BURIEN, Wash. — Neighbors in Burien said they were blindsided by a church’s decision to operate as a temporary encampment for the community’s homeless population. It's a plan that the City of Burien has categorized as “unpermitted."
Jo Pancho lives in one of the many homes that received a notice from the church on her front door on Friday, saying her community church would soon host the homeless. The church is calling it a “temporary sanctioned encampment.”
“Well, I was shocked because I have teenagers and I’m not comfortable because it’s close to my fence," Pancho said.
She attended the public meeting hosted by the church over the weekend and realized the plans were not a proposal but rather a done deal. Pancho's adult nephew, Andres Ujueta, also lives in the home.
“It sounded like it was a proposition at first," Ujueta said. "It didn’t sound like it was a for sure. But it sounds like it will happen and it’s definitely concerning because there’s a lot of kids that walk around here. I’m not saying they will be in danger but that’s definitely one of the first things that comes to mind."
Church staff told KING 5 the lot could host homeless campers as soon as next week.
The pastor of the church would not talk on camera, and the Burien Community Support Coalition, the nonprofit in charge of the project, did not respond to KING 5's requests for comment.
Officials with the City of Burien said they were just as surprised as the neighbors finding out plans for the encampment on Monday.
“I am totally for homeless people having a place to stay that’s warm because it’s getting really cold," Ujueta said. "But I think security is definitely an issue."
The timing seems to play a factor as well because Burien's new camping ban will take effect on Wednesday.
Under the new ordinance, public camping will be prohibited from using nonresidential public property as a temporary or permanent dwelling, lodging residence, or living accommodation, outside of overnight hours. Exceptions will be made for places designated by the city.
According to the city, anyone setting up a tent between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. could be charged with a criminal misdemeanor.
Deputy Mayor Kevin Schilling said in September that violating the ordinance would be a misdemeanor, but would not lead to an arrest.
"You're still allowed to be able to legally sleep in a tent overnight but we are just regulating the use of public space," Schilling said after the Burien City Council passed the ordinance. "We're timing it so you can sleep at night but not have permanent structures up. The ultimate goal, first and foremost, is getting people off the streets and into shelters and services."