Tomorrow evening the city counsel of Tacoma will be discussing and attempting to move forward a Camping Ban that will essentially criminalize those who are experiencing homelessness and aren’t able to get their needs met by current temporary shelters in the city. There will be opportunities Tuesday, September 13th, to speak on this ordinance at noon and 5 PM both online and in person at the city council study session and public forum.

Sacred Sunday: Housing Protest @byuhmazhe

What’s Happening?

“On May 9, 2017, the City Council declared a public health emergency related to homeless encampments. In order to address this emergency and to keep the residents of temporary shelters safe, in addition to protecting the public health and safety of the nearby communities, buffers should be imposed around these locations prohibiting unsanctioned camping. Without buffers prohibiting camping around these locations, the City’s ability to keep the community safe and promote public health in these locations will be negatively impacted.” This is the reasoning laid out in the proposed ordnance being pushed forward by council member John Hines (District1), Joe Bushnell (District 5), and Sarah Rumbaugh (District 2).

This statement alone shows the contradictions in the City of Tacoma’s approach to supporting our houseless neighbors in getting and maintaining the help they need. What happens when folks already in need get pushed further away from resources? What happens when folks of marginalized communities (Black, Trans, Women, Youth) who are experiencing homelessness have to move further into the outskirts of our city? When will the city begin to take actions that actually reduces the amount of people living on the streets instead of just trying to erase them?

Why does it matter?

It has been over 2 months since the Eviction Moratorium has been up. Since then we are seeing a staggering increase in families, youth, and women losing housing and at the same time we are seeing the skyrocketing of rent prices in neighborhoods that used to be affordable. There are so many gaps in our system that when go unfilled people not only lose faith about the ability to have housing but also the ability to have a place to feel safe, grounded, rested, and prepared to do the long list of things required to be a “productive citizen.” If we want to solve this multilayered problem we need our city council to come up with more creative, intentional, and trauma informed solutions that do not include traumatizing already traumatized people.

Folks who are actively experiencing homelessness have a plethora of needs that they are searching to be met, which means they may not have the capacity to show up and share their thoughts on this ban. So it is up to us who have the capacity to not let this ban move forward. The folks on the streets are not just strangers, they are our fellow Tacomans, old classmates, neighbors, and sometimes even our community organizers. So lets stand up for them, all we have to do is lend our voice and speak with passion.

What can we do?

There will be two opportunities to speak your thoughts on the matter. There will be a study session with the city council September 13th at noon and then there will be a evening public forum at the city building at 5 PM which you can attend in person or online. Each person will have the opportunity to speak for up to 2 minutes.

Study Sesssion 12:00 PM

Webinar Link: www.zoom.us/j/89496171192 Passcode: 896569

In Person: 747 Market Street

Public Forum 5:00 PM

Webinar Link: www.zoom.us/j/84834233126 Passcode: 349099

In Person: 747 Market Street

I can’t make it

If you can’t make it, make sure to email or call your city counsel representative to voice your concerns and thoughts on solutions. You can find their contact information through the City of Tacoma website.

If you are committed to being of service to folks experiencing homelessness we suggest donating and volunteering with local mutual aid and community organizing efforts who are on the ground taking care of our folks. Some of our suggestions include Tacoma Mutual Aid Collective (TMAC), The Black Panther Party of Washington, The RISE Center, BIMA Services, and CJK Community Homes

If you are looking for services to support in dealing with eviction or a landlord who is treating you unfairly we suggest contacting Tacoma Pro Bono for legal services and Tacoma Tenants Union for organizing support and information on your rights as a renter.

We must stay in this fight together because we will go farther the more of us there are! Use your voice and stay resilient!

Urgent: Camping Ban Call To Action