Issaquah church may host tent city in August

Issaquah could be the next home for Tent City 4.

The Community Church of Issaquah has been working over the past several months to bring the homeless camp to the city from Aug. 11 to Nov. 10, said Elizabeth Maupin, outreach minister.

"We understood the need, and part of being a good Christian is that you care for the vulnerable," Maupin said.

The church submitted an application to the Planning Department, and a draft permit is expected in 10 days, said Sandy Wirth, the city's permit and licensing supervisor.

Tent City, which has about 80 residents, would camp in the church's back parking lot, said Maupin.

The homeless encampment has often sparked community opposition when it sought permission to move to various cities on the Eastside.

But so far, nobody has protested in Issaquah, said council President David Kappler.

"We're really hoping we can avoid that," he said. "Almost everything I've heard so far from the community has been either neutral or positive."

On May 19, Tent City 4 will move from St. Jude Catholic Church in Redmond to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Bellevue.

Earlier this year, St Jude helped tent-city residents set up camp at the church, despite a warning from city officials that the church was operating without a valid permit and would accrue fines starting at $350 per day. The Redmond City Council later reinstated a temporary use permit to St. Jude's.

On Friday, the city voided all fines that the church had accrued.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com