Tent City Traveler's Guide

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-03-09 19:15:00 UTC
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As more Americans lose their jobs and homes, tent cities are popping up all across the U.S. And as quickly as these cities are forming, each is taking on a life of its own. Some offer unique amenities, others operate through unspoken codes of conduct. But all have one thing in common: they represent a growing byproduct of a rising American homeless population. 

Yesterday, we featured photos from a rapidly growing tent city in Sacramento. Last week, guest blogger Steven Samra wrote about the view from a tent city in Nashville, Tennessee. Now, the blog over at Mental Floss magazine has put together a list of six tent cities who are "making a difference."

Take, for example, Dignity Village in Portland, Oregon. Residents of this tent cities have elected representatives and they pay water bills:

With a village council and elected officials, Portland's Dignity Village is like a city unto itself. And unlike many other tent cities, it's legal. Dignity Village won that distinction in 2004 when, after a four year campaign, the tent city was officially recognized as a campground. That designation meant that it was no longer violated city zoning laws. In 2007 Dignity Village, which is home to 60 people, entered into a management contract with the city that expanded the land it sits on and made it so residents have to pay for their own water and sewer service. It was the latest upgrade to the encampment that has evolved from tents on asphalt to walled structures built from two-by-fours and sheetrock.

One tent city in Seattle, Washington was named in honor of the city mayor (Greg Nickels). "Nickelsville" has undergone a dramatic transformation in a short period of time:

Located in a church parking lot, the city sprang up in late September and quickly evolved from a lawless encampment into a modern mini-city. Residents have established rules (no smoking, drugs or visitors between 9 pm and 7 am) and set up an arbitration council to mediate disputes.

Next stops on the Tent City, U.S.A. tour: Athens, GA, St. Petersburg, Reno, NV, and Ventura Harbor.

Do tent cities exist in your community that have taken on a life of their own? Do share below!

 

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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