PORT TOWNSEND — An impromptu tent city at Fort Worden will stay in place for another 10 days.
Organizers said it already has succeeded in helping some of its residents and in drawing attention to the lack of low-income housing.
“We are making progress, and one of the residents now has a career job,” said Barbara Morey, who is working with a loosely organized advocacy organization called the Affordable Housing Action Group.
“Some of the other young men are working in landscaping and with computers, and we are hoping to place them with permanent jobs,” she said.
Morey said the group — which met March 27 at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave. — will schedule a meeting within the next two weeks where low-income housing will be discussed.
Community members and connected agencies will be invited, Morey said.
“We need to start a dialogue about this and get everyone who is involved to participate,” she said.
The meeting time and place will be announced on the group’s Facebook page, http://tinyurl.com/PDN-city.
John Prentice served as the camp’s host and established and maintained the group’s Facebook page, responsibilities now assumed by Levi Johnson after Prentice landed a permanent job.
Four people are staying at the camp, with two more scheduled to arrive Tuesday, Morey said.
“They are expanding and will try it out to see how it works,” she said.
“It is a self-governing group, so they need to make sure that any new members have the same principles and agree to the group’s boundaries and guidelines,” Morey said.
On Monday night, the camp was damaged by heavy wind and rain, turning it into what Johnson described as “something out of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’”
Ten-day rent for the campground is about $550 and comes from contributions.
The camp was created March 13 by eight people staying at the Port Townsend Winter Shelter, which closed for the season that day.
The group stayed at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds for 10 days.
Fair personnel were asked to extend the time period but declined, so the camp moved to Fort Worden on March 22.
The stay at Fort Worden was renewed after 10 days, with April 10 the limit of the 20 days allowed by state law.
“They’ve been a really good group,” said Brian Hageman, park manager.
“We haven’t had any complaints or problems.”
Morey said the group could use camping supplies and wood and would especially appreciate the donation or loan of a small sleeping trailer to house a woman who cannot sleep on the ground.
A trailer loaned to the group by Susan Pratt and Dick Williams of Port Townsend needed to be returned, Morey said.
Those wishing to contribute items to the tent city can contact the Boiler Room, 360-379-8247.
Cash contributions can be taken to any branch of First Federal and deposited into an account in the name of “Port Townsend Tent City.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
