Homeless group sets up camp in front of Conlin's house, will be back Saturday night

Councilmember Richard Conlin's home looks out on a homeless camp tonight. A group of more than 40 homeless people and advocates rolled out sleeping bags in the parking strips and along this Madrona sidewalk in a camp-out to protest the City Council president's role in denying their group funding.

Seattle Housing and Resource Effort is protesting the City of Seattle's decision to not provide the group $50,000 so it can purchase bus vouchers, which it says the people who use its services need to get between SHARE's 15 shelters and three tent cities to services downtown. Spokesperson Beatrice Friberg said the group plans to spend Friday night in front of Conlin's home and will return again on Saturday.

"It's a matter of deep belief," Friberg said. "We will not rest until we have the vouchers."

A camper settles in for a wet night

After camping on the parking strip by Mayor Greg Nickels' house Monday night, the homeless activist group slept in front of City Councilman Tim Burgess' house for three nights.

The city is giving the group $310,000 to operate the shelters and has offered a $50,000 advance for the bus vouchers. However, the advance was contingent on the group guaranteeing to keep its shelters open for the rest of the year. Facing a deficit, SHARE says it can't guarantee that. At the same time, it has run out of money for vouchers partially because of Metro's recent fare increases.

Friday night's camp set-up was quiet and went without incident. The group organized and handed out gear at the nearby Madrona Playground before marching in a mostly orderly fashion down 34th Ave to set up in front of Conlin's $800,000 home. "Stay on the sidewalk," an organizer yelled. The campers laid out their gear in a line stretching from the corner of Cherry and 34th Ave and down or three blocks past the councilmember's home. In front, an 'Elect Richard Conlin' sign was joined by sleeping bags and large sheets of plastic to keep the rain away. The infamous portable toilet on the back of the group's pick-up was parked on the street in front. Conlin's house remained dark and it appeared that nobody was home, his garbage can still sitting on the curb.

A SHARE member talks with police

Two police cruisers stopped by to check in. The officers stayed in their vehicles and talked to a few of the group's members. After a few minutes, they pulled away. "It's getting a little routine," one of the campers laughed.

Frieberg didn't say where the group would move to next after another night in Madrona on Saturday but she did vow that the group will keep up its camp-outs until the money for the vouchers is provided. She also said the group won't target the homes of any of the mayoral or council candidates. "We do not have an issue with the candidates," Friberg said. "They have done nothing to us and some have been very supportive. Our concern is with the mayor and the council."

Meanwhile, the neighbors of councilmember Conlin stayed inside for the most part on a drizzly Friday night. One ducked out long enough to say hello to the men camped in front of his home. And to thank them for guarding his truck tonight.