Sunnydale Village, a sanctioned homeless encampment operating in Burien since early November, has issued an urgent plea for assistance from the community as it faces the imminent end of its lease agreement on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.
As The B-Town Blog previously reported, this homeless encampment was first opened at Oasis Home Church on Nov. 1, 2023, and is operated by the Burien Community Support Coalition (a registered 501c3) that is run by former councilmember Cydney Moore.
For the past three months, Sunnydale Village has provided essential services and support to approximately 60 residents, offering a safe and stable environment along with basic necessities such as food, clothing, hygiene supplies, tents, and blankets.
The camp has also facilitated access to social workers, case management, medical aid, job assistance, and other resources through partnerships with local churches, nonprofits, social service organizations, and individuals.
However, with their current lease expiring this coming Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, Sunnydale Village is urgently seeking a new location. The camp requires around 7,000 square feet of flat land, preferably within half a mile of Burien and easily accessible by transit to accommodate residents with limited mobility.
“We are reaching out to our community in hopes of finding another church or property that will host us, and allow us to continue offering a safe space and services to the roughly 60 people we have in our care who otherwise have nowhere else to go,” organizers said in a statement.
Sunnydale Village operates under strict guidelines, including 24/7 staffing, screening of new residents by local police, and enforcement of a code of conduct that prohibits violence, firearms, or theft. The camp also provides sanitation services and maintains privacy measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents.
Organizers said that the positive impact of Sunnydale Village on its residents’ lives is evident, with many individuals experiencing improvements in health, stability, and community connections. However, without a new location, the camp faces the risk of disruption to its vital services, hindering the progress made by its residents towards stability and well-being.
“Without a new location for Sunnydale Village, we will not be able to provide this level of support to our residents, and so much of the progress they are making towards stability will be disrupted,” organizers said. “Shelters in King County are overflowing, and many present significant barriers for entry that are difficult to overcome.”
Here’s the full call for help from organizers, along with photos of the encampment:
“Sunnydale Village has been operating successfully for the last 3 months, offering basic essentials of a safe and stable place to stay, food, clothing, hygiene supplies, tents, blankets, and more. Residents have been connected with resources including social workers and case management, shelter, housing wait lists, ID cards, phones, doctor appointments and medical aid, and assistance searching for and holding down jobs.
“All of this has been made possible through partnerships with our host, Oasis Home Church, other church congregations, nonprofits, social service and outreach organizations, emergency services, and individuals throughout our community.
“We have maintained a strong relationship with the church we are currently operating at, but our lease agreement is coming to an end on February 5th. We are reaching out to our community in hopes of finding another church or property that will host us, and allow us to continue offering a safe space and services to the roughly 60 people we have in our care who otherwise have nowhere else to go.
“Our need is for space around 7,000 square feet or more of relatively flat land, in or near Burien, that is easily accessible by transit – preferably within a half a mile, as many of our residents have limited ability to walk lengthy distances (we have elderly residents, people with various disabilities, etc.).
“The Burien Community Support Coalition (a registered 501c3), manages and oversees all aspects of running Sunnydale Village, which includes:
• “24/7 staffing
• “Monitoring all people entering and leaving the camp
• “Screening all new residents through local police
• “Upholding a Code of Conduct for residents, which includes a zero tolerance policy for violence, firearms, or theft, and expectations that residents respect the host property and neighborhood.
• “Providing fencing and privacy screens, so the camp is not visible or accessible from the outside except through our main entry point (monitored by staff and security cameras)
• “Providing sanitation services, including regularly serviced porta-potties and hand washing stations
“We have several letters of recommendation from neighbors, representatives from organizations that have partnered closely with us, and those volunteering onsite, praising us for maintaining a clean space, a strong operating model, and the benefit our camp offers our residents.
“There have been remarkable improvements in the overall health and well-being of our residents in their time with us. Providing a sense of stability and security has given them the opportunity to improve their circumstances, and build community. We have had individuals who have been able to overcome their addiction and get off drugs, people reconnecting with family they were separated from, and many getting treatment for medical conditions that posed serious risks, had they gone unaddressed.
“Without a new location for Sunnydale Village, we will not be able to provide this level of support to our residents, and so much of the progress they are making towards stability will be disrupted. Shelters in King County are overflowing, and many present significant barriers for entry that are difficult to overcome.
“We ask that our community pulls together to provide aid in this time of such great need, to support our most vulnerable population.
“In addition to the need for a new location, we will also need help facilitating the move – volunteers, transportation, and financial donations are all strongly encouraged.”
“Donations can be made online via Paypal.
“Those interested in providing other assistance can reach us at [email protected].”
Photos
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