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Lacey homeless law gets national press

Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published August 12, 2009

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Lacey’s ordinance regulating homeless encampments received a mention in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal story about how U.S. cities are accommodating tent cities instead of breaking them up.

The story can be viewed here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124994409537920819.html

You’ll remember the council adopted an ordinance by a 4-3 vote in April 2008 that effectively banned a tent city in Lacey by requiring churches to house the homeless indoors. The cities of Olympia and Tumwater had adopted ordinances that allowed homeless encampments in the wake of the formation of the tent city called Camp Quixote.

Panza, the camp’s volunteer advocacy group, and Lacey church members challenged the ordinance before a state land-use hearing board, successfully arguing that the city violated the public participation requirement under the state Growth Management Act. The indoors requirement was a late addition to the ordinance that the council adopted without another public hearing. Church leaders said the requirement was unworkable because they didn’t have sufficient room to house the homeless and minister to their congregations.

The state board remanded the ordinance back to the city, and officials held a public hearing before the city planning commission. Commissioners recommended an ordinance giving the churches the option of sheltering the homeless indoors or outdoors. This ordinance passed in March on a 5-2 vote, with two council members switching votes after expressing concerns about the legal cost of defending the original ordinance.

Camp Quixote is staying at Lacey Community Church until later this month

Lacey’s action prompted state Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia, to sponsor a bill limiting the regulations local governments can impose on churches that host homeless encampments. House Bill 1956 passed the House but died in a Senate committee.

-- Christian Hill