Advocates for the houseless-homeless-mobil homeless (rv-car campers) continue their grassroots efforts in Lacey and Olympia, as evidenced by recent Olympian and olyblog reports.

• Olympia council to discuss RV parking rules tonight Eugene, Ore., tells how it successfully controlled problem
• Lacey ban on tent city challenged
• "We all have a part..."

[Posted on The Olympian's Web site]

Published June 02, 2008
Lawsuit challenges Lacey's new law on homeless tent city
THE OLYMPIAN

LACEY -- Advocates for the homeless have sued Lacey to overturn a law that bans a tent city and instead requires churches to shelter the homeless indoors.

The lawsuit claims the City Council did not follow a proper procedure before it approved the law April 24 with a 4-3 vote.

Panza, a nonprofit group that supports Camp Quixote, Olympia’s tent city; Selena Kilmoyer, Panza’s secretary; and three residents who attend churches in Lacey -- Elizabeth Penney, Ronna Smith and Donald Stern -- filed the lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court.

The lawsuit contends that while the city posted meeting notices and held public hearings and other meetings both before the Lacey Planning Commission and City Council on a draft law regulating temporary homeless encampments, no such steps were taken for a later draft that required faith-based groups to shelter the homeless inside their churches.

As a result, supporters of the law were uninformed that Lacey churches don’t have adequate room to both shelter the homeless and minister to their congregations, Kilmoyer said.

For more on the story, see The Olympian Tuesday.

A little while back I referred to a lawsuit that is making its way through the state court system that might impact Lacey's new homeless ordinance.

Tomorrow (sometime after 9a) the state Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case between Woodinville and Northshore United Church of Christ. A few years ago, Woodinville passed an ordinance restricting how churches can host homeless camps. Basically, the church is arguing that the city doesn't have any business telling them how they can practice religion as it relates to their helping the homeless.

How the Supreme Court decides (at least I think this) will have a lot to do with whether Lacey is sued over their ordinance.

The arguments will be live on TVW and I'll post them here after they're on the internet.

Anyone know the typical turn-around on a state Supreme Court case?

Some of my oldest friends from Camp Quixote are moving on. The couple that recently got married - the husband recently moved back to Yellowstone where he's a cook, and got a job for his new wife. She hops a bus to join him tonight. The card shark who always beat me (and everyone else) at hearts is moving back to Alaska next week. His heart condition is getting worse and he'll be spending time with old friends and his doctor. The guy who always gave me a (toothless) grin as he entered and left, has headed back to family in Florida to get away from the Olympia drug scene - he was afraid he might slip back into old habits. The guy who always teased me and everyone else with his quick smiley humor got trained to work in a nursing home, for which he's absolutely perfect - always cheerful and friendly to everyone. He moved out of the camp awhile back. Some of residents have found apartments and jobs in the area and visit the camp periodically. Others are starting to talk about their next steps. I am happy for my friends, but I'm also going to miss them. The camp won't be the same without their wonderful spirit.

I'm beginning to recognize the new faces, but they're a little more quiet around the volunteer hosts while they get used to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, some have come and gone quickly because of not being able to abide by the camp rules.

Right now the camp is located near the Unitarian church, over on the Westside. We could really use more volunteers, even people who can only work one shift would be great. If you're interested in making a tangible difference in our community, please contact me.

Lacey's recent decision to put into place a restrictive homeless encampment rule will likely land the city in court. Tent city ordinances in Western Washington are popular fodder for the federal and state court system, usually pitting local governments against churches on the grounds of the free expression of religion.

"The whole idea of reaching out to the poor and needy is part of our Jewish tradition," said James Mirel, senior rabbi at the Temple B'nai Torah to the Seattle Times in 2005.

One of the most interesting details in the run up to the city council's vote on the ordinance was the closed door session a few months back between the city attorney and the council. What advice did Ken Ahlf give his clients? Probably, be careful guys, you might get sued.

Ahlf had similar advice in the public back last August when a council subcommittee first took up the topic:

I don't know about you, but I can't think of one single thing I can buy in Lacey that I can't buy somewhere else.

Not that it will, in the scheme of things, make any difference, but why don't those of us who support Camp Quixote and care about homeless people take a look at doing our shopping in those places that understand that a regional, even state approach is needed to providing social services, including a safe place to spend the night if your home is a tent.

Do we lose anything by doing this? Maybe some of our smaller, struggling, independently owned businesses have something to gain here.

It's not all bad work coming from our esteemed corporate daily. Reporter Christian Hill and photographer Steve Herppich spent quite some time at Camp Quixote the last few days and you can see the results. I think they did a commendable job and I thank them for their effort.

Lessons in Humanity story

Photo gallery

And now is an excellent time to remind all that the camp can always use volunteers. Drop us a line at www.campquixoteoly.googlepages.com

Blessings +

Camp Quixote tent city for homeless folks celebrates first anniversary with dinner, raffle and silent auction: Please come and contribute toward basic needs, including bus passes, propane for heat and hot water, sanitation, etc. Dinner and auction at St. John’s Episcopal Church 19th/20th & Capitol Way. For info – or to donate items for the raffle or auction – call Randy 481-4794