As part of its population health efforts, the University of Washington will again host Tent City 3 (TC3) for 90 days, from mid-December 2022 through mid-March 2023. The tent-city community, which provides shelter space for local people experiencing homelessness, will be located in the E-21 parking lot, next to the UW Waterfront Activities Center.
Tent City 3 hosted approximately 40-60 people the past two residencies on the UW campus, in 2017 and 2021, on a lot near the Fishery Sciences buildings. Organizers are expecting similar numbers for this winter.
“The past two residencies have provided great opportunities for students and TC3 residents to learn from each other,” said Sally Clark, Director of the UW’s Office of Regional & Community Relations. “TC3 remains a valued partner in UW’s academic mission given their track record of self-government, safety and compassion.”
UW’s Tent City Collective, a registered student organization made up of students, staff and faculty, made the request for UW to host a third time. During previous stays on campus, faculty worked homelessness and housing crisis issues into their course curriculum in concert with the arrival of TC3 on campus. UW student groups and professional organizations held service days on-site. UW’s School of Nursing and the Center for One Health Research have led multiple engagements for students learning about direct care and homelessness.
As with previous residencies at UW, the TC3 community and UW will develop an agreement regarding rights and responsibilities during TC3’s stay, including a safety plan. Information about previous residencies and previous agreements can be found on UW’s Addressing Homelessness webpage.