This image was taken as people experiencing homelessness construct what became known as "Tent City" in an attempt to alleviate a shortage of emergency shelter in downtown Seattle. By the following week about 50 people were camped at the site near the Kingdome, drawing attention to the loss of emergency shelter space from the previous year and a growing homeless population in the city. The encampment remained until December 11 when the inhabitants moved to a shelter near Seattle Center where they had permission to remain until March.

Caption information source: The Seattle Times, November 22, 1990, p. F1
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.