Tent City 3 at UUC

Seattle's organized tent encampments sponsored by SHARE/WHEEL provide a safe place for those experiencing homelessness as they look for more permanent housing. Families and individuals come together to create a self-organized and democratic community. Tent City 3 (TC3) began operating in 2000, with churches and universities typically hosting this portable community for 3-month stays. They have long been sanctioned by the City of Seattle. In fact, in 2024, TC3 was able to stay for a full year on city owned land, and they are hoping to locate other opportunities for similarly long stays. They will stay with us for four months this time, in order to reduce the burden of frequent moves slightly.

An Executive Committee of five elected members provides leadership and residents attend weekly meetings to review camp activities, issues and plans. UUC’s Tent City 3 Team will work closely with the Executive Committee to provide a safe space for the residents of the camp while maintaining the safety of the neighborhood.

Read a letter here from SHARE/WHEEL about Tent City 3.  Information about the Tent City 3 community can also be found at https://www.sharewheel.org/tent-city-3. You may contact the SHARE/WHEEL office directly, with any questions or feedback, at 206-956-0334 or 206-448-7889 or by email at TC3@sharewheel.org.

Engaging with those who are homeless and in need of housing has factored into the life of University Unitarian Church for the past 60+ years. Our church has a long tradition of social justice work, including direct service.  In that tradition we successfully hosted Tent City 3 for three months in 2023, cultivating hope and taking a small step to address Seattle’s seemingly intractable homelessness crisis in our community. This year the homelessness crisis has only gotten worse, and TC3 is seeing, and hosting, more families with children, including newborns, and pregnant women, as well as increasing numbers of older women. We continue to work toward a world where the inherent worth of all is affirmed, and all can live with dignity and safety.

Tent City 3 has a maximum capacity of about 100. The camp is currently operating at that level and demand exceeds capacity. Most residents have been single adults and couples living in individual tents, but recently TC3 is seeing more families with children, including newborns, and pregnant women, as well as increasing numbers of older women. Some residents have pets, mainly dogs. The camp also has a kitchen tent, a donation tent, a warming tent (with a TV), and the welcome tent at the entrance. The city funds portable toilets and hand washing stations.  Even with these costs to the city, plus the assistance the city provides for moving the camp, Tent City 3 remains the most cost-efficient form of city-funded shelter within the city’s shelter network.

For other needs, residents must rely on facilities such Aurora Commons (laundry facilities, meals and bathroom about 3.5 miles from UUC) and Elizabeth Gregory Day Center (showers and laundry for women less than 2 miles from UUC), or the more distant city funded  Hygiene shower trailers in South Seattle or the Seattle Center area.

TC3 is resident-run, with all residents participating in the daily life of the camp. The TC3 community elects leaders from among the residents, and SHARE/WHEEL staff provide support. The community operates with a strict Code of Conduct which requires sobriety, nonviolence, cooperation and participation. Those not respecting the Code of Conduct must leave the community.

Tent City 3 is welcomed by so many congregations—as well as the UW, Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University—based on their good reputation. They have long been sanctioned by the City of Seattle. If they were not good neighbors, they would not be allowed to continue as a program.

UUC can provide a safe space for the residents of the camp while maintaining the safety of the neighborhood. After the UW hosted TC3 in 2017, an evaluation showed that the presence of the TC3 community had a positive impact on feelings of community safety.

When UUC last hosted TC3 neighborhood crime did not increase, according to SPD statistics.

While Tent City 3 (TC3) stays in the church parking lot from March 22 to July 26, 2025, parking will be reduced to about 30–35 spots, including the 6 spots officially designated for with Washington State Disability Parking Permits. This means there won’t be enough parking spots for everyone to park in the church lot on Sunday mornings. What can we do about this? 

When we hosted TC3 in 2023, we asked church attendees to use alternative ways of getting to church on Sunday mornings or to park in other nearby spots whenever possible. Our goal was to keep the remaining spaces available to those who need it most, such as individuals with mobility limitations and families with small children. People were so responsive to this request that often there were still spots left over on Sunday mornings! Many people who could often walked, biked, took public transportation, or carpooled. Those who drove parked in surrounding streets. Based on our experience hosting in 2023, we expect there will be plenty of nearby on-street spaces available. Once again, we hope Sunday service attendees will avoid parking in the church lot if possible during the time TC3 is staying with us. 

This map shows the recommended areas for parking in the neighborhood. RT Shaw State Farm (at 7006 35th Ave NE) has once again offered the 8 spots in their lot for Sunday morning parking. 

Out of respect for our contiguous neighbors living on 36th Ave NE, please avoid parking on the block between NE 65th and NE 68th. 

If you have questions about parking, please contact UUC’s TC3 team at uuchomelessness@gmail.com. 

Yes! SHARE/WHEEL, which sponsors TC3, always needs financial support.  To give directly to TC3, check their donation list here.  Once Tent City 3 is in residence at UUC, you can drop donations off at the TC3 site.

If you wish to participate in UUC’s volunteer meal effort, contact uuchomelessness@gmail.com. 

If you and some of your neighbors want to make a meal for the TC3 community, you can check openings on the Tent City 3’s meal calendar (scroll down). You can also call the TC3 camp at 206-399-0412 to inquire about delivering a meal or baked goods. Ideally, the camp would like food prepared for 30-50, or more if you can. But they appreciate baked goods, pizzas and other entrees for 20-30. 

Some information that may help you in preparing a meal:

• Plan a meal for as many people as you can manage and include some vegan meals if you can, since there are typically several vegans residing at Tent City 3.
• Bring your meal in large disposable containers that can be used for serving. The Tent City 3 residents will serve it up buffet style in their kitchen tent. 
• If you have a supply of paper plates, napkins and plastic silver, bring that too. Tent City 3 goes through lots of these supplies. 

You can also create a meal for 20 or 30 with a small group by baking pans of Costco lasagna or ordering pizzas. A hot meal, even if not homemade, is welcomed!

Once Tent City 3 is in residence at UUC you can drop donations off at the TC3 site.

University Unitarian Church is located at 6556 35th Ave NE, at the corner of NE 68th St and 35th Ave NE. Tent City 3 is located in the south end of the church parking lot, and the parking lot is south of the building. Volunteers dropping off items are welcome to park in the UUC lot. To access TC3’s entrance, walk up from the lot to the public sidewalk along 35th Ave NE, continue south to our second driveway that is being used by Tent City 3 during their stay. Walking in the south driveway, past the church’s enclosed storage area leads to the TC3 entrance. There is a check-in station for TC3 at the fence entrance where meals and any donations can be delivered. TC3 residents are happy to help you unload donations!

We encourage you to contact the UUC TC3 team at uuchomelessness@gmail.com so the neighborhood can share some opportunities to get involved. Neighbors can bake muffins or cookies, share some non-perishable groceries, or prepare an evening meal.