East Pierce County city considers safe parking site for those experiencing homelessness
There is a chance the city of Orting will soon have a safe parking site managed by a local community center for residents experiencing homelessness.
The Recovery Cafe Orting Valley presented its safe parking program proposal to the Orting City Council during a Nov. 15 study session. The program would give unhoused residents a place to stay and receive support to transition to long-term housing.
“This is a very deliberate program,” Anthony Kagochi, director of the Recovery Cafe Orting Valley, told The News Tribune.
There will be a public hearing about the program 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, during the City Council meeting. The public can provide testimony in person at 104 Bridge St. S. or online at us06web.zoom.us/j/87518687268?pwd=euf6ToVrJupTcyQ2Ad8jrU4NNTrovR.1.
It’s not clear what the next steps would be, following the public hearing.
When asked if the recovery cafe needs the council’s approval to start the program, City Administrator Scott Larson told The News Tribune: “The recovery café leases their current building from the city so it is a contractual question as well as a policy issue.”
Asked what steps the council needs to take for the parking site to open, Kagochi said: “The council wanted to hear from the public before moving forward. This meeting will be an opportunity for individuals to speak up in support or not to support the program. ... Nothing is ‘needed’ from the council to move forward, this is their assurance that they hear community voices first.”
The nonprofit recovery cafe at 110 Train St. SE works with those impacted by homelessness, addiction and trauma, among other things. They offer recovery, case management and mental health support services.
The recovery cafe used to be a fire station. There is a covered parking space onsite that is fenced off. The plan is to have three recreational living units such as RVs, campers or tents parked there — no longer than 30 days — at a time.
Kagochi said those interested in participating in the program would need to pass a criminal background check and reference check. They would also need to follow rules and regulations that would be in place.
For example:
- Residents would be required to work with a case manager and other peer service staff on goals such as finding long-term housing.
- No weapons, drugs, alcohol or other illicit substances would be allowed.
- Residents would be required to keep designated spaces clean.
- Personal belongings would have to remain in the recreational living unit, unless authorized otherwise.
- Residents would have a 9 p.m. curfew.
The residents would have access to a refrigerator, dish-washing station and microwave. The recovery cafe would help provide clothes, shoes and hygiene products. Residents would have access to the recovery cafe during regular business hours.
Kagochi said the program has been an idea for a long time. The recovery cafe did not have the staffing for the program until a few months ago, he said. He believes that’s an important factor for an effective parking program.
“Our case managers will already be here,” Kagochi said. “A lot of safe parking programs … provide the parking but not the people.”
Kagochi said he learned from a safe parking program in Spanaway that it’s important to have staff onsite so residents get the help they need.
The recovery cafe has 13 staff members. Kagochi said nine of them would be around during regular business hours. There would be a 24-hour hotline for residents to call after hours.
Tara Fanson, the cafe’s divisions manager, said it may cost the recovery cafe about $300 per month, minus employee costs, to run the parking program. That would come out of the cafe’s budget.
If all goes as planned, the soonest the parking program would open is February 2024, Kagochi said.
