A Safe Community
Camp Quixote is a tent city that provides safe haven for people experiencing homelessness.
The camp is a member run, democratic community that operates with the aid of a broad-based support committee known as the Panza group.
Camp Quixote was initially created to protest the new sidewalk law passed by the City of Olympia. As the street community watched their access to public space shrink, they gathered to organize and stake their claim to exist - openly and without shame.
Though the camp was born of a confrontation, its goal was full inclusion in the wider community. Moved by the courage -and the need- of the campers, the local Unitarian-Universalist Congregation stepped up and offered to host the camp. Since then, Camp Quixote has been hosted by The United Churches of Olympia, St. John's Episcopal Church, and the First United Methodist Church. The camp is scheduled to move to the First Christian Church (Disciples) shortly after Christmas.
The City of Olympia, which initially opposed Camp Quixote -describing it as a "poke in the eye"- quickly turned from its position to embrace and support the camp. The City passed a very generous temporary ordinance in August permitting and regulating the existence of tent cities. That ordinance will soon be replaced by a permanent law.
Why We Need Camp Quixote
During a cold snap at the end of February a woman collapsed into a chair at the Thurston County Food Bank after gathering a three-day supply of provisions. She said she was sick, a doctor had just put her on antibiotics, she needed some place to stay. She hadn’t been able to get into any of the available shelters, she said, and she couldn’t go
back on the street.
Food Bank volunteers called the Emergency Crisis Line and all the shelters, but there were no beds available that night. Finally, one volunteer mentioned the tent city, Camp Quixote, which had just moved onto the Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s property, up on the west side of Olympia, and wondered whether it might be able to take her.
Two weeks later, the woman was ready to tell everyone about the community she had found at Camp Quixote, and how they helped her get better. Since then she moved on to other housing.
The extremely limited temporary and emergency shelter and housing for the hundreds in our community afflicted by homelessness are steadily shrinking as federal funds dry up. Wait lists for low-income housing range from 7 months to 8 years.
Our community needs more solutions to homelessness and poverty!
Dignity Village—The Model
Dignity Village was established at Sunderland Yard in Portland in 2001. Granted only temporary permits initially, village members worked with a group called City Repair to build portable, well-insulated houses out of wood, straw and clay for about $500 each. The Village was eventually given a permanent camp status, and the residents have now signed a long-term lease with the City of Portland.
Dignity Village has propane-heated showers, a library, internet and a shared kitchen. Bus service is nearby, and various groups provide services at the camp. In 2006 one hundred people transitioned out of the camp into permanent housing. After a recent visit to Dignity Village, Olympia City Council member Jeff Kingsbury said, "With strong internal leadership, this model might be possible in Thurston County!"