Tools for Seattle tent city living

For Seattle residents experiencing homelessness and living in tent cities, a few tools are key to managing community life.

Eleven organized, portable communities provide living space in the Seattle area for people experiencing homelessness. Known as tent cities, these communities are managed in several different ways. Some receive funding from the city of Seattle and are housed on city land in semi-permanent locations. Others, like Tent City 3, are sanctioned by the city but are situated on private property and managed through the nonprofit organization Share/Wheel. These tent cities typically move to new sites every 90 days, often hosted on church property.

From November 2017 through February 2018, SPU’s campus hosted Tent City 3, a self-managed encampment able to support up to 100 residents. Camp space includes four portable toilets and a mobile shower, with some health services provided by public health nurses. TC3 rules include a strict code of conduct requiring sobriety, nonviolence, cooperation, and participation, and residents must have valid government IDs to stay in the camp.

SPU students, faculty, and staff helped TC3 set up and break down the encampment, and provided meals, especially hot dinners, for tent city residents.

Like any community, it takes coordination and some important tools to keep TC3 running. Our photographer captured a few of these.

Dog
Dog: Houdini belongs to Sonny, a TC3 resident, and is one of the camp’s many canine friends.
Flashlight
Flashlight: John’s multi-use flashlight has a hand-powered generator and doubles as a radio.
Gas can
Gas can: Residents power electricity generators with gas stored in cans when they cannot get power.
Stove: Residents prepare hot meals on stoves like this one, powered by generators.
Tent poles
Tent poles: These spare tent poles were collected from old tents and are stored for future use.
Hand-rolled cigarettes
Hand-rolled cigarettes: Sonny rolls cigarettes by hand to smoke and sell. He earns $70 to $80 per week this way.
Food pantry
Food pantry: Everyone sanitizes their hands before entering the food tent, where perishable and non-perishable items are organized on shelves.
Book
Book: Residents relax in the dining and commons tent with books, Netflix, and card games.
Ukulele
Ukulele: This is John’s most valuable and closely protected possession. He plays often and enjoys a range of music, from Gustav Mahler to the Beatles.
Shoes
Shoes: Shoes and socks are the most coveted clothing items in the community. Many residents have only one pair of each.

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