Seattle wants to build $ 3 million "mega tent" for homeless people in crackdown on illegal camps

Jae C. Hong / APA homeless camp sanctioned by the city in Seattle.

• Seattle is deciding to build a "gigantic tent" of $ 3 billion for homeless residents.
• The project, inspired by a Los Angeles program, could serve as a temporary solution to the growing crisis of homelessness in the city.
• It could also help the city get rid of illegal homeless camps that have invaded the urban core.

The number of people with no place of permanent residence is increasing in Seattle. More than half of the metropolitan population now lives outside, under tents, parks, vehicles or on the streets of the city. Over the past year, the city has had to face one of the most visible signs of the crisis: a growing series of homeless camps filled with garbage and misplaced objects.

While the city is looking for a permanent solution to the problem, it is also considering a temporary solution: a "mega tent" of $ 3 million.

The idea was first proposed by a member of the municipal council Teresa Mosqueda, who considers the tent as a way to provide immediate shelter to those who live outside.

In addition to construction costs of $ 3 million, the city estimated that the tent would cost $ 2 million, bringing the final total to $ 5 million. The funds would likely come from a proposed budget of $ 89.5 million to fight homelessness in Seattle, which will be put to a vote in November.

Mosqueda's idea is inspired by A Bridge Home, an emergency housing program in Los Angeles, which opened its first site in September. In addition to case management and mental health services, residents have access to beds, showers, storage facilities, washrooms, laundry services and pet-friendly accommodations.

The concept is one of many arguments advanced by Los Angeles to cope with the rising housing crisis. Other temporary solutions include backyard rentals and hotel renovations.

If approved in November, the Seattle program would be a little different than the Los Angeles program. Rather than creating multiple sites, the city plans to create a gigantic shelter tent that can accommodate 75 to 100 people at a time.

This is a small number compared to the more than 12,000 homeless residents in the area, although it may solve the problem of illegal camps in the urban core. It could also save time in the city looking for longer-term solutions, such as building affordable housing.