Seattle homeless camp needs to raise $15K after city’s grant

The City of Seattle granted Camp Second Chance a contract, including $208,000, to continue operating its sober homeless encampment. The tent city is not in the clear just yet, however. It needs to raise $15,000 by March 1.

Related: Homeless camp breaks onto city land

Polly Trout with Patacara, the group that organized the camp, recently posted on its website:

The City of Seattle is going to reimburse us for important services we provide. However, our contract requires us to raise the first month’s operating expenses up front, from private donors. We have a unique opportunity to expand the number of people we serve, improve the public health facilities of the camp, and to continue to move people quickly and effectively into secure housing that works for them by partnering with the City of Seattle.

Trout initially made headlines when she, admittedly, broke a lock off a gate to vacant city land. That’s how campers gained access in August 2016 to the plot that today is Camp Second Chance on Meyer’s Way. Since then, the city served an eviction notice, but that was quickly overturned. Councilmember Kshama Sawant has also publicly supported the tent city.

Now, Camp Second Chance is included among Mayor Murray’s three new tent encampments announced for 2017.

Camp Second Chance funding

According to Patacara’s website, the organization will need $42,000 in private funding over the course 2017. In the end, the money will be spent as such:

• 40 percent on staff
• 25 percent on infrastructure
• 20 percent on client assistance
• 15 percent on administration

Patacara would also like to raise additional funds:

• $5,000 for capacity building and development
• $20,000 for supplies for 50 tiny houses
• $1,000 for raised beds and gardening supplies

People interested in donating to the homeless encampment can do so through Patacara’s website.

Related: Want to help Seattle homelessness? Try saying ‘hello’

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