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Encampment Removal

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.

2022 City Authorized Encampment Cleanups – Posted and In-Progress 

The City is consistently evaluating encampment locations throughout our community for removal.  We will or are performing encampment removals in the following locations:

 

G and Altheimer Streets between 11th and 15th

Encampment Location

G and Altheimer Streets between 11th and 15th

 

Date Posted

September 27, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

October 11, 2022

 

Status of Process

Posted

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

8th Street and Yakima

Encampment Location

8th Street and Yakima

 

Date Posted

September 21, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

September 27, 2022

 

Status of Process

Posted

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

 

15th Street to 18th Street and Yakima

Encampment Location

15th Street to 18th Street and Yakima

 

Date Posted

September 21, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

September 27, 2022

 

Status of Process

Posted

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

September 28: No new contacts

September 27: 19 people

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

September 28: 3 people placed in services 

September 27: 11 people

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

September 28: 2,220 pounds 

September 27: 5,040 pounds

 

2022 City Authorized Encampment Cleanups – Completed

 

56th and Madison Street

Encampment Location

56th and Madison Street

 

Date Posted

August 30, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

September 13, 2022

 

Status

Complete - September 28, 2022

Number of Individuals Contacted

September 28: No new contacts 

September 21: No new contacts 

September 20: No new contacts 

September 15: No new contacts 

September 14: No new contacts

September 13: 5 people

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services

September 28: No new contacts 

September 21: 2 people

September 20: 2 people  

September 15: No new contacts 

September 14: No new contacts

September 13: None

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

Total: 31,630 pounds 

September 28: 3,060 pounds 

September 21: 5,100 pounds 

September 20: 1,080 pounds 

September 15: 4,080 pounds 

September 14: 6,310 pounds 

September 13: 4,330 pounds

 

Materials Stored

No

 

Burlington Street from 48th to 56th streets

Encampment Location

Burlington Street from 48th to 56th streets

 

Date Posted

August 16, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

September 13, 2022

 

Status of Process

Complete - September 28, 2022

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

September 28: No new contacts 

September 21: No new contacts 

September 20: No new contacts 

September 15: No new contacts 

September 14: No new contacts

September 13: 8 people

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

September 28: No new contacts 

September 21: 1 person 

September 20: 2 people 

September 15: 1 person 

September 14: No new contacts

September 13: 3 people

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

Total: 42,910 pounds 

September 28: 5,800 pounds 

September 21: 7,400 pounds 

September 20: 14,660 pounds

September 15: 2,180 pounds 

September 14: 4,330 pounds 

September 13: 2,480 pounds

 

Materials Stored

No

 

 

Center Street between Steele Street to Hosmer Street

Encampment Location

Center Street between Steele Street to Hosmer Street

 

Date Posted

August 16, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

August 23, 2022

 

Status

Completed - September 9, 2022

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

22 people

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Services

12

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

41,020 pounds

 

Materials Stored

No

7th and Tacoma Ave

Encampment Location

7th and Tacoma Ave

 

Date Posted

July 13, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

July 20, 2022

 

Date Completed

July 29, 2022

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

36

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

13

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

15,510 lbs.

 

Materials Stored

No

 

 

11 St. Bridge

Encampment Location

11 St. Bridge

 

Date Posted

June 14, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

July 12, 2022

 

Date Completed

 

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

32,360 lbs.

 

Materials Stored

No

 

Milwaukee Way

Encampment Location

Milwaukee Way

 

Date Posted

June 14, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

June 21, 2022

 

Date Completed

July 27, 2022

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

South 6th and M Street

Encampment Location

South 6th and M Street

 

Date Posted

May 25, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

June 1, 2022

 

Date Completed

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

East 11th Street and Hylebos Bridge

Encampment Location

East 11th Street and Hylebos Bridge

 

Date Posted

May 24, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

May 27, 2022

 

Date Completed

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

South 9th and South 11th Streets between MLK and M Streets

Encampment Location

South 9th and South 11th Streets between MLK and M Streets

 

Date Posted

May 4, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

May 18, 2022

 

Date Completed

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

E. 26th Street Bridge

Encampment Location

E. 26th Street Bridge

 

Date Posted

March 22, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

March 28, 2022

 

Date Completed

March 29, 2022

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

South J St to South 7th to South 13th Streets

Encampment Location

South J St to South 7th to South 13th Streets

 

Date Posted

March 8, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

March 22, 2022

 

Date Completed

March 24, 2022

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

22

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

6

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

15,500 lbs.

 

Materials Stored

No

 

South 2nd and Tacoma Ave

Encampment Location

South 2nd and Tacoma Ave

 

Date Posted

March 1, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

March 8, 2022

 

Date Completed

March 10, 2022

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

I-705 and A Street

Encampment Location

I-705 and A Street

 

Date Posted

January 28, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

February 4, 2022

 

Date Completed

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

E. 72nd and I Street

Encampment Location

E. 72nd and I Street

 

Date Posted

January 26, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

February 1, 2022

 

Date Completed

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

2nd and G Street

Encampment Location

2nd and G Street

 

Date Posted

January 11, 2022

 

Date Removal Began

January 18, 2022

 

Date Completed

 

Number of Individuals Contacted

 

Number of Individuals Accepting Resources

 

Pounds of Debris Removed

 

Materials Stored

No

 

City of Tacoma Storage Policy

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.