MONROE — New Hope Fellowship and other in-city churches now have a green light if they wish to host temporary homeless encampments.
The City Council, at New Hope’s request, cleared the way last week by adopting an emergency ordinance updating its zoning for homeless camps.
“When New Hope expressed interest (in establishing a homeless camp), we pushed this to the front of the line, to make sure we’re all on the same page,” said Ben Swanson, community development director.
Swanson said homeless shelters will also be part of an update to the city’s affordable housing zoning code, which should be finished later this year.
New Hope made headlines last month when Pastor Rob Jansons proposed to his board of directors that the church establish a temporary homeless camp on its property at 1012 W. Main St.
According to other media, it would be modeled after Shepherd’s Village in Lynnwood, the first tiny home community in Snohomish County. Instead of tents, Shepherd’s Village residents live in portable shelters with electricity, heat, a bed and air conditioning.
A model shelter was assembled in the New Hope parking lot for a week in May. Jansons has estimated it will cost about $50,000 to purchase the initial shelters.
Under the updated zoning regulations, any homeless encampments — whether tiny home villages or traditional tent cities — would be governed mostly by the hosting church.
Monroe established regulations for homeless encampments in 2007, but the rules had not been changed to reflect state legislation set in 2010.
The 2010 change limits local government restrictions on temporary homeless camps located at religious organizations to a largely hands-off approach. It forbids city government from imposing any conditions on the camps “other than those necessary to protect public health and safety.”
Swanson emphasized the emergency zoning ordinance is not a prohibition of homeless camps; it is to ensure the city complies with state law.
The ordinance takes effect immediately and lasts for six months. A public hearing must be held on the new homeless camp regulations no later than Aug. 10.
Jansons of New Hope Fellowship Church was out of town last week and did not return messages for comment by deadline, and the church directed reporters to Jansons. It is unclear if and when the church will proceed with the homeless village plan.
