FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 29, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@ci.tacoma.wa.us, (253) 591-5152
Megan Snow, Media and Communications, msnow@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5051

The City of Tacoma Announces Plan to Open a Tacoma Emergency Micro Shelter (TEMS) Site at 6th and Orchard

The City of Tacoma is working with First Christian Church and the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to operate an additional Tacoma Emergency Micro Shelter Site at 602 N. Orchard.

 he City will lease the space on the church’s property through July 2023. The lease agreement is still being discussed.

The City is continuing to work with LIHI, who has been operating TEMS sites in Tacoma since the first site opened late last year, to extend their contract to allow for operation of the new site.

The new site will provide up to an additional 40 micro shelter units and will accommodate no more than 60 people at a time. Referrals to the new site will primarily come from encampments and existing shelters that need to employ physical distancing measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control and will assist in creating shelter bed space as we prepare for inclement winter weather.

The City is anticipating the operating cost for the site through July 2023 will be approximately $1.9 million.

The City is conducting outreach efforts to people who live and work in and around the new location. A virtual community meeting will be held on Oct. 7, 2020 at 6 p.m. on Zoom. For full meeting details, visit cityoftacoma.org/authorizedencampments.

More information about the City’s homelessness response is available at cityoftacoma.org/homelessness.

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