Last month, Seattle Pacific University filed a Land Use Application for hosting a homeless encampment on SPU grounds for up to six months (January – June). The school has now officially announced that it will host Tent City 3 from January 10th through March 7th.
The school has hosted tent cities in the past, most recently hosting Tent City 3 at Wallace Field in 2012.
Beginning in January, Tent City 3 returns to SPU, taking up residence for three months in SPU’s Tiffany Loop (the lawn on 3rd Ave W).
Tent City 3 will be at the Tiffany Loop from January 10th through March 7th, 2015. Since the location provides less privacy than Wallace Field, a privacy-screen fence will be erected around the camp.
According to SPU:
“Hosting Tent City 3 is a concrete manifestation of Seattle Pacific University’s mission of engaging the culture and changing the world. Through this experience the SPU community has a unique opportunity to care for — and learn from — our neighbor. Tent City 3 will return to SPU in January, 2015.”
Tent City 3 will have 24/7 security and quiet hours of 9am to 8pm. TC3 is a self-managed community with strict rules including no violence or drug use. The community is made up of a maximum of 100 residents including single men, single women, and couples.
SPU is also providing a series of community education events that are open to the public, including films, talks, and discussions:
October 22: Film Screening: Invisible Young, 7pm, First Free Methodist Church
November 13: Homeless Heroes: Veterans and Homelessness, 11:10-12:30pm, DH 150
November 20: Affordable Housing. 11:10-12:30pm, DH 150
December 2: Film Screening. Without a Home. 7:00pm, Emerson Hall
January 8: How to talk to people experiencing homelessness, 7pm, Weter Lounge
January 22: Public Policy and Homelessness. 11:10-12:30pm, DH 150
January 27: Film Screening, 7pm, Emerson Hall
February 4: “Beyond the One Night Count” advocacy training, 7:00-8:30pm, SUB Collegium
February 12: Youth and Homelessness, 11:10-12:30pm, DH 150
February 17: Film Screening, 7pm, Emerson Hall
March 5: “What we learned” Debriefing and next steps. 7:00 PM, SUB Gazebo Room
More information on the upcoming Tent City 3 at SPU is available via a FAQ on SPU’s web site. If you would like to volunteer or if you have questions, contact SPU via email.