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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

City may help out homeless in cars

Associated Press

SEATTLE – The city of Seattle hopes to launch a program in January to help the homeless who are camping in their cars.

The Seattle Safe Parking program is modeled on those in Eugene, Ore., and other cities that provide portable toilets and trash collection to churches or businesses that allow car campers in their parking lots, the Seattle Times reported.

The Seattle program was proposed by Councilman Mike O’Brien. He took part in the January One Night Out count that found about 1,700 homeless people in the city, about 500 of them in cars.

One church has stepped up to be the first to host homeless car campers. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in the Ballard neighborhood has agreed to allow car campers to use church bathrooms.