A few nights ago, I attended a public meeting held at St. Timothy Episcopal Church to discuss the newly proposed safe parking program in Chehalis. I came into the meeting with an open mind and a compassionate heart — because I truly care about the people impacted by homelessness, especially mothers and children living out of their vehicles.
But I left with deep concern that this proposal lacks transparency, accountability and real community collaboration.
Let me be clear — my heart breaks for the women and children who are forced to sleep in cars. No mother should have to face the reality of raising her child in a vehicle. And no child should have to worry about where they're going to sleep at night. In Lewis County, we have always been a community that rises to meet challenges with both empathy and action.
Just last year, when we learned that local high school students were experiencing homelessness, we didn't just sit back and talk about the issue. We did something about it. A group of concerned community members came together and formed Scholars Haven. Through a unified, grassroots effort, we found housing for those students and helped turn their academic and personal lives around. That is what real, compassionate problem-solving looks like — when a community pulls together to lift up those in need.
But this safe parking proposal doesn't reflect that same spirit of collaboration. While it may meet the requirements of state law, simply checking a box is not enough. A successful initiative like this requires honest engagement with the surrounding neighborhood, rigorous safeguards for all involved and a clear plan that focuses on getting people out of homelessness — not just managing it.
Unfortunately, the meeting felt less like a genuine effort to partner with the community and more like a presentation designed to fulfill the requirements of state law. Many concerned citizens came with sincere questions, and far too many were left unanswered, cut short or dismissed outright.
One of the most striking moments of the evening came when the project's leaders referenced support from local schools. They claimed that the school system was a driving force behind the need for this safe parking lot. But this was quickly undercut when school staff in attendance expressed surprise, saying they were just now learning about the proposal. That contradiction is concerning. If schools are truly backing such an initiative, that support should be coordinated and transparent — not discovered in a public meeting.
There are serious questions that still need answers.
What government funding is involved in this project? Page 10 of their handout referenced grants, but we weren't told how much funding was received, where it came from or how it's being used. If public money is part of the equation, the public deserves full transparency. If you're receiving tax dollars, this is no longer just a charitable act — it becomes a public responsibility.
We were also told that many women and children are sleeping in their cars in Lewis County and that these families need protection from law enforcement. But how many, exactly? Where is the local data? How many have been cited or arrested for sleeping in their vehicles? Without numbers, it sounds like statewide talking points — like a King County problem being imported into Lewis County without local evidence.
The plan for overnight safety also raised red flags. After 10 p.m., there will be no staff on site. The lot will rely entirely on “self-policing,” even as organizers admit that drugs and alcohol are not allowed. What happens if those rules are broken? What happens if drug paraphernalia is found? And what is the response plan if someone shows up without a background check? We were told they would still be allowed to stay until the check is completed. That's not reassuring — that's a potential safety issue for the very people this project claims to protect, and for the neighbors around it.
In the short term, I will be working to ensure that any required background checks are conducted by local agencies — not just run through the Washington State Patrol system. We need to know firsthand who is entering our neighborhoods, and we need to act quickly on that information to keep people safe. It's also important to understand that, under the current state law, being a registered sex offender does not automatically disqualify someone from participating in a safe parking program. That is a sobering reality, and it's one that the community has every right to be aware of and prepare for. Safety for all must remain a top priority.
One mother who lives nearby shared that, after hearing about the plan, her daughter no longer feels safe walking the dog at night. That's a real concern. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own neighborhood. But instead of addressing that fear, community concerns were dismissed — and worse, mocked online.
After the meeting, a social media post from one of the project leaders read:
"Things that don't go together: Oreos and grapefruit juice. Trampolines and low ceilings. I am a Christian and not in my backyard."
It's easy to be dismissive when it's not in your backyard. But for this family, and this neighborhood, it is. They deserve to be heard — not ridiculed for asking thoughtful questions.
Lewis County is filled with generous, compassionate people. If a mother is sleeping in her car with her children, I believe this community will step up. We've done it before — and we'll do it again.
But a parking stall isn't a long-term solution. It's a temporary fix. A band-aid. In this state, band-aids are often what keep organizations funded. They treat the symptom, not the cause.
If we truly care about these families, let's act like it. Let's bring together churches, nonprofits, school leaders, neighbors, community leaders and local government to focus on the real goal: getting these moms and their children into homes.
A parking lot may be a stop along the way — but it should never be the destination.
This community is capable of real solutions. Let's not settle for less.
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Sean Swope is a Republican who represents District 1 on the Board of Lewis County Commissioners.
