[Above photo by Kevin Clark, Seattle Times photographer.]

Since we said goodbye to the Tent City 3 (TC3) residents staying in our parking lot last June, we have been gathering feedback from neighbors and church members to learn how the experience affected them. We invited church members to respond to a survey and received 71 responses. Thank you to all who answered the survey questions. 

Overall, the responses were very positive. Most respondents (82%) said parking did not affect their church attendance. Two thirds said that the experience of hosting TC3 deepened their understanding of the people who become homeless. One respondent wrote “Much more likely now to think of unhoused folks as individual people that I would like to get to know, instead of preconceived notions about who they are.” Another said, “Reinforced how much current homelessness results from lack of affordable housing, without mental health or drug addiction overlays.”

Seventy percent answered “Yes” to the survey question “Did the TC3 hosting experience change how you feel about being part of the UUC community?” Comments include: “Proud that UUC takes action for the things it believes in, even when people like our city counselor have misguided responses to it” and “It helped me make closer connections with other UUCers.” 

"Should UUC consider hosting Tent City 3 again in the future?" Eighty-three percent of respondents said “Yes.”



In addition to the survey of UUC members, we’ve reached out to our immediate neighbors (those living on 36^th Ave NE, between NE 65^th and NE 68^th Streets) with individual invitations/requests for feedback about their experience relating to Tent City 3 at UUC. Some of these neighbors had already provided positive feedback, both during and after the Tent City 3 stay in our parking lot. Just two additional neighbors provided input. One suggested that we provide even more communication about ongoing plans and developments for the camp to immediate neighbors—feedback which certainly resonated with our planning team. The second individual had been firmly opposed to UUC hosting Tent City 3 before the camp’s arrival but had moderated significantly from this stance. Nonetheless, this neighbor thought there was an increase in homelessness in the neighborhood, and he felt that this may have been related to the presence of Tent City 3. As an aside: data provided by the Seattle Police Department do not show any correlation between this organized camp and criminal activity in the neighborhood. So far this year, the months of highest crime in our reporting area were before and after TC3's presence at UUC.

By the way, after leaving UUC in mid-June the Tent City 3 folks set up their camp in the parking lot at St. Mark’s Cathedral. Then, through a great deal of hard work, creativity, and support from local governmental entities, our Tent City 3 friends were able to land a ten-month engagement on public land near the Mt. Baker light rail station. They are delighted that there won’t be a need for another move until June, 2024!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Dave Mentz.