The “Safe Parking Program,” an opportunity for car campers to park in a safe place with facilities, is now underway at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church (2400 NW 85th St.) in Ballard. As we’ve reported in the past, Our Redeemer’s volunteered its parking lot to be the first safe parking location for the city’s car camping program. Pastor Steve Grumm says the first resident is now at the church, with four other spots open.
Grumm says the church chose to volunteer its parking lot in order to help support the homeless community and to offer safe places while people transition to permanent housing. “The challenge is that a lot of the people come out of situations of vulnerability, and we want to give them their own space,” Grumm explained. “We want to give them their own space, but we also want to welcome them while still giving them their anonymity.” Grumm says the residents have access to the church’s facilities, such as restrooms and the fellowship hall. There’s even a neighboring pea patch that has set aside space for residents who wish to plant vegetables.
The city is expanding the parking program: Josh Fogt from City Councilmember Mike O’Brien’s office says the United Methodist Church in Woodland Park will soon offer car camping for up to five residents in the near future.
The safe parking program is in cooperation with the Compass Housing Alliance, a group that oversees the applicants for the parking spots. The group screens applicants and assists approved car campers with finding permanent housing.
![](https://www.myballard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-My-Ballard-Tile-Ad-Troop-100.png")
