What is SHARE?

SHARE, or the Seattle Housing and Resource Effort, is King County’s largest provider of shelter for the homeless.  It provides a safe place to sleep at 18 locations throughout King County, and has been doing so for more than 15 years. Everyone on its Board of Directors is homeless or formerly homeless and all major decisions are made at a weekly all-shelter meeting called the Power Lunch. SHARE’s paid staff are accountable to the Power Lunch for decisions they make.

SHARE is run by us, the people who stay at the shelters and tent cities. It’s a hard job, but it is worth it to make sure things run the way we think they ought to be run. There’s a lot of work to be done: finding new sites, applying for grant money, solving problems inside SHARE. Every Saturday, we have a Power Lunch where people from all the shelters meet to decide what needs to be done to keep SHARE running. Other times we meet for specific reasons, like Vehicle Maintenance, Screening new residents, going over Finances or meeting with new churches for Site Search.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: How is Tent City Operated?
Tent City Code of Conduct

We, the people of SHARE/WHEEL in order to keep a more harmonious community, ask that you observe the following code of conduct:

 ·       SHARE/WHEEL’s Tent City  is a drug- and alcohol-free zone. Those caught drinking or using drugs will be asked to leave. Sobriety is required.

·       No weapons are allowed. Knives over 3½-inches must be checked in.

·       Violence will not be tolerated. Please attempt to resolve any conflict in a creative and non-violent manner.

·       Degrading ethnic, racist, sexist, or homophobic remarks are not acceptable. No physical punishment, verbal abuse, or intimidation will be tolerated. 

·       We a community: Please respect the rights and privacy of your fellow citizens. 

·       No men in the women’s tent. No women in the men’s tent. No open flames. No loitering or disturbing neighbors. No trespassing.

·       Attendance of at least one of the several community meetings held throughout the week is required. Days and times will be posted so that you may work it into your schedule.

·       Any of the following are grounds for being permanently barred from Tent City:

•   Alcohol in camp
•   Illegal drugs in camp
•   Violence or threats of violence
•   Sexual harassment
•   Theft (of any resident’s property or of TC4 community property)
•   Anything that causes a 9-1-1 call to be placed (other than a legitimate medical emergency)
•   Open flames or smoking in tents
•   Repeated “write-ups” for minor infractions
•   Violating any of our specific agreements with the current Host Church and/or Host City (ask any Executive Committee Member, if in doubt as to these agreements)

If these rules are not respected and enforced, Tent City  may be permanently closed.