Kent City Council considers allowing tiny home village for homeless

Reactions are mixed among residents and the Kent City Council about a Seattle-based nonprofit housing organization’s plans to build a village of 28 tiny homes for the homeless on the East Hill.

The Low Income Housing Institute, which operates 16 tiny home villages in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Bellingham, wants to build the complex on property owned by St. James Episcopal Church, 24447 94th Ave. S.

For the plan to move forward, at least four of the seven-member council need to support a zoning code amendment to allow the housing complex to operate for more than 90 days. The council had an informational workshop April 5 about the proposal but has not decided whether or not to support it. No votes are taken at workshops.

“Some are in favor and some are not in favor,” Council President Bill Boyce said in an April 7 phone interview. “We need to work through what is best for the homeless and for the community. …In the next week or two we should know where we’ll go.”

Council members Marli Larimer, Satwinder Kaur and Brenda Fincher spoke at the workshop in favor of the tiny home village. Toni Troutner replied to a resident’s email opposing the project that she agreed with the resident and did not support the plan. Boyce and Zandria Michaud didn’t commit one way or another. Les Thomas did not attend the workshop due to a medical issue.

“We will see if there are four votes to move it forward and start the process to change the zoning,” Boyce said. “If not, it’ll die.”

Many people spoke in favor of building the homes, which would be 8 feet by 12 feet with a bed, heat, a light, electricity and a locking door. Residents must follow a code of conduct (including no drugs or alcohol) and work with a case manager to find permanent housing. The village will target families and couples seeking a temporary home.

The village would have community kitchen and restroom facilities, on-site showers and laundry, a counseling office and a 24/7 welcome/security hut where donations of food, clothing and hygiene items can be dropped off. Entry to the complex would be through one gate.

“I’m here to tell you I wholeheartedly support to create a village on the St. James campus,” said the Rev. Joyce Parry-Moore, rector of St. James, at an April 5 council workshop about the proposal. “I believe it will improve the public safety and help more of our neighbors to thrive. I ask you to vote to moving this successful model of housing forward in our city.”

Several residents, however, who live near the proposed housing plan, told the council during its April 5 public comment period and via email that they are against tiny homes going up so close to their neighborhood.

“Allowing a tiny home village for homeless people, to be installed across the street from our community could potentially change our entire neighborhood in a negative way,” said Dave Wicklander in an email to the council. “After reviewing all the info I could find on other tiny home villages, they initially start out OK when they first open, but the village goes bad real fast. Issues I have seen range from excess trash in and around the village, hoarding large quantities of junk in and around the village, increased crime impacting the homes and businesses around the village, as well as problems resulting from village occupants consuming drugs and alcohol once they leave the village for the day.”

Pat Fitzpatrick, city interim chief administrative officer, said in an April 6 email that the council would need to approve a zoning code amendment to permit a tiny home village that is not subject to the 90-day limitation set forth in the current code adopted by the council in 2020.

“In order for that to occur, our council will first need to direct staff to prepare a code amendment for consideration,” Fitzpatrick said. “If that occurs, staff will draft ordinance options for council consideration.”

Fitzpatrick said prior to adoption of an ordinance, public notice will be issued and a formal hearing will be held. In addition, review under the State Environmental Policy Act and notice to the State Department of Commerce will be required.

The Low Income Housing Institute has been working with several community partners to get the project moving.

Josh Castle, community engagement coordinator for the Low Income Housing Institute, said the nonprofit has a grant request to King County to help pay for the tiny home village that would house a maximum of 35 people. He said the operational costs would be about $800,000 and it would cost about $600,000 to set up the site, although a lot of that cost would be donated by local volunteer groups. He said the goal is to open the village in June or July.

Castle said the homes would be for the unsheltered who are in Kent, and that referrals from local agencies would identify the potential residents. The Silent Task Force helped set up a tiny home village in Skyway and is helping to get a site in Kent.

Tye Whitfield works with the homeless in Kent as founder of Kingdom Gathering Outreach and has helped push to get a tiny home village built in town.

“We have all kinds of homeless, from the upper class, the middle class and low income,” Whitfield said at the council meeting. “I see about 110 people in Kent every week, and they show me where their hiding places are. We have a problem, we have to do something about it.”

Ankita Goel, who lives across the street from the proposed site, told the council to not approve the project.

“This will create a lot of nuisance in a peaceful residential area,” Goel said in an email. “We have enough crime around us already and some homeless people walking from church and trying to break in to our houses or theft, etc. So, I beg you to consider our concerns and please reject this proposal. Something like this can be built in the outskirts of the city where public transportation is available for them, without hurting any existing neighborhoods.”