Gathering an Understanding of Tent City 3

By Elisabeth Carlson on February 19, 2012

The SPU campus is currently hosting Tent City 3, which serves as a place for people without homes to live in safety with the security of knowing where they will sleep at night.  One of the lead gentlemen from the camp talked in one of my classes a few weeks ago.  When he finished I asked if it was okay for SPU students to go and visit.

He told me it was.  They have an open door policy.

Nearly 50 tents are currently located on SPU’s track field, next to the gym, and I made my way down there this morning after I ate brunch.  I wanted to opportunity to walk around and see what it was all about.  I longed to understand life from their perspective, even if it was only for half an hour.  The lady in the check-in tent introduced herself to me as Tracy, and then asked a man named Sean to take me on a brief tour.  I’m glad he did because otherwise I’m not sure how I would have approached the situation and what I would have done while I was there.

picture from kirotv.com

Sean explained that are a few “holding tents” for the people waiting to be officially accepted into Tent City.  Any person needing shelter is allowed to stay in those tents for one night, provided they are 18 years old, not a sex offender, and not a drug abuser.  There are also other simple rules for the camp, such as no cussing, and no violence, which are both in place for the betterment of the mini-community.  In a way, the tents create a neighborhood and everyone hangs out together.  Some of the people have jobs during the day and then return to spend the night in Tent City.  A lot of the tents are given names by the residents and I was also intrigued by the fact that Tent City is one of the few places that allow couples to remain together, instead of separating them.

Sean told me, “If someone randomly walked by me on the street I don’t think they would know that I’m homeless.  People immediately think homeless people are criminals or do drugs.  Even though some do, a lot of us are just normal people like everyone else.”  I continued to ask a few other questions about how long he had been there (9 months) and whether or not he likes it.  “The people here are great.  At first I was afraid to be here on the SPU campus because it felt like we were being put on display.  But now I know it’s not like that at all and I feel comfortable here.”

He also admitted that it is a hard lifestyle.  At one point I thought I could see tears glimmering in his eyes as he looked away and continued to answer my questions.

My visit ended quicker than I wanted it to, since part of me had so much to ask but I wasn’t sure what I should really say.  I handed out a few packets of hot chocolate I had brought, with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 stapled to it as a late Valentine’s Day gift.

If I learned anything from my visit, it’s the fact that intend to go back and visit very soon.

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