CHAMPAIGN – A tent city that houses about eight homeless people in the backyard of the Catholic Worker House is illegal under the city's zoning ordinance, and is drawing fire from some neighboring residents, who say the residents are often drunk and make noise late into the night.

But the city is taking a nonconfrontational approach toward the month-old compound, which supporters call a "tent community" that they say is causing few problems and provides an affordable, dignified solution to homelessness.

City Zoning Administrator Kevin Phillips said Monday that the tent city is clearly not allowed under the city's zoning ordinance. He said the emergency shelter is located in a mixed-use district and is legal.

"But that is required to happen in a structure," he said. "Living outside is not permitted by the zoning ordinance at this point, and I doubt that will change."

But Phillips couldn't say when any city enforcement action would take place.

"We're going to try and work it out first," he said.

Phillips and several other city officials hosted a neighborhood meeting attended by about 25 people Monday night in the main city firehouse at 307 S. Randolph St. to discuss the tent city and other issues concerning users of the Catholic Worker House.

Several residents said they are unhappy with the tent city and the behavior of people who use the Catholic Worker House, 317 S. Randolph St., which provides a free lunch to the needy Monday through Saturday and also is a homeless shelter to 19 people, mostly women and children.

Maggie Savvas said her husband, Dr. George Savvas, owns a medical clinic at 212 W. Springfield Ave. that is frequently trespassed on by worker house users.

"They're hanging around our property," Savvas said. "They're drinking beer at all hours. They're passing out in our parking lot. I have tenants; they're young, they're coming home at 10 at night, and I'm concerned about their safety."

Diane Tipps said her 89-year-old mother lives near the Catholic Worker House.

"In her yard, anything that's not nailed down disappears," she said.

Leigh Estabrook, a member of the steering committee of the Catholic Worker House, said the tent city originally was established on a neighboring property where the house is vacant.

"They were asked to move," Estabrook said. "They came to us two weeks ago and asked if they could stay with us temporarily. We're trying to work with them to find another space."

Jesse Masengale, 22, a Paxton native, said he founded the tent city after moving back to the area from Washington state. Masengale said he's "homeless by choice," but found that camping by himself was frightening.

"Each night I set up camp, I was afraid," he said. "I ended up hiding all over the city."

Four weeks ago, Masengale said he and another older homeless man set up the tent community and began inviting others to join them. He said the community is self-policing and that drug use is prohibited and alcohol use is not allowed within one block. Tents aren't set up until about 8:30 p.m. and come down by 8 a.m. each morning.

Abby Harmon, an advocate for the tent community, said that such communities can be found all over the country and date back to the Hoovervilles of the Great Depression.

"Unfortunately, there's not enough affordable housing in the city," she said. "We're offering a cheap, affordable and dignified solution."