Tent City - Temporary Homeless Encampments

Contents

• Legislation
• About Tent City Camps in King County
• Tent City Provisions in King County Cities and Towns
• Homeless Encampment Provisions in Other Washington Jurisdictions

Legislation

In 2010, the Washington Legislature passed Laws of 2010, ch. 175 (ESHB 1956) (), which authorizes religious organizations to host temporary encampments for homeless persons on property owned or controlled by a religious organization. The legislation grants broad authority to religious organizations to provide shelter or housing to homeless persons on property owned or controlled by such organizations. It prohibits local governments from enacting an ordinance or regulation that imposes conditions other than those necessary to protect the public health and safety and that do not substantially burden the decisions or actions of a religious organization with respect to the provision of homeless housing. It also prohibits the imposition of permit fees in excess of the actual costs associated with the review and approval of the required permit applications for homeless housing encampments. [From House Bill Report ESHB 1956 ()]

About Tent City Camps in King County

Tent City in King County is a temporary encampment of up to 100 homeless persons who live in a group of tents on the property of a host for approximately 90 days. The camps have managers and a code of conduct for residents.

The program in King County is sponsored and managed by SHARE/WHEEL [Seattle Housing and Resource Efforts (SHARE) and Women's Housing, Equality, and Enhancement League (WHEEL)]. The first community, called Tent City 3, was located in Seattle. The program was allowed to continue in Seattle under a 2002 consent decree. SHARE/WHEEL Tent City 3 has had camp sites in the communities on the west side of Lake Washington. Share/Wheel established Tent City 4 in the spring of 2004 on the Eastside after working out an agreement with King County. Local governments in King County issue conditional use permits for the temporary camps, and Seattle-King County Public Health provides support services to camp managers.

This webpage provides the local government documents related to temporary permitting for Tent City. Most examples come from King County; however, cities outside of King County have also enacted provisions that are also included. If you have anything that would be of interest for this page, please contact the page editor.

Tent City Provisions in King County Cities and Towns

• King County Citizen's Advisory Commission on Homeless Encampments Final Report (), 08/13/2004 - The Metropolitan King County Council created the King County Citizens' Advisory Commission on Homeless Encampments (CACHE) in 2004 to address four specific topics related to the complex and controversial issue of encampments of persons who are homeless in King County.
• Auburn
  • Auburn Resolution No. 3808 (), passed 01/2005 - Establishes a moratorium on acceptance of applications for licenses, permits, and approvals relating to transitory accommodations
  • Auburn Ordinance No. 6014 (), passed 06/2006 - Adopts regulations related to homeless encampments
• Burien (Tent City 3) - City of Burien Temporary Use Permit for Tent City, 11/01/2002
• Bothell (Tent City 4)
  • Bothell Resolution No. 1159 - Stating the city of Bothell position regarding King County's siting of Tent City 4
  • Bothell Resolution No. 1162 - Finding that Tent City 4 presents special circumstances warranting a different review process than normally would apply to campgrounds, and establishes a special conditional use process applicable specifically to Tent City 4
  • Bothell Ordinance No. 1927 - Establishing a six-month moratorium on the use of property for transitory accommodations
  • Bothell Ordinance No. 1943 (), passed 02/2005 - Renews the moratorium for an additional six months
  • Bothell Ordinance No. 1955 (), passed 12/2005 - Establishes regulations concerning transitory accommodations
  • Bothell Tent City 4 Special Conditional Use Permit, issued 07/19/2004
  • City of Bothell v. St. Brendan Parish, King County Superior Court
    • Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on City's Motion for Preliminary Injunction
    • First Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
    • City’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction
    • Preliminary Injunction
    • SHARE/WHEEL Response to Motion for Injunction
    • Memorandum of St. Brendan Parish Opposing Preliminary Injunction
  • Tent City 4 - Final Bothell Police Department Report, 09/30/2004
• Issaquah Tent City Information
• Kirkland (Tent City 4)
  • Kirkland Tent City 4 Information
  • Kirkland Ordinance No. 4047 () - Temporary use provisions for homeless encampments
• Mercer Island Tent City Information
• Redmond Tent City
• Seattle
  • Considering Our Options for a City-Sanctioned Homeless Encampment, Mayor McGuinn, 11/08/2010
  • Community Meeting on Encampments, 11/18/2010
  • Consent Decree () between SHARE/WHEEL, El Centro de la Raza and the City of Seattle, 03/13/2002 - Tent City 3 is governed by its consent decree with the City of Seattle when it locates within city boundaries. That consent decree was signed in 2002. It is a different model b,ut similar to the King County County model. (The county used Seattle's consent decree in settling with SHARE/WHEEL regarding the dispute over the first siting of Tent City 4 in Bothell.). The city's consent decree operates as an omnibus temporary use permit.
• SeaTac Ordinance No. 05-1017 (), passed 10/2005 - Adopts development standards for homeless encampments
• Shoreline (Tent City 3)
  • Administrative Order #301138 - A Decision on Application for Temporary Use Permit, 12/06/2002 - The proposal is for the Shoreline Free Methodist Church (510 NE 175th Street, Shoreline) to host a Tent City temporary homeless camp on the church property.
  • Shoreline Police Memorandum, re: Tent City Recap, 10/26/2004
  • Shoreline Tent City Survey Results
  • Shoreline Ordinance No. 368 (), passed 02/2005 - Amends development code Ch. 20.40, requires applicant to hold a neighborhood meeting prior to application
• Woodinville (Tent City 4)
  • Understanding Temporary Shelters for Homeless - Chronology of Tent City 4 in Woodinville
  • Woodinville Ordinance No. 369 (), passed 08/2004 - Permits Tent City 4 to use undeveloped parkland as a temporary location for up to 40 days
  • Woodinville Ordinance No. 370 (), passed 08/2004 - Amends Ordinance No. 369
  • Woodinville Ordinance No. 371 (), passed 08/2004 - Extends time for negotiating an agreement per Ordinance No. 370
  • Woodinville Ordinance No. 372 (), passed 09/2004 - Authorizes the City Manager to amend the August 27 Temporary Property Use Agreement as needed, including the ability to extend the authorized duration during which Tent City 4 may remain on City property

Homeless Encampment Provisions in Other Washington Jurisdictions

• Lynnwood Municipal Code Ch. 21.74 - Temporary Tent Encampments
• Mountlake Terrace Ordinance No. 2568 () - Adds new code chapter 19.111 on temporary shelter encampments, passed 07/05/2011
• Olympia Municipal Code Ch. 18.50 - Temporary Homeless Encampments
• Spokane Municipal Code Ch. 10.08C - Homeless Encampments