CAMP UNITED WE STAND -
TENT CITY
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Why Tent Encampments are Necessary
Homelessness has increased greatly in King County over the last 20 years, as rental housing costs have continued to rise. Although factors that cause people to become more susceptible to falling into homelessness are varied, the fact remains that lack of affordable housing is the prime reason.
What is available for those who can’t pay their rent? Subsidized housing is scarce and has long wait lists. Cheap housing has been razed to build expensive residences and hotels. Single-room occupancy units (SROs) were gone decades ago. There aren’t enough tiny house villages for the more than 12,000 homeless individuals in King Count in 2025. Spaces in indoor shelters are usually restricted to single individuals without companion animals or possessions, often are not available for more than a few nights at a time, and offer little safety or privacy. Sleeping in a tent in a public space or park is not legal, and you are likely to be “swept” – having your possessions taken and told to go away. But where?
In such an environment, authorized tent encampments such as Camp United We Stand can offer survival in a community setting. Until our economy is transformed into one that allows those of varying financial status to be able to maintain secure homes, we will need such strategies.
Camp United We Stand
Camp United We Stand (CUWS) is a legally-sanctioned homeless tent community with permits from the cities and congregations that offer us a site on their property. We became a federal 501(c)(3) organization in 2015 and are registered with the Washington State Secretary of State as a non-profit organization. CUWS is hosted on a rotating basis of 3 to 6 months at a time by congregations in north King County. We have been serving unhoused people since 2015.
Our Mission Statement, Values, and Goals
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide a safe, self-managed, and community-supported encampment to meet the needs of up to 35 people experiencing homelessness in Seattle and North King County.
Our Goals
- Partnerships with individuals and organizations committed to enhancing the quality of life of the camp members.
- Advocacy for homeless encampments at community meetings and potential host sites.
- Collaboration with local organizations to develop opportunities for the camp members to further their own development and self-sufficiency.
- Encouraging efforts to deliver meals, clothing, and supplies to the camp.
Our Values
- Self-management by the camp as much as possible.
- Maintaining a safe, positive environment within the camp.
- Helping camp members find permanent housing, funding, and services
- Being good neighbors to those living near the host site.
- Expanding the network of potential host sites, whether churches or other locations.
- Ending homelessness!
Host Sites
Several faith communities in North Seattle, Shoreline, and other cities have kindly hosted the camp multiple times. They include:
- Haller Lake United Methodist Church, Seattle
- St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Shoreline
- Shoreline Free Methodist Church
- Calvin Presbyterian Church, Shoreline
- Richmond Beach United Church of Christ, Shoreline
- Northlake Lutheran Church, Kenmore
- Kirkland United Church of Christ
If your faith community would like to inquire about hosting the camp for three months or longer, we would love to talk with you. You may contact us to discuss options, needs, timing, and benefits to your congregation at
How CUWS is Organized
CUWS is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors which provides legal and fiduciary responsibility through our 501(c)(4), works toward finding sites and resources, and assists members when needed. However, the camp is mostly self-managed. Members make and enforce rules of conduct, serve shifts at the 24/7 security tent, manage the kitchen and the donations tent, and ensure necessary supplies are available and trash organized. Importantly, they support each other in their efforts to finding housing, jobs, and services they need. CUWS endeavors to help many members find better accommodations, and register with organizations in order to find places in permanent housing. But our focus is on making life better now. While they are in CUWS, it is their home.
Who Lives in CUWS
Our camp members include the wide range of people who make up any large community: different ethnicities and religious connections, varied life experiences, careers and job skills, and geographical origins and travels. We do not discriminate according to gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic. As is true with housed people, camp members may have differing personal situations that need assistance. Although it is not a service provider, CUWS does have information on resources for many types of needs. With all the variations in our members, the only thing that is true of all who come to CUWS: they cannot afford permanent housing.
Safety for Member and Hosts
Because we want our members to be safe in their community, background checks are run and we bar entry to those with sex offender status and outstanding warrants. We do not allow alcohol or drug use or weapons in camp. Bullying or harassment of other members is not tolerated, and respect and civility toward each other is required. The same respect and civility is expected to be shown toward our hosts and those who live in the host’s community. Those who cannot abide by those requirements must leave. Because of these expectations, our congregational hosts have been able to trust that we will be good neighbors over the years that we have functioned.
How CUWS is Funded
Unlike most sanctioned tent encampment communities, CUWS does not receive funding for staff or resources from governmental entities. Our members pay a nominal fee each month – currently $55, $45 for veterans – which usually covers absolute necessities such as hygiene facilities and trash pickup. However, we have offered concerts as fundraisers under the auspices of local musical groups and choirs, and over the years generous supporters have shown their care for our members by financial gifts. Communities where we are sited often bring food and other necessities to the camp, and we have a wonderful community group who
provide dinners and laundry service on a regular basis. In one example of much-appreciated assistance, the City of Kenmore underwrote our camp-designed-and-built shower in the amount of $2,000 for materials. If you wish to help CUWS stay securely funded, we ask you to continue reading to find out how to do so. Thanks!
Be a Friend of The Camp!
We welcome gifts of commonly-needed items:
- Men’s and women’s winter clothing: jackets, footwear, and socks
- Hygiene and personal necessities for men and women
- Sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, rugs, towels, washcloths
- Camp supplies: toilet paper, AA/AAA batteries, extension cords, propane, work gloves, liquid hand soap, garbage bags
- Kitchen supplies: microwaveable food, water, juices, coffee, tea, creamer, sugar, canned food, cooking oil, paper towels, Clorox wipes
We ask that you call the Camp Phone to ask what supplies are currently most needed: 425-616-8853
Financial Donations
Monetary gifts help us pay for different services and buy materials that are needed to keep our camp running. If you would like to help, here are several options:
- Send a check or money order made out to
Camp United We Stand
c/o Richmond Beach Congregational Church-
United Church of Christ
1512 NW 195th St.
Shoreline, WA 98177
- Click on “Donate” in this website to give through PayPal.
- On line, at https://wagives.org/organizations/Camp-United-We-Stand,
This site is managed by Washington Gives, a year-round online-giving platform that features more than 1,500 non-profit organizations across Washington State.
Your donation and your care for our unhoused neighbors are very much appreciated. Our members thank you for helping them to look forward to a better future!
In Memory of Beverly Hawkins
Beverly was the many-years-long President of the Board of CUWS, but she was actually the camp’s mother in so many ways.
She planned fundraising events, she worried, she scolded, she complimented, she bought gifts, she wrote pleading letters, she urged hosts to give us a site, she pushed, she pulled, she told us to just try a little more -- she used every fiber of her being to keep us going. While facing a serious and final disease, she continued working devotedly, 24/7, until she was no longer unable to do so.
She left us on May 23, 2024. Rest in peace and love, dear Beverly.
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