Homelessness Services

Tacoma Emergency Micro-Shelters (TEMS) 3: 602 North Orchard Street

The City worked with First Christian Church to lease part of their property at 602 North Orchard Street to develop an emergency micro-shelter site in partnership with the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI). This site has been in operation since December 2020. Families with children and single women are eligible to live at this site.

The Site Provides:

• 40 shelter units, serving up to 60 individuals
• Communal kitchen, laundry, office space for case management, restrooms, showers, community spaces, and trash removal services

Stability Site: 1421 Puyallup Avenue

The City partners with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to operate a low-barrier emergency shelter at 1421 Puyallup Avenue on City-owned property. The Stability Site was established in June 2017 in response to the Public Health State of Emergency on Homelessness and growing unauthorized encampments in the surrounding area.

The site provides:

• 58 shelter units, serving up to 100 individuals
• Basic human amenities including restrooms, garbage services, handwashing stations, and drinking water
• Case management services
• Access to food and other supportive services including temporary employment

In 2017, the set-up of the Stability Site cost $900,000 and ongoing operations cost approximately $248,000 per month.

Initially, the site contained individual tents inside of a larger temperature-controlled structure with individual pallet shelters located outside the structure. In spring 2020, the City improved the site by replacing all tents with pallet shelters and moving all shelters into the temperature-controlled structure. Streamlining operations has also helped reduce expenses.

RISE Freedom Project: 2135 Martin Luther King Jr. Way

The City has partnered with Brotherhood RISE to manage an emergency micro-shelter site (RISE Freedom Project) at 2135 MLK Jr. Way. This site has been in operation since June 2023. Adults 18 years and older, including couples, are eligible to live at this site.

The Site Provides:

• 16 shelter units, serving up to 32 individuals
• Meal services, restrooms, showers, and trash removal services in addition to access to Brotherhood RISE’s main operating office across the street.

Virtual Community Meeting

• Watch the video of the virtual community meeting

Questions?

Please contact the site provider if you have a donation or questions about the RISE Freedom Project: Gerald Daniels at gerald@risecenterofhilltop.org.

Forging Path Community: 3561 Pacific Avenue

The City is partnering with The Rescue Mission to operate a low-barrier emergency mitigation site at 3561 Pacific Ave. This site has been in operation since November 2022. Adults 18 years and older, including couples, are eligible to live at this site.

The Site Provides:

• 50 units, serving up to 50 individuals
• Communal space/kitchen, laundry, office space for case management, restrooms, showers, and trash removal services

Virtual Community Meeting

• Watch the video of the virtual community meeting.
• View a full list of attendee questions and comments.

Questions?

Please contact the site provider if you have a donation or questions about the Forging Path Community: Jesse Salgado at JesseS@trm.org or (253) 348-3856.

Holy Rosary Safe Parking: 520 South 30th Street

The City has partnered with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to develop a Safe Parking site at the Holy Rosary campus which began operating in April 2023. The site serves families, couples, and single adults. CCS performs extensive background checks during their intake process to ensure the safety of all residents.

The Site Provides:

• Service for up to 40 individuals or 20 vehicles at a time
• Communal kitchen, laundry, office space for case management, restrooms, showers, community spaces, and trash removal services. The shelter provider and site residents have access to the existing rectory building on site for these services.

Questions?

Please contact the site provider if you have a donation or questions about Holy Rosary Safe Parking: Nick Leider at nickl@ccsww.org.

Community Advisory Committee Meetings

Shelter providers hold Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings to discuss and support the site operations, troubleshoot any issues on-site or in the neighborhood, and provide an opportunity for residents to partner with the site operator and City staff directly. Community members are invited to join the Community Advisory Committees to review operations and progress of the site(s), address questions and concerns, and provide ideas and advisory input.

All interested in participating in a CAC Meeting are encouraged to complete this survey to receive the meeting details from the shelter provider.

• Forging Path Community (S 35^th St and Pacific Ave)
  • The CAC meets in person on the third floor of the Holy Rosary School (504 S 30th Street) on the third Thursday of every month from 6-7 p.m.
• Holy Rosary Safe Parking (424 S 30^th St)
  • The CAC meets in person in the convent building at Holy Rosary (424 S 30th Street) on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6-7 p.m.
• RISE Center (S 23^rd St and MLK Jr. Way)
  • The CAC meets in person at Brotherhood RISE (2136 MLK Jr Way) on the fourth Monday of every month from 6-7 p.m.
• TEMS 3 (6^th Ave and Orchard St)
  • The CAC meets online (via Google Meet) on the second Wednesday of every month from 6-7:30 p.m.

How to Make Donations

Shelter sites tend to need donations such as blankets, hand/feet warmers, food/drinks, clothes (i.e. new socks/underwear, jackets, etc.), kitchen paper products (i.e. paper plates, napkins, cutlery, etc.), toiletries (i.e. deodorant, shampoo/conditioners, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.), among other everyday items and specialized requests.

If you would like to donate to a shelter, please call or email the appropriate point of contact listed under the shelter above that you would like to donate to.

Encampments

Encampment Cleanups and Site Reclamation

Our Approach to Addressing Encampments

Encampments create a public safety concern for people who live in the space, because of the exposure to human waste, drug paraphernalia, and/or inclement weather. While we continue to invest in the shelter and expand the types of sheltering available in Tacoma, we also invest in outreach to connect people, when they are ready, to available resources.

Effective November 14, 2022, Second Amended Substitute Ordinance 28831, prohibits camping and the storage of personal belongings in a 10-block radius around temporary shelters in Tacoma as well as Aspen Court (a City-permitted emergency and transitional housing facility) and all public property within 200 feet of Tacoma’s mapped rivers, waterways, creeks, streams, and shorelines.

It is the City’s priority that the least restrictive voluntary enforcement methods possible are used before enforcement of the ordinance, which has a maximum fine of $250 and a maximum allowable time for imprisonment of 30 days or less.

The City will continue to address encampments inside and outside camping prohibited zones with priority given to sites with health, safety, or infrastructure needs; this aligns with how encampment removals are conducted throughout Tacoma.

We will notice each prohibited camping area as defined by TMC 8.19 no less than two weeks before initial enforcement so that interested organizations and community groups can offer assistance and resources as needed.

Standard Operating Procedure for Enforcement and Removals in Prohibited Areas under Chapter 8.19 Tacoma Municipal Code

Information in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) shall apply to the unauthorized camping or unauthorized storage of personal property on public property within prohibited areas covered by Chapter 8.19 Tacoma Municipal Code (TMC) only.  Encampments outside of these prohibited areas shall be addressed under the City’s Encampment Removal Policy. Both policies can be subject to change.

Read the Enforcement and Removal Policies and Procedures

Encampments may be reported to the City through Tacoma FIRST 311. All requests are investigated by the City’s Homeless Engagement Alternatives Liaison (HEAL) Team who determine the appropriate method for removing active sites.

View the Map of Prohibited Areas

Individual Maps per Restricted Camping Area

• Altheimer Memorial Church
• Aspen Court
• Bethlehem Baptist Church
• Mitigation Site at South 35th and Pacific
• Rise Center Emergency Stabilization Shelter
• Shiloh Baptist Church
• Tacoma Emergency Micro-Shelter Site #3
• Tacoma Stability Site

Encampment Removal

The City of Tacoma inspects and removes unauthorized encampments on a routine basis based on complaints received and the conditions of the encampment including health, safety, or infrastructure needs.

If items were stored, they will be kept at 1421 Puyallup Avenue (unless the owner of the items is otherwise notified) and an appointment to access items may be made by calling 311 and indicating that you with to retrieve stored items.

How Cleanups Work

City staff find or are notified of an encampment site. The City’s Homeless Engagement and Alternative Liaison Team visits the site and determines the next steps. If the site is located within a boundary restricted by ordinance, the site is posted with at least two weeks’ notice (unless otherwise authorized) that the property will be cleaned up and those living in the encampment are offered assistance finding shelter and services. Sites outside the restricted areas will be posted for a minimum of 72 hours.

On the scheduled cleanup day, a private contractor or City services will clean up the site to meet Tacoma Municipal Code standards for public health and safety. Site Reclamation may occur once the site has been cleaned to help prevent the encampment from returning.

Site Reclamation

It is common for encampments to re-populate or move to a nearby location after the City has conducted a cleanup. It is not unlawful for individuals to be homeless in public places, except in limited and specific circumstances. Site Reclamation is the process of making public and private spaces safer and more welcoming for people who live or work in the area to be safe while discouraging criminal activity and loitering. Site Reclamation is used in conjunction with community outreach and service delivery to help individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness settle into more permanent housing options, as well as using it to reduce blight and increase public health and safety.

Encampment Removal

We encourage people to report encampment concerns through Tacoma FIRST 311 to ensure that we are aware and have a 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 on 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 the 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.

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.

Encampment Response Map

Detailed information about the City’s response to reported encampments can be found using this Encampment Response Map. This map demonstrates the actions taken by the City of Tacoma to address encampments on properties throughout the city, resident concerns reported through 311, code compliance results of private property inspections, encampment cleanups performed by the City, and site reclamation interventions.

Use the Layer List icon at the top of the map to navigate through the different layers of information on this map.

Please note: Sometimes, an inspection will confirm that an incoming “encampment” concern reported to 311 is a Nuisance Code violation (TMC 8.30), which initiates a “Nuisance Code” violation case. In these situations, the Encampment Response Map will include information about the code violation case instead of details about an encampment cleanup effort.

If you would like to report new concerns, please use the Tacoma FIRST 311 online system or call 311 within city limits or (253) 591-5000 outside the city.

Here is a link to the map

Temporary Shelters

Faith-Based and Non-Profit Organization Can Host Temporary Shelters

Faith-based and non-profit organizations in Tacoma can support individuals experiencing homelessness by hosting a temporary shelter on property they own or control. These partnerships present an opportunity for the city and community to work together to increase shelter capacity. Sponsoring organizations of temporary shelters can customize the set-up of their temporary shelter to optimize their physical space, operational capacity and align with community need.

Temporary shelters can:

• Operate for up to six months
• Be located at any structure or property controlled by the organization
• Request support from the city to determine a service plan, assess location feasibility, and get support through the permitting process
• Determine their own hours of operation and population served
• Be operated by the organization (including volunteers) or by an external agency

View a detailed list of requirements in Tacoma Municipal Code 13.06.080.

We Can Help You Get Started

We understand that establishing and operating a temporary shelter may not be your organization’s primary expertise. We are available to assist you every step of the way, including determining whether or not temporary sheltering is the right fit for your organization or how you can support our neighbors experiencing homelessness in other ways.

Contact us by completing an initial intake questionnaire online or reach us by phone at (253) 591-5000.

Prior to opening, sponsoring organizations must:

• Obtain a Land Use and Building Permit with the City of Tacoma (per TMC 13.05)
• Provide a contact person who can work with the City and report on services
• Complete a fire safety walkthrough with the Tacoma Fire Department
• Provide volunteer staff for fire watch, if determined necessary by the Fire Department

Once your organization has determined your operations and funding plans, it’s time to start the permitting process. You can start your permitting application online or contact the permitting team at (253) 591-5030.

Tacoma's Coordination with Other Jurisdictions and Partners

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.

Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency

The Tacoma City Council passed Ordinance 28430, on 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.

Affordable Housing Action Strategy

Affordable Housing Action Strategy

The City of Tacoma developed its Affordable Housing Action Strategy in September 2018 as an urgent response to a changing housing market, increasing displacement pressure among residents, and a widespread need for high-quality, affordable housing opportunities for all.

While the City of Tacoma has a strong legacy of working to solve its affordable housing challenges, it recognized a need for a more strategic approach to its housing investments—both today and in the future. The City of Tacoma needs to increase housing affordability as a way to maintain the quality of life that the city is known for and ensure housing costs do not worsen as the city grows over time.

Visit the Affordable Housing Action Strategy web page for more information and links to:

• The Affordable Housing Action Strategy document
• The 2024 Anti-Displacement Strategy document
• Introductory video: City of Tacoma Affordable Housing Action Strategy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency?

For the State of Public Health Emergency Declaration, the City of Tacoma defines “public health emergency” as the risk to the health and safety of the occupants of homeless encampments in Tacoma, including families and unaccompanied youth, and the general public at large.

The risk to the health and safety of these groups and the general public at large is increasing due to the high concentration of individuals occupying these encampments. Conditions in these encampments endanger public health and safety and are unsanitary and unsafe living conditions not fit for human habitation created by a lack of adequate and proper access to restrooms, handwashing stations, potable water, and other basic human health amenities.

A state of public health emergency allows the City to exercise its local authority to suspend certain regulations to execute an emergency management plan to address conditions in homeless encampments.

What is the Emergency Temporary Aid and Shelter Plan?

The Emergency Temporary Aid and Shelter Plan is a three-phased approach to reduce the impacts of homelessness on residents, businesses and property owners by addressing public health and safety concerns resulting from growing concentrations of people living in encampments in Tacoma.

The plan includes:

• Mitigation of human suffering by providing access to basic amenities
• Service outreach
• Enforcement of laws on public and private property
• Temporary transition sites with onsite resources
• Identification of short-term and transitional housing availability in Tacoma and throughout Pierce County

Why is the City of Tacoma undertaking this effort now?

Visible homelessness is growing and is resulting in unsafe human living conditions for people who are living in encampments or their cars as well as for people who live and work around encampment areas. In response to growing concerns from residents, businesses, property owners, and service providers, then-Mayor Marilyn Strickland and the City Council determined the City needed to explore new approaches to address the public health and safety needs in the community.

Will the plan end homelessness?

No, the plan will not end homelessness in Tacoma. The intent of the Emergency Temporary Aid and Shelter Plan is to reduce the impacts of homelessness on residents, businesses, and property owners by addressing public health and safety concerns resulting from growing concentrations of people living in encampments in Tacoma. The plan provides access to basic human amenities like toilets, handwashing stations, drinking water, garbage service, and food; and focuses on connecting people experiencing homelessness with existing community services.

Who does the plan serve?

The plan is designed to serve anyone living on the street in Tacoma but will be focused on geographic areas experiencing high concentrations of homeless encampments.

Will the plan serve people from outside Tacoma?

The majority of people experiencing homelessness in Tacoma are from Tacoma and surrounding Pierce County communities. According to the 2017 Pierce County Point-In-Time Count, which counts the number of people in the county experiencing homelessness, almost 80% of people reported they had lived in Pierce County before becoming homeless. The plan does not include criteria based on prior residence at this time.

What happens if people don’t choose to use the services?

The City cannot compel the use of the services offered. The City will enforce laws regarding public and private property to ensure the health and safety of all residents, businesses, and property owners.

If someone is living on my property, what can I do?

If you have someone on your private property, call 911. To facilitate the removal of individuals on private property without consent, property owners can sign and file with the Tacoma Police Department “No Trespass” documents.

What are Pierce County and neighboring jurisdictions doing to help people experiencing homelessness in their communities?

Tacoma City leaders have started conversations with Pierce County and neighboring jurisdictions about how to provide more services throughout all Pierce County communities. Currently, the majority of homeless services are provided in Tacoma, and we know that people experience homelessness in every community. Having services available in the community people belong to can help stabilize them faster and help increase access to services.

How can I help?

There are several ways to help in the effort.

• Donate to or volunteer with a homeless service provider.
• Donate to Metro Parks USDA Free Summer Lunch Program for Children.
• Contact your state and federal representatives to advocate for more funding for homeless services.
• Don’t give people experiencing homelessness money.

City Council and Committee Presentations on Homelessness 

Presentations

• July 5, 2024—Study Session, Homelessness Update (July 5, 2024, Video)
• December 19, 2023—Study Session, Homelessness Update (December 19, 2023, Video)
• September 19, 2023—Study Session, Homelessness Update (September 19, 2023, Video)
• September 12, 2023—Study Session, TMC 8.19 Update (September 12, 2023, Video)
• June 13, 2023—Study Session, Homelessness Update (June 13, 2023, Video)
• March 14, 2023—Study Session, Homelessness Update (March 14, 2023, Video)
• December 13, 2022—Study Session, Homeless Services Update (December 13, 2022, Video)
• September 27, 2022—Study Session, Homelessness Update (September 27, 2022, Video)
• June 28, 2022—Study Session, Homelessness Update (June 28, 2022, Video)
• April 29, 2022—Community, Vitality & Safety Committee, Administrative Policy on Encampment Removal (April 29, 2022, Video)
• April 19, 2022—Study Session, Homelessness Update (April 19, 2022, Video)
• July 28, 2021—Tacoma Public Utility Board, Use of TPU Property for Managed Temporary Mitigation/Stabilization Site (no video)
• July 13, 2021—Study Session, Homelessness Update (July 13, 2021, Video)
• June 22, 2021—Study Session, Homelessness Update (June 22, 2021, Video)
• May 11, 2021—Study Session, Temporary Mitigation Stabilization Site (May 11, 2021, Video)
• May 4, 2021—Study Session, Temporary Mitigation/ Stabilization Site Planning (May 4, 2021, Video)
• April 27, 2021—Study Session, Homelessness Update (April 27, 2021, Video)
• April 6, 2021—Study Session, Homelessness Update (April 6, 2021, Video)
• March 30, 2021—Study Session, Homelessness Update (March 30, 2021, Video)
• February 23, 2021—Study Session, Homelessness Update (February 23, 2021, Video)
• February 9, 2021—Study Session, Encampment Basic Services (February 9, 2021, Video)
• February 2, 2021—Study Session, Encampment Mitigation Pilot Program (February 2, 2021, Video)