In case you don’t catch it in the comments on our original report, WSB reader Bonnie just posted:
I just returned from the Fauntleroy Fall Festival and was told that they have decided NOT to host the tent city. There was a meeting this morning where it was decided.
That’s all we can tell you – still haven’t heard anything from the church.
I thought West Seattle was a progressive place. This is a shame. These poor people need a place to stay and I get the sense that there was some NIMBYism at work here.
Has West Seattle ever hosted a tent city…. or are all of the compassionate progressives here just talk.
Eric-
NIMBY this!
Why don’t you just go ahead and move them in with you. There are enough bums walking around West Seattle now, we don’t need more.
TH – I think that is a very narrow-minded assumption. On what do you base this? I believe that the many stories of crime, etc. from these tent cities have been routinely proven untrue by the local media.
All I’m sayin’ is that we all talk a good talk about how we are so progressive and what not in this town, but when push comes to shove, it is the churches on the eastside (you know, the religious folk that often get bashed and mocked on this blog) that are stepping up to the plate to help those of us in our community that have a real need.
If you’re worried about your kids, maybe you should be a PARENT and keep an eye on them.
Sure, Danno, some of these people are indeed “bums” as you put it, but many of them are working poor and often have mental illness that is not being treated in this the great liberal state of Washington.
I’m just sayin’
Wherever they end up I hope they make ‘Thank you’ signs…uh…for The House.
My child goes to school in that area and I think it’s a shame the tent city will not be there. West Seattle is overrun not by the homeless but by wealthy, white, closed-minded, racist, classist homeowners, many of whom pass themselves off as liberals. I could do with fewer of them. It would be nice to ship some of them to Auburn.
It’s a goddamn city, people. Part of the trade off in getting the benefits of a city is finding a way to navigate the less pleasant parts of city life, such as homelessness. But it’s a lot easier to close your eyes and that’s what a lot of people around here choose to do.
It’s also sad how many professed Christians turn their backs on helping those who need help. Jesus would have a few choice words for you.
well said, Eric. And how many of us are one or two or three or four paychecks away from homelessness? It’s a sad commentary that those in poverty are viewed as untouchables who will harm children. Are these people less than human?
Ever since us whiteys successfully kicked the last campers out (the natives) we’ve been wary (scared) of those ‘less than us’ moving in amongst us. Perhaps we could start building walls (apartheid)…to keep the undesirables out.
I’m not sure who initiated the idea to have all of the folks that are sympathetic towards having Tent City here in WS actually take a homeless person into their own home.
Whoever you are, it was an excellent idea. I can’t wait to follow up with Jan, Flipjack, Eric, and all the other “progressives” next week to see how many homeless folks they’re living with.
A lot of strong feelings, and a lot of unfortunate name-calling here. I was going to stay out of this discussion, but I can’t get it off my mind. Groups of people who are different from us are damn scary. Homeless people are scary because they’re unpredictable–I know this because I worked with them for years. Hell, I’ve cleaned toilets for them in shelters (talk about scary.) These are folks who for some reason, can’t maintain life in a manner we consider “normal.” Either because they’ve been disenfranchised, because they’ve made poor choices, or because of physical/mental health issues. I’ll never forget one young woman I met who was pretty, well-maintained, high-functioning and friendly; but she could nothing but knit constantly and talk about God. No one would have her; she had to get by on a state stipend and live in a shelter. It’s also true that the majority of our homeless populations tend to be children, victims of domestic violence, and the working poor. I grew up in Holly Park; my mother told me that if it weren’t for subsidized housing, we’d have been living in a car. And hey, we’re nice people. So yeah, there are some scary homeless folks, but you know what? I live two blocks from where someone was just murdered in a car. And I live next to drug dealers; none of these people are homeless. If you’re opposed to people living in tents in your neighborhoods, that’s absolutely your prerogative, but we do need to step up to help our community, and that first step is having compassion.
why don’t they put the Tent City in WestCrest park. Kill two birds with one…tent.
House – you sarcastic devil, you……you really need to get over yourself. You know as well as I do that what you’re suggesting is not a feasible idea – and no one asked you to take them into your home, either. What I would like to hear from you and all who are saying NIMBY is what YOUR solution for homelessness would be. I’m not being facetious about this. I really would like to hear something constructive come from you all as to what “society” should do about the reality of homelessness…or should we treat these people as so much garbage, maybe put them on a barge (as they did with real garbage in NY), and float them off into the ocean. Homelessness is a real problem, and since you’re so against Tent Cities, your ideas on how to actually solve the problem would be nice to hear, if you have any.
I don’t want this to get so personal on here that it gets ugly. That’s not what this blog is about. We’re adults, and can be better than that, abd it’s not fair to WSB. I will be careful with my thoughts into words in the future.
I was reading the Fauntleroy CC website earlier this evening…it says, and I quote…”As an open and affirming congregation, the members and staff of Fauntleroy Church are committed to fostering community among people of all races, cultures and sexual orientations” – I guess that means unless you are a homeless person.
A little late but in response to Eric. I am a parent who chose a preschool based on all the factors that I knew at that time. If there was a camp of homeless people living in the parking lot I would not of chosen to send my child there. Call me narrow minded if you chose.
For the several years it’s been around, there have been essentially no problems whatsoever with TentCity. It’s well-managed and carefully self-patrolled (no drugs, no drinking, etc.). They even do neighborhood cleanup in many sites. Really, the only thing they threaten is our preconceptions about what homelessness looks like. Anyway, it’s not a homeless guy anywhere who’s a threat to harm your children — chances are that the threat is gonna come from a trusted neighbor, or a relative, or even a toxic toy. Not many cases of groups of homeless folks attacking children or undermining communities. I’m sorry to see that the Fauntleroy CC won’t be hosting TentCity. Clearly lots of education to be done in these parts.
I am also a parent who chose to send my child to that preschool, understanding that churches have causes. Churches are based on Jesus, and what would Jesus do? He’d have a tent city in the parking lot. I am discouraged by the classist and narrow minded views of my West Seattle neighbors. We like to think that Seattle is such a liberal place, but when it comes to walking the walk we want to send our homeless to Auburn.
I’m probably too late with this, I just found out about WS Blog last night. I am a member of Fauntleroy Church and I was present at the discussions about Tent City.
First of all, the Tent City residents are not bums. Most of them work. The only difference between them and us is that they are poor. They came and talked to our church council and also came and talked to the congregation and everyone was impressed by them.
Second, the main problem with arriving at a decision was that Tent City was looking for a location in December. They are currently located in Tukwila (not Auburn) and their next site is in Lake City, so they were trying to find someplace closer to make the move easier. Unfortunately, our church operates on the “Seattle style” decisionmaking process that often bogs down the city government and other groups in this city. Everyone has a say and we strive for consensus. So it takes a long time to make a decision. We couldn’t make a decision in the time the Tent City residents needed for their move in December.
Third, some good has come out of this. The West Seattle Council of Churches has discussed the issue and other sites in West Seattle that might be better for Tent City were suggested. The Fauntleroy site is barely adequate physically.
And last, yes, I have had homeless people stay at my house with my wife and two children. Again, the only difference between them and us is that they are poor. We’re all people, some are poor in wealth, some are poor in spirit, but we have more in common than not.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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