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Encampment Removal

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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

 

Priority Site Identification

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:

  • Public safety calls for service
  • Requests through Tacoma FIRST 311 system
  • Accumulation of litter and debris
  • Size of the encampment
  • Overall community impact
  • Impact to any environmentally sensitive or critical areas
  • Any public work need that may be impacted by the existence of the encampment 

Outreach Services We Provide

The HEAL Team responds to community needs including:

  • Homelessness concerns
  • Building and supporting solutions that achieve a reduction in homelessness 
  • Increasing the sense of personal and neighborhood safety

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 team’s daily work consists of:

  • Conducting outreach to unauthorized encampments in the City of Tacoma. Outreach includes referrals to supportive services and shelters in Tacoma.
  •  Triaging homeless related service requests through 311; Tracking and recording all homeless related responses in 311 system.
  •  Monitoring cleanups of homeless encampments in collaboration with other City departments and contracted vendors.
  • Collecting and reporting data on cleanups and providing updated information on all personal belongings that have been collected and stored from encampment cleanups.
  • Serving as liaison to homeless service providers in the City.

 

Planned Schedule for Posting of Areas where Camping and Storage of Personal Property are Prohibited Under Chapter 8.19 of the Tacoma Municipal Code

The City of Tacoma’s outreach teams continue to visit and post notice of Chapter 8.19 of the Tacoma Municipal Code, which prohibits camping and storage of personal property. As of December 2022, the specific No Camping locations have been adequately posted for notice of Chapter 8.19. Encampments in prohibited waterways outside of otherwise prohibited zones will be addressed on a complaint basis.

 

Areas Prohibiting Camping and Storage of Belongings on Public Property

Scheduled Postings for Camping Ban Areas

Prohibited Area
(10-block radius around listed sites) 		 Anticipated Posting Start Date  Anticipated date all encampments in area are posted  Anticipated Date Zone Sufficiently Noticed  Date all encampments on City owned property and right of way posted with notice of TMC 8.19  Date Enforcement of TMC 8.19 may begin 
Mitigation Site at South 35th and Pacific
(3561 Pacific Avenue)
 November 15, 2022  November 18, 2022 December 2, 2022
 November 18, 2022 December 2, 2022

Tacoma Stability Site*

(1423 Puyallup Avenue)

 November 22, 2022  November 30, 2022 December 14, 2022  December 2, 2022 December 16, 2022

Bethlehem Baptist Church*

(4818 Portland Avenue)

 December 6, 2022
 December 9, 2022
 December 23, 2022   December 9, 2022  December 23, 2022
Rise Center Emergency Stabilization Shelter*
(2135 MLK Jr. Way)
 January 3, 2023
 January 6, 2023  January 20, 2023   January 6, 2023  January 20, 2023
Altheimer Memorial Church**
(1121 S. Altheimer)
 January 10, 2023
 January 13, 2023  January 27, 2023   January 13, 2023  January 27, 2023
Shiloh Baptist Church**
(1211 S. I Street) 		 January 10, 2023  January 13, 2023  January 27, 2023   January 13, 2023 January 27, 2023
Tacoma Emergency Micro-Shelter Site #3
(602 N. Orchard)
 January 17, 2023
 January 20, 2023  February 3, 2023
  January 27, 2023  February 10, 2023
Aspen Court
(8620 S. Hosmer)
 January 24, 2023
 January 27, 2023  February 10, 2023   January 27, 2023  February 10, 2023
Mitigation Site at South 82nd and Pacific***
(8208 Pacific Avenue)
 January 31, 2023
 February 3, 2023
 February 17, 2023
  January 27, 2023  February 10, 2023
Tacoma Emergency Micro-Shelter Site #4***
(3860 S. 69th Street)
 February 7, 2023  February 10, 2023  February 24, 2023
  January 27, 2023  February 10, 2023

 

*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


In 2023, the City completed a total of 171 cleanups in Tacoma, 154 of which occurred in the No Camping Zones. The debris removed from these efforts totaled more than 3,776,060 lbs. Outreach teams reached more than 3,021 individuals, both new and repeat contacts. These outreach efforts connected 262 individuals with services.

 

2023 City Authorized Encampment Cleanups – Completed

South 40th Street and South Puget Sound Avenue

Encampment Cleanup Completed: December 6, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 6

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 2

 

Pounds of Debris Removed: 6,780

South 39th and South Fife Street (4 Cleanups)

Date Posted:

May 15, 2024

 

Date Removal Begins:

May 22, 2024

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 5

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 3

 

 - - - - - - - - - - -

 

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

State Route 509 and Port of Tacoma Road

Encampment Cleanup Completed: October 13, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 16

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 10

 

Pounds of Debris Removed: 87,470

South 39th and South Fife Street

Encampment Cleanup Completed: September 14, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 3

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 0

North Frontage Road

Encampment Cleanup Completed: August 29, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 4

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 0

 

Pounds of Debris Removed: 30,800

South 80th and Trafton Street

Encampment Cleanup Completed: July 12, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 12

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 4

 

Pounds of Debris Removed: 13,460

East 34th and C Street

Encampment Cleanup Completed: July 6, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 3

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 0

South Altheimer

Encampment Cleanup Completed: July 6, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 2

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 0

26th and Pacific

Encampment Cleanup Completed: July 5, 2023

 

Number of Individuals Contacted: 1

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services: 0

Slope between South Tacoma Way and Delin St.

Encampment Location

Wooded slope between South Tacoma Way and Delin St.

 

Date Posted

June 2, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

June 6, 2023 

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  10 4 19,862 pounds  
July 5 
440 pounds  
June 20      1,060 pounds  
June 13-15      4,780 pounds  
June 9      3,040 pounds  
June 7      1,640 pounds  

June 6

 10 4

4,960 pounds

  
June 7      3,942 pounds  

35th and Pine Streets

Encampment Location

35th and Pine Streets

 

Date Posted

June 30, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

July 5, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  3 0 3,750 pounds  
July 6      650 pounds  
July 5 3 0 3,100 pounds  

18th and Stewart Streets

Encampment Location

Off 18th St near Stewart Street

 

Date Posted

June 16, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

June 20, 2023

 

Status of Process

Complete

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  15 0 159,960 pounds
35 vehicles/RVs		  
June 26      13,960 pounds  
June 22      41,460 pounds  
June 21      65,780 pounds   
5 vehicles removed		  

June 20

15

 0

38,760 pounds

30 vehicles/ RVs towed

 

South Sprague Avenue, between 19th & 25th Sts.

Encampment Location

Along Sprague Avenue, between 19th and 25th Sts.

 

Date Posted

6/2/2023

 

Date Removal Begins

June 6, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  2 0 2,560 pounds  

June 6 

 2 0

1,100 pounds

  
June 7      1,460 pounds  

N Levee Road

Encampment Location

N Levee Road

 

Date Posted

March 21, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

April 4, 2023

 

Status of Process

Complete

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  21 19 186,240 pounds  
May 3      2,400 pounds  
May 1      12,460 pounds  
April 24      9,000 pounds  
April 18      4,320 pounds  
April 17      27,820 pounds  
April 14      14,280 pounds   
April 13      17,500 pounds  
April 12      25,420 pounds   
April 11      23,680 pounds   
April 7      11,860 pounds  
April 6  6 5 18,300 pounds  
April 5      13,780 pounds  

April 4 

 15 14

5,420 pounds

  

S 14th and G Streets

Encampment Location

South 14 and G Streets

 

Date Posted

April 19, 2023  

 

Date Removal Begins

April 20, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total 6 1 8,260 pounds  
April 20     4,820 pounds   

April 19

 6 1

3440 pounds

  

37th Street and Union Ave

Encampment Location

near South Tacoma Way  

 

Date Posted

March 28, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

April 11, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  16 12 39,370 pounds  
April 20      2,750 pounds  
April 18  1 1 5,000 pounds  
April 14      6,460 pounds  
April 13   4 3  6,800 pounds   

April 11 

 11 8 5,160 pounds  

9th and Market Streets

Encampment Location

corner of 9th and Market

 

Date Posted

April 11, 2023 (24 hours notice)

 

Date Removal Begins

April 13, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 

Total 

1

0

 minimal

 

Cleveland Way

Encampment Location

Tideflats

 

Date Posted

March 14, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

March 28, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  51 40 181,890 pounds  
April 7      4,640 pounds  
April 4      35,110 pounds  
April 3       25,520 pounds  
March 31      19,930 pounds  
March 30  6 6 42,850 pounds  
March 29  20 20 28,180 pounds  

March 28

 25 14

25,660 pounds

  

 

The Jungle/ East 25th and C Street

Encampment Location

East 25th and C Street

 

Date Posted

March 17, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

March 21, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  4 3 4,000 pounds  
March 23  0 0 2,100 pounds  
March 22  0 0 1,010 pounds  

March 21

 4 3 890

pounds

  

I-705

Encampment Location

I-705 and 24th and A Streets

 

Date Posted

March 17, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

March 21, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  8 5 5,640 pounds  
March 23 2 1 540 pounds  
March 22  0 0 1,980 pounds  

March 21

 6 4

3,120 pounds

 

80-84th and Hosmer Streets

Encampment Location

Hosmer Street between 80th & 84th Streets

 

Date Posted

February 10, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

February 24, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  23  15  14,520 pounds  
March 7      720 pounds  
March 6      1,960 pounds  

February 24

 23 15

11,840 pounds

  

 

S Trafton Street

Encampment Location

S 78th through S 80th and S Trafton Streets 

 

Date Removal Begins

March 2, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  4 4 10,670 pounds  
March 3      4,220 pounds  

March 2 

4

4

6,450 pounds

  

26th and Pacific

Encampment Location

Within the 35th and Pacific Zone

 

Date Posted

March 7, 2023   

  

Date Removal Begins

March 8, 2023

  

Status of Process

Completed

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 

Total/

March 8

 6 0

1,920 pounds

  

40th and Fife Streets

Encampment Location

40th and Fife Streets

 

Date Posted

February 21, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

February 28, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  32 32 40,430 pounds  
March 8      8,420 pounds  
March 7     4,460 pounds   
March 2      8,020 pounds   

February 28

 32 32

19,420 pounds

  

S 28th and Cushman

Encampment Location

S 28th and Cushman

 

Date Posted

February 9

 

Date Removal Begins

February 22, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
 Total 6  2 12,020 pounds   
February 23      5,820 pounds   

February 22

 6 2

6,200 pounds

  

Court D

Encampment Location

Between S 7th and S 9th Streets

 

Date Posted

February 8, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

February 22, 2023

 

Status of Process

Complete

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 

Total 

1

1

    

11th Street and Cushman Avenue

Encampment Location

11th Street & Cushman Avenue

 

Date Posted

February 15, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

February 17, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
February 22 1               2 880 pounds  
February 17    2    900 pounds  

S 25th & S J Streets

Encampment Location

S 25th & South J Street

 

Date Posted

January 26, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

February 9, 2023

 

Status of Process

Completed

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total  10  4 18,640 pounds   
February 21      5,840 pounds  
February 17     1,200 pounds  
February 16      4,580 pounds   
February 15      1,280 pounds   
February 14     5,740 pounds   

February 10 

 

 

1,320 pounds

 

February 9

10

4

4,420 pounds

 

S 2nd and 3rd and G Streets

Encampment Location

S 2nd and 3rd and G Streets

 

Date Posted

January 31, 2023

 

Date Removal Begins

February 14, 2023

 

Status of Process

Complete

 

 

Date 

Number of Individuals Contacted

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources 

Pounds of Debris Removed 

Possessions Stored 
Total 16  12 18,880 pounds   
February 16      2,860 pounds  
February 15      6,480 pounds  

February 14

16

12

9,540 pounds