The City of Kirkland has received a temporary use permit application from Trinity Lutheran Church to host Camp Unity, a homeless encampment. Members of Camp Unity were former residents of Tent City 4 and separated last November establishing its camp at Lake Washington United Methodist Church, 7525 132nd Ave. N.E.

Camp Unity and Trinity filed an application with the city to relocate the beginning of March 9, 2013. The permit for Camp Unity runs out at the Methodist Church on February 14, 2013 but Camp Unity will remain at its current location, an additional three weeks, while the City completes its permit review for the new location.

As required of the city’s permitting process, Trinity will host a community meeting on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m., Trinity Lutheran, 11920 N.E. 80th St.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide the surrounding community information regarding the homeless encampment, including the conditions that would be placed on the operation of the homeless encampment, requirements of the written code of conduct, and to answer questions regarding the homeless encampment.

Pastor Kelly Dahlman-Oeth from the Methodist Church, who is on the board of Camp Unity, stated that the leaders of encampment started looking for its next location almost immediately after getting the encampment set up but could not find a host at first. Trinity Lutheran Church, a new location for a homeless encampment in Kirkland, agreed to be a host but needed time to complete the application.

More information about the encampment is posted on the Lake Washington United Methodist Church’s website http://www.lwumc.com/ministries/tentcityhtml/ and the City’s website  www.kirklandwa.gov and search Tent City 4. For questions about the temporary use permit application, contact Nancy Cox, Development Review Manager at ncox@kirklandwa.gov or 425-587-3228.

For additional information, contact Trinity Lutheran Church at (425) 822-1471.