reasons.

Why does Tent City stay on church properties?
It is illegal for Tent City to stay in City Parks. Tent City has stayed on Church properties because Churches have invited them onto their properties as an extension of their church ministry.

What do the people of Tent City ask for or need from the hosts at the site?
Tent city asks for nothing more than a piece of land on which to live. The people do not expect, nor ask for food, electricity, water, or any such thing from its hosts.

Does Tent City ever stay other places than churches?
Yes, Tent City has stayed at El Centro de la Raza, a social service agency in Seattle.

How does Tent City operate?
Tent City is sponsored by the organization SHARE/WHEEL. An elected council of residents governs Tent City. They enforce a strict code of conduct. Two security workers are on duty at all times and check in with all visitors. They patrol the grounds and at the host's request can also patrol neighboring areas. (two people on patrol 24 hours a day)

How have the congregations who have hosted in the past been involved?
Two examples are: Trinity United Methodist Church invited members of the congregation to prepare dinner and dine with residents of Tent City on Saturday evenings in the church hall. St. Therese Catholic Church hosted weekly potlucks. Residents of Tent City used the available showers at Trinity United Methodist Church. It is up to the congregation as to their involvement with residents.

How has Tent City been treated by churches who have hosted them?
Tent City has excellent relationships with all of the other churches they have stayed with. Most of the churches have invited Tent City to come back a second time. Each congregation has invited and welcomed Tent City residents to join worship.

How does Tent City decide where to stay?
Tent City resides only at places that invite them to come and stay. If they have no invitation to stay anywhere, they must disband and live where every they can find to stay as safe and dry as possible, i.e. under bridges, in secluded parks, in alcoves of buildings.

How does Tent City affect the neighborhood they are staying in?
Crime goes down because Tent City provides 24-hour walking security services and reports any suspicious activities to police. The blocks surrounding the site become cleaner as the Security walkers also pick up trash. Local businesses gain customers who purchase items such as coffee and groceries. Other churches and communities where Tent City has resided have reported a decrease in crime.

How does Tent city or the congregation notify the surrounding community?
Per the agreement with the City, it is required that notices be provided to properties within 800 feet or 2 blocks of the encampment location, whichever is greater and that a public meeting be held in the neighborhood for information purposes 5-14 days prior to the establishment of the encampment. SHARE/WHEEL informs the neighbors of the presence of Tent City, how it works and of the promise to leave if any problem occurs which we cannot correct or stop from repeating.

Why do the people of Tent City not stay somewhere else, like public places, Sand Point Naval Base, or some other land?
Public places can cost money, which tent city residents cannot afford to pay. Also, in many cases the presence of a large group of tents for homeless people would be illegal. The people are always looking for an improvement on their status and in search of a better arrangement for living, as the residents are honest about the fact that they do not like nor want to be living in tents. Tent city residents are looking for a permanent location, somewhere like Sand Point Naval Base, but thus far no suitable offer has been made nor any arrangement been reached.

Who is SHARE/WHEEL?
SHARE is an organization to homeless and recently homeless men and women doing their best to make their condition better and wipe out homelessness. WHEEL is a women's group, SHARE'S sister organization, that works on problems of homelessness affecting women.

What does SHARE/WHEEL do?
Here are some of the things SHARE/WHEEL does: Provides short and long term storage lockers; coordinates and oversees 15 overnight shelters for men and women, serving up to 325 men and women each night. These overnight shelters are located in churches. SW sponsors Tent city by arranging for the provisions of bus tickets, lockers and storage units, garbage pick-up and removal, and Sani-cans that are emptied 3 times each week.

Does the City and or county support Tent City in any way?
As stated above, the City of Seattle has made encampment agreements with Tent City. The City or County does not provide any financial assistance for Tent City.

How long will Tent City exist?
Tent City will continue to exist as it currently is as long as it continues to have invitations to stay at organizations and churches. People will continue to live in Tents and on the streets as long as homelessness prevails.

How long has Tent City been around?
Tent city was first organized in 1990 and the group has moved 29 times in the greater Seattle area since then.

How does Tent City move around?
Tent City packs up all it's tents and cooking facilities, generators and coffee pots and moves by moving trucks.

How long does Tent City stay at one place?
Tent City has been located at sites for as little as several days. Once a host has set a time period for their stay no further extensions are requested. They prefer to stay in once location at least 4 weeks as moving is rather involved and expensive. The group has a written agreement with the city of Seattle that it will stay no longer than three consecutive months at any given location. In numerous cases the people of tent city make an arrangement with the host to stay for less than three months

Where has Tent City been thus far?
El Centro de la Raza, Northgate Baptist, Star Missionary Baptist Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila, Trinity United Methodist Church, Lake City Christian, St. Therese Roman Catholic Church, All Saint's Episcopal Church in Rainier Valley, Advent Christian Church, Church by the Side of the Road in Tukwila, Crown Hill United Methodist Church, Dunlap Baptist Church in Rainier Valley, Haller Lake United Methodist Church, North Seattle Church of the Nazarene, Rainier Ave Free Methodist Church, Seattle Advent Christian Church, Showers of Blessings Church in Rainier. Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church.

What about the noise levels, are they controlled?
Quiet hours are observed from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

How do Tent City members cook?
No food is prepared on site. Everything is brought in. Leftover perishable soups and casseroles are removed directly after being served. Most residents eat off site and prepare meals in microwaves in other locations such as the Urban Rest Stop or Compass Center Service Center.

Where does Tent City get food?
Residents purchase their own food for consumption and prepare it off site. Tent City does receive donated food such as bread, rolls and coffee.

Is the church responsible for the water and electricity and restrooms for Tent City?
SHARE/WHEEL can provide all utilities. They have infrastructure to bring in water daily and haul out garbage daily. They have a contract with Northwest Cascade Honeybuckets for 4 Sanicans that are pumped out three times a week. No electricity is needed; they have propane lanterns and coolers with ice. Hand washing stations are placed near both the food and Sanican areas. Wastewater is emptied in the nearest city sewage-draining receptacle. A hosting church may offer to provide electrical and water hook ups for Tent City. A hosting church may also offer the use of their inside facilities.

What happens if someone in Tent City gets sick?
If it is a serious life threatening illness or accident, 911 is called and an ambulance requested. Otherwise other residents go to the doctor or clinic on their own. (Will they use the "Country Doctor" Medical Clinic 2 blocks away? Will they overwhelm the facility?)

How does the government of Tent City respond to violent or out of control behavior?
No violence is tolerated. No weapons are allowed. Sobriety is required. No verbal or physical abuse is tolerated. If any of these occur, people are asked to leave, if they do not leave, the police are called. (The person being evicted is escorted to a bus stop and put on a bus, and hence does not hang around in the neighborhood)

Do resident of Tent City work?
60% of residents work. The other 40% are either looking for work or are unable to work due to medical conditions.

What do residents of Tent City do during the day?
Many of the people work ­ approximately 60 % of the men and 20 % of the women ­ others are actively looking for employment, others go to appointments, primarily doctor appointments to take care of health issues, which in some cases preclude work.
There are some residents who stay at Tent City during the day to help with food or supplies and to work security.

Where do residents of Tent City take showers and do laundry?
The Downtown Emergency Service center, the Urban Rest stop and Compass Center Service center all offer showering and laundry facilities. (Andrew Taylor pointed out that there were showers available for public use at Miller Community Center, 3 blocks from the proposed campsite. Staff at the Community Center report that the showers are occasionally used by the homeless. They were concerned that use by many Tent City residents might overwhelm the shower facilities. The recreation facilites at Miller (TV, games, etc) are occasionally used by the homeless: this works well, but sleeping at the Center is not allowed).

Are there people with mental illness in Tent City? Are they stable?
Tent City does not screen people or ask people if they have mental illness. They expect every resident to follow the code of conduct and do their fair share of work. If someone is unable to do those two things they are asked to leave. In the past, usually those who are incompliant or unable to remain stable and non-compliant with the code weed themselves out. They haven't had any problems in the last 3 years with anyone being actively psychotic or suicidal or manic-depressive.

Are Sexual Offenders allowed to stay in Tent City?
They do not allow Sexual Offenders to stay in Tent City. To check this, they go to the County Web site and check the sexual offenders list that is public record. (Seattle Police officials have reported that this website is notoriously out of date.).

Are there children in Tent City?
Children who come with their parents late at night are allowed to stay one night on an emergency basis only. Families with children are referred on to appropriate shelters with children. Tent City is adult only.