As I approached the enclosure I was a bit apprehensive to what I was getting myself into. I had made the appointment for a tour of Tent City 3 through its sister organization, SHAPE, that works as a resource center and contact for the physical tent city. At the entrance I was greeted by several people, acting as guards just like in 18th century English castles, minus the drawbridge and moats and such. After signing in, I met Roger who had been giving tours and living in the encampment for several years. After a brief introduction and background about the tent city, Roger and I were off and running ducking in and around tents as he toured me through the city.
Tent Cities have been a concept for many years and stem from the development of shanty towns, which are areas of land where impoverished people live together in housing made from scrap materials. They have only recently developed to the point of becoming permanent living choices in some of the major cities in the United States. Tent City 3 is run just like any other city. They have a mayor figure and a “city-council” that help to enforce laws and advocate on behalf of the entire city. These positions are elected by the members of the community and each candidate canvasses on their behalf to be elected. Once elected, these representatives ensure to keep order of the community by maintaining all the by-laws of Tent City.
Citizens of Tent City 3 are expected to be highly involved in their community. Each member must adhere to all the by-laws, which are located in a book about the size of a college science textbook! Chores are given out to help upkeep the community and help
residents build a sense of ownership over their community.
Anyone can be admitted into Tent City 3 and can stay as long as they want. More long-term residents often times have their own tents that they set up in a designated area. Residents who are brand new to the city are often set up in dormitory style tents with three bed platforms that are made out of wooden pallets, milk crates, and cardboard pieces. All of the tents are raised up on platforms constructed out of wooden pallets in order to prevent rain water from leaking into the tents. Although the quarters are not luxury, the simplistic nature by which the residents live is honorable and something we can all take a lesson from.
At the end of the tour, I was introduced to one of the residents named Matt. He was known around camp as the beast because he soared 6’ 5” and weighed around 350lbs. After sharing a few words back and forth he handed me a short story he had written. Matt suffers from a condition known as Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome, which causes lesions to form all across the body resulting in the need for multiple surgeries to have them removed. Due to the high cost of medical treatment, he has found himself unable to hold stable housing for about 10 years and has been living at Tent City 3 off and on during that time. The short story he shared with me was a brief look into the emotional roller coaster he has gone through with every surgery. Very detailed, the story allows the reader to enter Matt’s world and understand how one can feel trapped and no longer in control. Please take the time to read his story in an upcoming post! Meanwhile, discover a little more about Matt in an interview found at: http://www.youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=2641
Tent City 3 provides a place for individuals to call home who are not otherwise afforded the opportunity of a permanent residence. The strength of community that Tent City builds is stronger than many of our own. How invested are you in the well-being of your neighbors? Would you lend a helping hand or come to their defense whenever they needed it? By living simply and supporting one another the citizens of Tent City 3 lead a relatively happy and fulfilling life. Take a lesson from their sense of community and start becoming more involved in your own.
I have included below a list of items that Tent City is in need of to continue running their programs and supporting individuals who finally need a place they can call home. If you live in the Seattle area please contact SHARE to arrange a drop off of materials to Tent City itself.
Tent Cities have been a concept for many years and stem from the development of shanty towns, which are areas of land where impoverished people live together in housing made from scrap materials. They have only recently developed to the point of becoming permanent living choices in some of the major cities in the United States. Tent City 3 is run just like any other city. They have a mayor figure and a “city-council” that help to enforce laws and advocate on behalf of the entire city. These positions are elected by the members of the community and each candidate canvasses on their behalf to be elected. Once elected, these representatives ensure to keep order of the community by maintaining all the by-laws of Tent City.
Citizens of Tent City 3 are expected to be highly involved in their community. Each member must adhere to all the by-laws, which are located in a book about the size of a college science textbook! Chores are given out to help upkeep the community and help
residents build a sense of ownership over their community.
Anyone can be admitted into Tent City 3 and can stay as long as they want. More long-term residents often times have their own tents that they set up in a designated area. Residents who are brand new to the city are often set up in dormitory style tents with three bed platforms that are made out of wooden pallets, milk crates, and cardboard pieces. All of the tents are raised up on platforms constructed out of wooden pallets in order to prevent rain water from leaking into the tents. Although the quarters are not luxury, the simplistic nature by which the residents live is honorable and something we can all take a lesson from.
At the end of the tour, I was introduced to one of the residents named Matt. He was known around camp as the beast because he soared 6’ 5” and weighed around 350lbs. After sharing a few words back and forth he handed me a short story he had written. Matt suffers from a condition known as Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome, which causes lesions to form all across the body resulting in the need for multiple surgeries to have them removed. Due to the high cost of medical treatment, he has found himself unable to hold stable housing for about 10 years and has been living at Tent City 3 off and on during that time. The short story he shared with me was a brief look into the emotional roller coaster he has gone through with every surgery. Very detailed, the story allows the reader to enter Matt’s world and understand how one can feel trapped and no longer in control. Please take the time to read his story in an upcoming post! Meanwhile, discover a little more about Matt in an interview found at: http://www.youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=2641
Tent City 3 provides a place for individuals to call home who are not otherwise afforded the opportunity of a permanent residence. The strength of community that Tent City builds is stronger than many of our own. How invested are you in the well-being of your neighbors? Would you lend a helping hand or come to their defense whenever they needed it? By living simply and supporting one another the citizens of Tent City 3 lead a relatively happy and fulfilling life. Take a lesson from their sense of community and start becoming more involved in your own.
I have included below a list of items that Tent City is in need of to continue running their programs and supporting individuals who finally need a place they can call home. If you live in the Seattle area please contact SHARE to arrange a drop off of materials to Tent City itself.
Donated Items Needed for Tent City 3
General
• Tents (complete with poles)
• Tarps, rope
• Sleeping bags, blankets, and mats
• Flashlights, lanterns, staple gun w/staples
• Toilet paper, paper towels, wet-wipes
• Hand sanitizer, rubber & work gloves
• Towels, wash cloths
• Soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene supplies
• Bleach-bottled and/or cleaning wipes
• Slippers, sandals, flip-flops
• AA/D batteries
• First-aid kits/band-aids/gauze strips/anti biotic creams/cold & flu medicine
• ICE to keep food cold
• Paper plates, napkins, plastic cups & flatware
• Reusable ice packs
Food
• Coffee, tea, cream, sugar
• Canned protein: tuna, ham, spam. chicken, chili, soup (canned or packaged)
• Canned fruit and vegetables
• Butter, margarine, salt/pepper, seasonings
• Peanut butter
Move Day Supplies (Next Move Day is tomorrow September 25th)
• Duct tape (36 rolls), 3 Crowbars
• 33 gallon heavy duty trash bags (500)
• 300 feet of twine, 200 feet of rope
• Black Sharpie pens
• Zip ties-2 jars, 1500/jar
• 8 lbs box of nails (2 1/2 inches long)
• Roofing nails (6 lbs) box
• lxlx8 fencing wood-bundle of 36
• Tents (complete with poles)
• Tarps, rope
• Sleeping bags, blankets, and mats
• Flashlights, lanterns, staple gun w/staples
• Toilet paper, paper towels, wet-wipes
• Hand sanitizer, rubber & work gloves
• Towels, wash cloths
• Soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene supplies
• Bleach-bottled and/or cleaning wipes
• Slippers, sandals, flip-flops
• AA/D batteries
• First-aid kits/band-aids/gauze strips/anti biotic creams/cold & flu medicine
• ICE to keep food cold
• Paper plates, napkins, plastic cups & flatware
• Reusable ice packs
Food
• Coffee, tea, cream, sugar
• Canned protein: tuna, ham, spam. chicken, chili, soup (canned or packaged)
• Canned fruit and vegetables
• Butter, margarine, salt/pepper, seasonings
• Peanut butter
Move Day Supplies (Next Move Day is tomorrow September 25th)
• Duct tape (36 rolls), 3 Crowbars
• 33 gallon heavy duty trash bags (500)
• 300 feet of twine, 200 feet of rope
• Black Sharpie pens
• Zip ties-2 jars, 1500/jar
• 8 lbs box of nails (2 1/2 inches long)
• Roofing nails (6 lbs) box
• lxlx8 fencing wood-bundle of 36
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| http://no4corners.com/life/?p=3539 |
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| http://www.greaterseattlecares.org/ |
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| http://www.greaterseattlecares.org/ |
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| http://www.greaterseattlecares.org/ |
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