From July 13 to Oct. 19, about 85 residents called Tent City 4 their home at Redwood Family Church at 11500 Redmond Woodinville Road N.E.

Todd Puckett, lead pastor of the Redmond church, was hopeful that things would go well a few days before the residents set up camp. Now, reflecting on the experience a week after they left, Puckett is proud the church welcomed the homeless people into their realm.

“We felt like we built some great relationships with a lot of them,” he said. Puckett added that several of the residents attended church services at Redwood, and someone from the church will pick them up from their new home outside Mary, Queen of Peace Church in Sammamish and bring them back to continue their worship locally.

Puckett said the Redwood churchgoers and people from the community served the residents meals and made sure they had the necessities for outdoor living. In a Reporter story last February when the camp was at St. Jude Parish in Redmond, one resident noted that they accept extra blankets from community members.

Steven Roach lives on Northeast 113th Court on one side of Redwood Family Church. He didn’t have any problems with the encampment sitting near his home of 30 years.

“It was no big deal. They’ve got to go somewhere. They need some type of support system when they have problems. I support it,” said Roach, who added that Tent City 4 residents used the bus stop near his home and picked up after themselves.

Puckett and Redmond Police Department (RPD) neighborhood resource officer Julie Beard said that one issue arose on the first day, when a neighbor called 911 to complain that some of the residents’ tents were placed too close to his property line, which border the church’s yard.

Beard’s partner, David Sowers, visited the church after the 8:45 p.m. call and mediated the situation. The Tent City 4 permit showed that the tents needed to be moved back from the neighbor’s fence and the residents complied.

“If you take any community where 100 people without homes are in their back yard, there’s going to be some issues,” said Puckett, adding that Tent City 4 was probably 99 percent well-received by the community.

Seattle Housing and Resources Effort (SHARE) and Women’s Housing Equality and Enhancement League (WHEEL) sponsor Tent City 4, which is a self-operated and self-governed, democratic society.

Beard noted that Tent City 4 leaders often call the police when they have problems with their own residents.

She said there were eight arrests for disorderly conduct, domestic violence, possession of drug paraphernalia, stolen property and outstanding warrants at the encampment.

In addition, there were 11 911 calls for warrant service or fugitive arrest; nine calls for disturbances, assaults and intoxicated or disruptive residents; two medical or welfare checks; two trespass calls; one firearm found; and other miscellaneous calls for service.

Tent City 4 residents are subject to a criminal-background check and sex-offender check, and Beard said RPD didn’t receive any calls for registered sex offenders.

Despite the problems, Puckett said “our church was honestly sad they were leaving.” He added they’ll have Tent City 4 back anytime.

Beard said RPD has a good relationship with Tent City 4 staffers and Sowers stopped by often to check up on things.

“It serves a lot of people who otherwise would not have a place to stay,” Beard said. “We are appreciative of the Tent City residents and staff in that they work hard to communicate with us.”