In September 2019, the City announced the permit for Camp Second Chance/Myers Way village would be temporarily extended through March 2020 and all options were being considered for the long-term status of the village. Options considered included closing the village or exploring partnerships to continue sheltering people at the site.
Background
Camp Second Chance/Myers Way Chance provides 48 tiny houses for people living unsheltered and during the first six months of 2019, 44% of households exiting the village moved into permanent housing.
Earlier this year the City’s program operator, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), added a shower trailer on site to improve access to hygiene resources, and implemented a strong and transparent democratic self-governance structure, with people living in the village partnering with LIHI to manage day-to-day operations.
These outcomes make Camp Second Chance/Myers Way one of the highest performing villages in Seattle and one of strongest performing shelters in the homelessness response system.
Permitting Background
The most common option for permitting villages is through the City’s sanctioned encampment ordinance (23.42.056). A second is through temporary use permits — what Camp Second Chance/Myers Way has been operating under – that is scheduled to sunset in March.
Under City of Seattle land-use code (23.48.054), a third option allows for a religious organization to sponsor a village with a range of contractual and oversight requirements in place. Currently, two villages, Othello and True Hope, are funded by the City and sponsored by local churches using this permitting option.
New Developments
The Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce that on Monday, November 18, 2019 Fauntleroy Church notified the City and the village operator, LIHI, that they would like to enter into a formal agreement to sponsor the village. This agreement helps the City and the community continue to provide a critical and successful service to people living unsheltered while preserving the Myers Way property for future use.
The agreement between the City and Fauntleroy Church will be for one year and prohibits religious services, activities, and symbols on site. It requires Fauntleroy Church to contribute to the well-being and support of the clients, with LIHI remaining in place as the manager and operator of village.
The City will continue monitoring performance and contract compliance on-site, ensuring religious activities or symbolism are not present on the property. LIHI’s City contract for operating the village will remain in place. The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will continue to meet monthly to review village operations and identify opportunities for neighbors, faith communities, and businesses to support the people in the program.
Next Steps
A second agreement will be executed between LIHI and the Fauntleroy Church to further define roles, responsibilities and partnership expectations. Fauntleroy Church will also be required to file a site plan with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) establishing its presence on the property. This is for informational purposes and is not subject to City review or permitting requirements.
