Our newest neighbors - United We Stand
Sunday, April 5, 2015
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| A tidy little enclave in the trees Photo copyright Marc Weinberg |
Text and photos by Marc Weinberg
An extended family of 26 “friends and family” have relocated to Shoreline. You may have driven past their new residence and not even noticed because they are living on 15th Ave NW just north of Richmond Beach Congregational Church, (1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline, WA 98177, 206 542-7477).
Going by the church on 195th at 15th Ave NW you cannot see the wooded setting where they have erected their tents. Our newest ‘tent dwellers’ are a congenial group of adults (and two children) who, with the help of this church and many other Shoreline congregations, have set up their little village in a tree shaded lot.
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| Treasure from the past Photo copyright Marc Weinberg |
They have some electrical power, mostly for lighting and charging devices for communications and seeking employment. For showers they must ride the bus to Shoreline Center. Their one large tent serves as kitchen and storage for community essentials, mostly food. Unlike other ‘tent city’ type dwellings their permit allows for an open flame so they can cook on a gas camp stove and a barbeque. Provisions are made throughout the camp for fire extinguishers in accordance with their permit and inspection.
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| Mike enjoys time with his best friend Photo copyright Marc Weinberg |
A separate tent provides storage for donations of clothing, bedding and other personal items. Tents are raised off the ground on wooden pallets as a foundation and topped with plywood. Just as you would expect, most have their collection of personal items, like you and I do, so tents are often decorated with pleasant memories.
This camp is called ‘United We Stand.’ I encourage you to find out more about their needs by going to the website of Greater Seattle Cares where there is a page devoted to this camp.
There you will find a list of needs and most importantly a calendar where individuals, churches and other groups have signed up to provide a meal.
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| A place to call home Photo copyright Marc Weinberg |
St. Luke Parish provided an Easter Sunday meal. At least one hot meal a day is essential when living out of doors and you'll notice many vacancies in that ‘on line’ schedule. Feeding 26 people is not as difficult as feeding perhaps 100 at larger camps and your help is needed. As the needs list changes faster than can be posted on the web, the best thing to do is stop by the camp and see first-hand; meet our neighbors and inquire about what their urgencies might be.
I think you'll be surprised by this tidy little enclave and how life goes on, albeit different than yours and mine, for our newest neighbors in need.
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| Easter Sunday meal prepared by St Luke Photo copyright Marc Weinberg |
Other churches and organizations who have signed up to help beyond Richmond Beach Congregational Church are St. Dunstan’s (with a meal every Tuesday evening), St. Luke Parish, Tennis Friends of Harbor Square, Glitter Girls Campfire Group, and others.
Any contribution will be greatly appreciated and if you're like me, I am rewarded by knowing what I've done does make a difference.
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5 comments:
"Going by the church on 195th at 15th Ave NW you cannot see the wooded setting where they have erected their tents." This is a misleading statement at best. Change 'at' to 'and' and it becomes a false one. You may not be able to see this neighborhood eyesore from 195th, but you can surely see it from 15th.
I assume the next one will be in The Highlands, right?
Wow, really? It doesn't take much to become homeless these days. I hope it doesn't happen to you. We certainly wouldn't want to see you living in this 'eyesore'.
I'm honored to live in such a City that has been so accomodating to the various Tent City groups. They are always well run and require that their members abide by strict rules. However, it is shameful that in a region with so much wealth and prosperity, that we allow homelessness to continue. The existing county and city policies for affordable housing don't even come close to addressing this problem... these policies are catered to the welfare of real estate developers. Big employers bringing rpaid growth to the region need to pay their fair share for free homeless housing. Follow the example of Salt Lake City.
Don't judge till you have walked in their shoes, yes there are some that do it as a life style others have been forced to it and hate it. There needs to be a lot more done to make it safe for people homeless two have died just in the last week, robbed and killed. Each city should be forced to step up to the plate and open parks beaches and other city property to help out. You would find that what you think isn't true that most would take care of treating property as it should be.
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