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 Camp Quixote…Up Date

In early June, Panza, the community support board for Camp Quixote, filed a court suit claiming the Lacey City Council failed to allow or hear public comment before adopting a ordinance regulating “tent cities” in Lacey.  At the heart of the complaint is the ordinance requirement that any tent city has to be housed indoors.  This stipulation, which significantly altered the ordinance, was added after opportunity for public comment and, therefore, appears to violate the Council’s guidelines for adopting ordinances.  As Lacey residents, LCC members, and concerned individuals, Ronna Smith and Don Stern signed the suit as plaintiffs.  A court hearing is scheduled in August.    

In addition to seeking fair process, our interest as a congregation is that the requirement to house a tent city indoors is impractical and virtually prohibits faith communities from hosting a tent city.  Our hope is to be able to work with City Council to shape an ordinance that is fair and workable.

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On the practical side, at the end of June, Camp Quixote will move to space at The United Churches in downtown Olympia. There are continued opportunities to volunteer at the host tent, for information contact Cathy Moody or Pastor Howard.  Also, we continue to provide some meals for Camp Quixote residents; talk with Pastor Howard to help. 

The saga of Camp Quixote, the tent city in our area, continues.  Currently, the story flows in two different streams.  In Olympia and Tumwater the stream runs smoothly and full.  With the diligence of Camp Quixote residents and volunteers and the cooperation of city governments, five different faith communities have offered their property and hosted the camp during the past year.  In each setting, people who are houseless have found security and support that comes in sharing life.  Given the stability the camp offers, many residents have been able to work, some have gotten to the point they could acquire permanent housing.  

Throughout Olympia, people have come to respect and appreciate the presence of and need for Camp Quixote.  No one considers a tent city to be a permanent solution to the challenges of having shelter, but Camp Quixote is proving to be a good, temporary response. 

So in Olympia and Tumwater, Camp Quixote’s stream runs freely, however, the other stream in the City of Lacey struggles to find a course.  Last week the Lacey City Council adopted an ordinance allowing tent cities in Lacey, but only if placed inside faith community buildings.  The ordinance is not only impractical but also fails to recognize what makes Camp Quixote vital.  Camp Quixote works because residents want it to work and they take responsibility for making it work.  The residents know they are better off with other people around; they recognize they are also stronger people when they are empowered to be responsible citizens.  Camp Quixote functions with a self-governing, self-disciplining spirit that is lacking in most of our communities.  Perhaps we would be better served by looking to the people of Camp Quixote for guidance rather than regulating them out of existence.

All of this affects the LCC congregation because we have felt the call to host Camp Quixote.  In our desire to respond to this call we have tried to act in a cooperative manner working with the residents of the Camp, the people and groups that use our building, the folks who share our neighborhood and the people of the larger community.  At this point, cooperation and call seem to be in conflict. 

Locating Camp Quixote in Lacey is proving to be a challenge given the burdensome regulations of City Council.  However, water is a powerful force and streams regularly overcome obstacles.  Likewise, when God is present, mountains are moved, hard places transformed and righteousness rolls down like an ever-flowing stream.  Let us rely on prayer and persist in action as we seek God’s guidance and presence.

                                                                             Howard