Tracy Arant says for many people it’s a thin line between having a home and being homeless.
The Tent City3 member was part of a nine-member panel talking to about 35 interested residents that live near the Seattle Pacific University campus. SHARE/WHEEL, the organization which manages the temporary encampment of about 100 homeless people known as Tent City3, organized the Jan. 10 meeting along with SPU to help interested citizens learn more about the encampment and to answer their questions concerning the project. The temporary encampment is moving to the school’s Wallace Field, along Nickerson Street, from Jan. 21 through Mar. 24.
“We are your aunt and your uncle; we are your brother and sister; we are people and unfortunately we get caught in circumstances,” said Arant, who has been with Tent City3 for roughly half a year now. “But we are people and we want to be treated as such.”
The evening’s questions covered the full spectrum of issues, including the following: How would community safety be ensured? How are Tent City members screened and tracked? Who is responsible for litter and clean up? Will this be scary for young children? What happens when members do not follow the Tent City rules? How are unruly members dealt with? How do members take showers and do laundry?
The questions were tough. But panel members’ answers were thorough. As the meeting continued, concepts regarding the essence of homelessness arose. Arant noted that ending up in places such as Tent City is not uncommon in today’s society. She talked about volunteering at a food bank and meeting people who had jobs and homes, but their entire paychecks when to paying their bills. They had to come to the food bank to feed their families.
“This isn’t the land of plenty anymore,” Arant said. “And even a college education is no guarantee. Most people are a paycheck from living on the street. That’s the reality these days. It’s not just drug addicts or alcoholics or the scum of the earth. We are normal people who got caught up in unfortunate circumstances.”
Near the end of the half-hour meeting, attendees began asking how they could help Tent City members. People asked if they could bring their girl or boy scout troops to the site; if they could sign up to bring members meals; or if they could simply bring down a favorite dish.
“Come on by!,” a panel member exclaimed, and the room broke out into laughter.
Dr. Jeffrey C. Jordan, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of student life at SPU was “absolutely thrilled,” at how the meeting went.
Jordan said that overall, the general community has been supportive of the university’s Tent City3 hosting efforts.
“The initial response had some fairly negative comments, but the majority response has always been positive,” Jordan said. “The reality is, in the last three weeks, we have gotten very few unsupportive comments.”
Jordan said he believes this opportunity would boost student education, while advancing the university’s mission. The school would cover the costs, but those would be minimal, and the educational worth of this opportunity would be priceless.
“Here’s the deal – we would have cost for any sort of educational experience for our community,” Jordan said, in reference to salary payments and time reimbursements for guest speakers and adjunct faculty. “The reality is this is a great opportunity to be educated about homelessness. And that value piece I think is tremendous.”
Tent City3 began in March 31, 2000 and has moved over 70 times since, including stints at Rainier Beach, Beacon Hill, Seattle University, Burien, Shoreline and other neighborhoods. SHARE/WHEEL has existed for 21 years, and is now the largest and most inexpensive provider of shelter in King County, according to SHARE/WHEEL literature. In May of 2004, another Tent City was founded – Tent City4 – and also moves to and from suburban King County cities.
More than 3,500 people sleep outside throughout King County, even after every indoor shelter bed has been filled. Tent City members reportedly feel safe from the assault, robbery and abuse that typically accompany homelessness. Tent City members regularly acquire jobs and move out of Tent City into typical living facilities.
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