City of Tukwila votes to support tiny house villages

Marta Kidane of LIHI (left at podium and on screen) testifies before the Tukwila City Council on August 5 to expand tiny house villages.

Kudos to the Tukwila City Council for last night voting 6-1 to allow tiny house villages with up to 45 tiny houses to be established in Tukwila. There was a packed audience of supporters and speakers at city council chambers on whether tiny houses should be limited to 30 in a village or allowed up to 45. Speaker after speaker, most of whom were asylum seekers, spoke about their experience living outdoors on the grounds of the Riverton Park United Methodist Church (UMC) and how tiny houses, with heat and privacy are so much better than tents. UMC Pastor Jan Bolerjack, Miracle Temple Pastor Henry Jenkins, former City Councilmember Joe Duffie, One America, Drivers Union’s Peter Kuel and Patrice Tisdale, Recovery Navigation Program’s Aaron Coito-Poile, LIHI Shelter Operations Manager Joseph Musisi, LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee, and others were there to testify and show support for raising the number of tiny houses allowed in a village from 30 to 45.  

Council President Mohamed Abdi recently toured the 43 tiny homes at LIHI’s Henderson Village in Rainier Beach to gain perspective on a village with 45 tiny homes. Councilmember Jovita McConnell proposed the amendment that carried. Only Councilmember Dennis Martinez voted no. Please thank the Tukwila City Council for supporting tiny house villages by emailing them at: citycouncil@tukwilawa.gov

Marta Kidane, LIHI’s Community Engagement Manager, testified before the council and also turned in a petition from Tukwila community members and UMC neighbors showing their support for the expansion of the Riverton Park Tiny House Village. This village has 22 houses and an expansion up to 45, especially with winter coming, will greatly alleviate the suffering of people in Tukwila who are now living in tents. 

Riverton Park Village currently has 21 tiny houses. Ideally this would be expanded to 45 houses.

Pierce County Council support for tiny house villages is divided across party lines

The Pierce County Council’s Community Development & Environment Committee meeting on August 5. Chair Robyn Denson is at center.

Yesterday the Pierce County Council’s Community Development and Environment Committee voted 3 to 2 to approve zoning code amendments to enable the construction of tiny house villages and tent encampments in unincorporated parts of Pierce County. The Committee is chaired by CM Robyn Denson, a Democrat, who supported the amendments proposed by Council President and Democrat Ryan Mello. CM Marty Campbell, also a Democrat, voted to approve the changes. Even after hearing testimony from many speakers about the need for tiny house villages to serve people who are unhoused, and that solving homelessness should have bipartisan support, the two Republicans on the Committee, CM Dave Morell and CM Amy Cruver, voted no. The Committee’s recommendation now goes to full Council for a vote on August 20. 

The January Point In Time Count documented 2,661 homes people in Pierce County, a 23% increase from the last count. County Executive Bruce Dammeier’s Human Services Dept. had issued a request for proposal for a micro shelter village and LIHI was awarded the funds. LIHI purchased land in Spanaway using county funds and now code changes are needed in order to set up the village. 

Please contact the Pierce County Council at: pccouncil@piercecountywa.gov. Ask that they support Ordinance O2024-540s so that a tiny house village can be built to serve people needing shelter in unincorporated parts of Pierce County. The majority of shelters are currently located in the city of Tacoma. Pierce County residents need shelter too. 

Volunteers at Sand Point Cottages

On August 1st volunteers from The Seneca Group helped LIHI spruce up Sand Point Cottages by weeding, painting, and building a kids play area as well as picnic tables and benches. Thank you, Seneca Group!

If you are interested in volunteering with LIHI, please click here.