Puyallup’s homeless could have a new option for shelter come winter.
While some homeless people and their advocates looked on happily from the audience, the Puyallup City Council on Tuesday night approved an ordinance allowing religious groups to host tent cities and other types of temporary encampments.
Leaders of a coalition that’s been serving the city’s homeless for about 10 years say they’re ready to start work on the first camp.
Pierce County counted 1,807 homeless people in January. Leaders of the Puyallup coalition believe the number in the city to be at least 400, based on information from social service agencies.
“I think it’s great the city recognized we have so many homeless people,” said Peter Andrews, chairman of the Puyallup Homeless Coalition.
The city joins other local governments, including Milton and University Place, that now have rules on the books allowing and regulating temporary homeless camps. Cities are responding to a law passed by the state Legislature this year that says religious groups can host tent cities. The law also allows local governments to regulate them.
Under Puyallup’s new rules, homeless encampments can serve up to 40 people and last a maximum of 90 days. Only one camp may operate at a time.
Coalition leaders point to Camp Quixote in Thurston County as a model. That camp, which started more than three years ago, operates year-round at rotating locations.
The Puyallup Homeless Coalition approached the city last year about allowing temporary camps. Coalition leaders, church representatives and members of the homeless community packed a council meeting last October in support of the idea.
The council considered an ordinance similar to the one approved Tuesday, but held off on a decision, asking that more research be done.
The city assigned a staff member to act as a liaison to the coalition. She worked with leaders over the last several months.
The coalition got an early look at the new ordinance and gave feedback before it went to the council.
The homeless encampments can be indoors or outdoors. They must have water, toilets, hand-washing stations and garbage cans. They also must be “buffered and screened” from neighbors, and people living there must agree to a code of conduct including no illegal drugs, alcohol or weapons.
Council members went back and forth Tuesday over some details of the ordinance, including whether the camps should be limited to a smaller number of people. But the vote to approve the new rules was unanimous.
“We did a wonderful thing tonight,” said Councilman Rick Hansen.
Homeless advocates in the audience clapped and gave each other high-fives after the ordinance passed. Ted Brackman, co-founder of the Puyallup Homeless Coalition, said shelter beds are available to the city’s homeless, but not nearly enough to meet the demand.
People are living in abandoned buildings, in the woods and in their cars, he said.
The coalition is closely connected with Puyallup’s faith community and plans to work with churches to coordinate the temporary camps, he said.
They feel a sense of urgency.
“With winter coming, it’d be nice if people didn’t have to live in bushes,” he said. “We’re hoping to at least get some of this going right away.”
Leaders of Camp Quixote showed up to the meeting to lend support.
Rev. Arthur Vaeni of Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, which helps with the camp, said the operation is accepted by the community and has had few problems.
It’s self-governing, with residents taking on leadership roles.
“A wonderful thing that’s happened is that it’s not just a place for housing folks, it’s a community,” he said. “It’s quite remarkable to see the support given by (residents) to each other.”
Dale Starkweather, 45, who’s been living in the camp 11/2 years and serves as vice president, said he’s glad to see the Puyallup council pave the way for a homeless encampment. More and more people could find themselves in need of such a place because of the economy, he said.
“It’s a problem that’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he said.
Sara Schilling: 253-552-7058
sara.schilling@thenewstribune.com
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