KIRKLAND — A Kirkland church is offering its parking lot as a place to camp for the city’s homeless residents living in cars and vans.
KIRO-TV reported about 30 vehicles park at Lake Washington United Methodist Church every night. The families staying there have access to a portable bathroom as well as an indoor bathroom, kitchen, phone and Wi-Fi when the church opens its doors in the morning.
The parking lot is only open to those who first pass a background check. People with a violent criminal history are excluded.
Seattle has run a similar program to the one at the Kirkland church, but many residents have complained about homeless people taking up parking spots. Seattle only has five churches participating with a total of 20 parking spots.
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