Metropolitan King County Council Chair Larry Phillips calls the new regulations for the issuance of temporary use permits for temporary homeless encampments on private land in unincorporated King County adopted by the Council strike a balance that protects the rights of the churches and the communities where the encampments are located.

“A progressive King County Council joined with the faith communities of King County to effectively address our moral obligation to the poor, infirm and homeless,” said Phillips. “Homelessness affects every corner of this county, and I’m glad the faith communities, neighbors and progressives on our council came together to do our part.”

The Church Council of Greater Seattle and the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle were joined by other local clergy in voicing their support for the ordinance at the May 2 meeting of the Council. Representatives from Kirkland Congregational Church and St. John Mary Vianney Catholic Church – two congregations that hosted Tent City 4 in the past year – testified that camp residents were good neighbors and posed no problems.

“Tent City encampments have resided within Council District Four nine times in the past few years—at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Crown Hill United Methodist, and Trinity United Methodist. Churches in unincorporated King County now have an ordinance in place similar to the city of Seattle’s that makes it easier for the faith community to exercise their right to provide sanctuary for the poor,” said Phillips. “The ordinance also protects the rights of residents who are sharing their neighborhoods with these encampments by setting up clear guidelines that ensure everyone will be involved in the process before the encampment is put in place. This is compassionate, constitutional and good for our communities.”

The ordinance adopted by the council will guide site selection, assure basic public health and safety in the operation of encampments, minimize impacts on neighbors, and make sure the immediate neighborhood is notified and has an opportunity for input and dialogue prior to the start of each encampment. The recommendations of the Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Homeless Encampments, appointed by the Council last summer, provided the basis for the ordinance which:

• Amends the King County Code to allow groups seeking a temporary use permit for an encampment to apply for a Type 1 land use permit decision. Decisions on Type 1 permits are made by the director of the Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES).

• Requires the host organization to give two weeks’ notice to all homes and businesses within 500 feet of the encampment before the anticipated start of an encampment. The public notice must include the name of the host organization, the number of people allowed in the encampment, and dates, times and locations of any community meetings to discuss the encampment.

• Requires a community meeting be held at least 10 days prior to the start of an encampment.

The ordinance also provides that:

• The encampment may stay on the site for no more than 92 days—including setup and dismantling of the facility.

• No more than 100 people may reside at an encampment.

• The host and managing agency will be responsible for ensuring that all public health regulations are met, including toilet and shower facilities, food preparation, garbage removal and public safety.

• The encampment must be within a half-mile of a bus stop. During hours when public transportation is not available, the host organization will make transportation available to those who are turned away or ordered to leave the encampment

“Tent cities are a temporary solution, and working with the public and agencies that are part of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County, one that I hope will soon be unnecessary,” said Phillips. “Until then, we must continue to work with congregations like the Kirkland Congregational Church and St. John Mary Vianney and their neighbors to assist those seeking the safety and community these encampments provide.”

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s
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