Addressing Homelessness in Tacoma

The City of Tacoma's strategic plan to address homelessness recognizes that ending homelessness in Tacoma will require short-term and long-range efforts built on public-private partnerships to address immediate needs like shelter, while also addressing housing affordability in our community. The plan represents the work that is ongoing by both the City and our community partners who are providing direct services daily.

We recognize that homelessness is a complex situation. The plan includes traditional approaches to addressing homelessness and creates space for innovative options to implemented as they are developed. 

Read the City's Homeless Strategy

The City of Tacoma has been operating under a Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency since 2017 to address the health and safety concerns caused by growing encampments.

The Tacoma City Council passed Ordinance 28430, on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, declaring a state of public health emergency, and has subsequently extended the ordinance several times with the current metric for completion changing from a fixed date until 95% of individuals unsheltered individuals identified during the annual Pierce County Point-in-Time count have access to shelter for three consecutive years.

The Emergency Declaration provides the City the ability to more rapidly adapt policy and allocate funding to provide shelter and resources to people living in encampments in Tacoma. Encampments pose safety and health concerns for people living in them and around them as they create concerns about human waste, garbage, exposure to communicable diseases, exposure to violence and other human health concerns.

A Comprehensive Approach for a Complex Issue

We recognize that barriers to housing are a unique combination for everyone, which means services and amenities must be flexible and fluid.

For the 2021-2022 biennium, we are investing $16.8 million in homelessness response services. Our funding sources include the City General Fund, COVID relief funding, WA State Commerce Department funding and the Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Sales Tax.

Services that we fund include:

• Homeless outreach and site reclamation
• Complementary services, such as food and furniture banks
• Housing programs, such as permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing 
• Homelessness prevention and diversion programs, such as COVID related rental assistance
• Permanent sheltering for individuals, families, youth and young adults
• Emergency sheltering, including the Stability Site and Tacoma Emergency Micro-Shelters (TEMS)
• Temporary Sheltering hosted by non-profits and faith based organization

Search for sheltering in Tacoma and Pierce County. 

A Coordinated Effort

We recognize that homelessness is a regional issue and requires a regional, coordinated approach. We work with our neighboring jurisdictions and engage with local, state and federal leaders to help generate innovative solutions. Read more about our regional efforts through the Continuum of Care.

In addition, we coordinate a multi-departmental approach to our homelessness solutions, which includes several initiatives, projects and programs with internal and external partners.

Homeless Engagement Alternatives Liaison (HEAL) Team

The Homeless Engagement Alternatives Liaison Team includes four Tacoma Police Department Officers, a Code Compliance officer, eight outreach staff and one Designated Crisis Responder.

Affordable Housing Action Strategy

Tacoma's Affordable Housing Action Strategy (AHAS) calls for a range of actions to address housing challenges. Read more.

Frequently Asked Questions and Glossary of Terms 

Want more information? View the Frequently Asked Questions web page or the City of Tacoma's Glossary of Terms for the Emergency Aid and Shelter Plan.

Contacts 

To access housing services, contact 

Coordinated Entry

(253) 682-3401

For all other inquiries, email the program manager.