Burien church proposes hosting homeless tent encampment as city's camping ban takes effect

Oasis Home Church in Burien wants to open its parking lot as a space for people to temporarily live in their tents. Under a new city ordinance, it would be the only spot in Burien where people could do that legally. But now Burien’s city manager says the church doesn’t have the right paperwork to open the camp.

The Burien City Council has debated for months about whether to open a shelter or sanctioned site for tents.

Under a city ordinance that went into effect on Wednesday, people caught sleeping or resting on public property could be charged with a misdemeanor.

To help the city’s growing population of unhoused people, a nonprofit group has teamed up with Oasis Home Church to open Burien’s only legal spot to pitch a tent.

The church says it will open its parking lot for three months for up to 30 tents to set up.

“We know we're not going to be able to help everyone here in Burien, we just don't have the capacity, the size, or space for it,” said Cydney Moore, president of the Burien Community Support Coalition and an incumbent Burien City Council candidate.

The encampment site, called Sunnydale Village, would have 24/7 security and enforce rules against drug use and littering.

Moore and Oasis Home Church hoped to open the village on Nov. 6, just five days after the city’s new camping ban began.

But on Monday, Adolfo Bailon, Burien’s City Manager, emailed the pastor of the church, informing him that they would first need a temporary use permit to open the tent site.

Any work to establish the village for tent campers could place the church “in violation of state law and city ordinances,” Bailon's email read.

Bailon cited a Washington state law that says religious organizations must hold a public meeting on any proposed tent site and inform the city’s legislative body “no later than 96 hours” before the meeting is held.

“I am sorry to share with you that the City of Burien and its legislative authority has not received any notice of your intent to pursue a project at Oasis Church,” Bailon wrote.

Moore claims that Burien Community Support Coalition has informed the Council about a meeting and the group has consulted with other churches and pastors that have opened similar tent sites.

“Every person that we’re talking to has confirmed we don’t need a temporary use permit,” Moore said. “We hope it was an honest mistake on their part and once we get it all cleared up, we can move forward with being a collaborative partner with the city.”

Bailon has not responded to KUOW’s requests for comments.

The public meeting at Oasis Home Church is set for Sunday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.