title
AN ORDINANCE relating to zoning; creating a temporary use permit for homeless encampments; amending Ordinance 12196, Section 9, as amended, and K.C.C. 20.20.020, Ordinance 12196, Section 17, as amended, and K.C.C. 20.20.100 and Ordinance 10870, Section 549, as amended, and K.C.C. 21A.32.120, adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 21A.32 and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 21A.
body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Homelessness is recognized as a significant problem in King County and elsewhere in the nation.
B. Some estimates conclude that eight thousand King County residents are homeless on any given night.
C. King County finds it unacceptable that people are dying on the streets of our communities because there are insufficient safe alternative locations for habitation by homeless persons.
D. The citizens' advisory commission on homeless encampments ("CACHE") was established by the metropolitan King County council in June 2004 to study the issues of homeless encampments, including whether there is a need for homeless encampments, whether these homeless encampments shall be sited on public or private land, or both, and identifying procedural guidelines for siting and permitting future homeless encampments.
E. The final report of the CACHE found that homeless encampments are not ideal but found that there is a need for the homeless encampments until more permanent housing is available across King County.
F. Homeless encampments serve as an interim survival mechanism while King County continues its important work as a member of the regional Committee to End Homelessness in King County seeking permanent housing alternatives and supportive services through a final plan and recommendations due in early 2005.
G. The establishment of homeless encampments has generated concerns about the adequacy of notice to affected communities before their establishment. These concerns can be alleviated by...
Click here for full text