Tent City 4 invited to new church site

Less than a month into Tent City 4's stay at Kirkland Congregational United Church of Christ, the homeless encampment has been invited to move to another Kirkland church whenever it needs to.

Lake Washington United Methodist Church has sent Tent City 4 leaders an open invitation to move to its grounds, at 7525 132nd Ave. N.E.

"Care and compassion for the poor is a biblical responsibility for people of faith," said the Rev. Jim Head-Corliss, the church's pastor. "We don't know if they have accepted our invitation, but we want them to know it is open to them at any time in the future."

Head-Corliss said that many church members volunteer to cook meals at the tent city and have gotten to know the residents.

The church plans to hold a community meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the possibility of the tent city's move to the neighborhood.

Tent-city residents have not yet had a chance to discuss the church's invitation, said Bruce Thomas, Tent City 4 resident and a camp adviser.

"Of course we are grateful, and it would be good for everybody to know where we are going next," Thomas said. "We have not had a chance to vote on it yet."

The tent city plans to stay at its current location, across from City Hall and the Kirkland Police Department, until mid-May, when its 90-day permit runs out.

Rachel Tuinstra: 206-515-5637 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com