We encourage people to report encampment concerns through Tacoma FIRST 311 to ensure that we are aware and have record of activities. All requests are investigated by the City's Homeless Engagement Alternatives Liaison (HEAL) Team who determine the appropriate priority for removing active sites.
Report an Encampment in Tacoma
The City is operating under a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision mandating we must provide shelter to individuals in encampments prior to performing a removal. While complying with court mandates and laws, we assign available staff and contracted resources to provide effective outreach to prioritize the removal of encampments throughout our community. We prioritize based on:
The HEAL Team responds to community needs including:
This team is designed cross-functionally and engages staff from Neighborhood and Community Services, the Tacoma Police Department, Environmental Services and contracted mental health providers.
The City is consistently evaluating encampment locations throughout our community for removal. We will be or are performing encampment removals in the following locations:
This schedule reflects a plan to visit and post notice of Chapter 8.19 of the Tacoma Municipal Code where camping and storage of personal property is prohibited. Staff will post all encampments in a prohibited area and allow two weeks to elapse prior to commencing any enforcement. Encampments in prohibited waterways outside of otherwise prohibited zones will be addressed on a complaint basis.
This schedule will receive continued staff evaluation and may be updated and changed depending on factors including, but not limited to, resource allocation, changing environmental conditions, and emergent community needs.
Tacoma Stability Site*
(1423 Puyallup Avenue)
Bethlehem Baptist Church*
(4818 Portland Avenue)
*Areas not already addressed by 35thand Pacific posting
**Areas not already addressed by 23rd and MLK posting
***Areas not already addressed by Aspen Court posting
Emergent Postings and Removals
If the City conducts an emergent removal in a camping ban area, it will be listed in the table below:
Encampment Cleanup Completed: December 6, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 6
Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 2
Pounds of Debris Removed: 6,780
Encampment Cleanups Completed: October 6, 2023, November 1, 2023, November 15, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 10
Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 10
Pounds of Debris Removed: 2,460
Encampment Cleanup Completed: October 13, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 16
Pounds of Debris Removed: 87,470
Encampment Cleanup Completed: September 14, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 3
Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 0
Encampment Cleanup Completed: August 29, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 4
Pounds of Debris Removed: 30,800
Encampment Cleanup Completed: July 12, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 12
Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 4
Pounds of Debris Removed: 13,460
Encampment Cleanup Completed: July 6, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 2
Encampment Cleanup Completed: July 5, 2023
Number of Individuals Contacted: 1
Encampment Location
Wooded slope between South Tacoma Way and Delin St.
Date Posted
June 2, 2023
Date Removal Begins
Status of Process
Completed
Date
Number of Individuals Contacted
Number of Individuals Accepting Resources
Pounds of Debris Removed
Possessions Stored
June 6
4,960 pounds
35th and Pine Streets
June 30, 2023
July 5, 2023
Off 18th St near Stewart Street
June 16, 2023
June 20, 2023
Complete
June 20
15
38,760 pounds
30 vehicles/ RVs towed
Along Sprague Avenue, between 19th and 25th Sts.
6/2/2023
1,100 pounds
N Levee Road
March 21, 2023
April 4, 2023
April 4
5,420 pounds
South 14 and G Streets
April 20, 2023
April 19
3440 pounds
March 28, 2023
April 11, 2023
April 11
corner of 9th and Market
April 11, 2023 (24 hours notice)
April 13, 2023
Total
1
0
Tideflats
March 14, 2023
March 28
25,660 pounds
East 25th and C Street
March 17, 2023
March 21
pounds
I-705 and 24th and A Streets
3,120 pounds
Hosmer Street between 80th & 84th Streets
February 10, 2023
February 24, 2023
February 24
11,840 pounds
S 78th through S 80th and S Trafton Streets
March 2, 2023
March 2
4
6,450 pounds
Within the 35th and Pacific Zone
March 7, 2023
March 8, 2023
Total/
March 8
1,920 pounds
40th and Fife Streets
February 21, 2023
February 28, 2023
February 28
19,420 pounds
S 28th and Cushman
February 9
February 22, 2023
February 22
6,200 pounds
Between S 7th and S 9th Streets
February 8, 2023
11th Street & Cushman Avenue
February 15, 2023
February 17, 2023
S 25th & South J Street
January 26, 2023
February 9, 2023
February 10
1,320 pounds
10
4,420 pounds
S 2nd and 3rd and G Streets
January 31, 2023
February 14, 2023
February 14
16
12
9,540 pounds
WSDOT property
S 7th and I Streets
2,500 pounds
Within Shiloh Zone
January 24, 2023
February 7, 2023
February 7
7
1,500 pounds
Portland Ave and E Bay Street
December 16, 2022
January 10, 2023
January 11
23,180 pounds
January 10
29
9,900 pounds
S 21st and I Streets
January 2023
January 25, 2023
January 25
8
5,560 pounds
Along I-509
January 17, 2023
January 20, 2023
January 24
49,700 pounds
January 20
5
26,560 pounds
Encampment Location Under I-705
January 13, 2023
January 17
1,960 pounds
January 13
1,200 pounds
26th Street and Pacific Avenue
November 18, 2022
December 2, 2022
South Tacoma Way between S M Street and Pacific Ave
E 25th Street, between E G and Portland Ave
January 4, 2023
January 4
22,680 pounds
January 3
51
41
26,360 pounds
Hilltop Substation
December 30, 2022
January 3, 2023
3
December 30
1,780 pounds
Last year the City completed more than 25 cleanups in Tacoma. Combined the debris removed from these efforts totaled more than 550,000 lbs. Outreach teams connected with more than 250 individuals resulting in the connection of 135 individuals with services.
The City of Tacoma Storage Policy outlines how personal property is managed during an encampment removal.
If items were stored, they will be kept at 1423 Puyallup Avenue (unless the owner of the items is otherwise notified) and an appointment to access items may be made by calling 3-1-1 and indicating that you wish to retrieve stored items.