Finding Space

Civic leader Cary Moon will deliver the keynote speech at an upcoming forum on land use and homelessness sponsored by Seattle University School of Law, the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project, and Seattle Journal for Social Justice.

The April 14 forum, "Finding Space to Solve Homelessness: Addressing Homelessness Through Private, Public, and Religious Land Use" will discuss challenges, ideas, and solutions for the worsening problem of people living without shelter. 

"If there is one thing that unites Seattleites, it is our shared obligation to solve the housing and homelessness crisis," Moon said. "Working together, how can we build the courage for transformative solutions that will bring people inside?"

Moon is a longtime community activist and urban planner who was active in plans to re-open Seattle's waterfront after replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. She ran for mayor of Seattle in 2017 as an outspoken and creative champion of affordable housing and the right to shelter.

The upcoming event will explore social, legal, and policy issues related to approaches such as safe parking lots for vehicle residents, authorized encampments, religious land use, and accessory dwelling units in residential backyards. 

The Finding Space forum aims not only to stimulate thought, discussion, and scholarship, but ideally, to empower participants to confidently pursue and support more progressive uses of public, private, and faith-based property to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.

"The goal of this forum is to produce knowledge and actual solutions," said Professor Sara Rankin, director of the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project. "We want people to build new connections with each other, but we also want them to advance concrete action plans."

The forum will take place at Seattle University School of Law, 901 12th Ave. Registration is available here.