Today, Pierce County Councilmember Jani Hitchen presented the proposed Pierce County Unified Regional Approach (URA) to reduce homelessness at the Tacoma City Council study session. The City Council, led by Community Vitality and Safety Committee Chair and District 2 Tacoma City Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh, will consider a resolution on August 25 committing the City to work with other Pierce County governments to launch the URA.
“Pierce County has demonstrated real leadership by investing in a unified regional approach to addressing homelessness and bringing cities together around a shared vision,” said Council Member Rumbaugh. “Rather than asking each jurisdiction to solve this challenge on its own, the County committed resources, convened partners from across Pierce County, and created a process where every city has a voice in shaping the path forward.”
Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen, Council Member Rumbaugh, and District 4 Tacoma City Council Member Sandesh Sadalge currently serve on the URA’s Elected Leadership Group. Pierce County, and the cities of Fife, Gig Harbor, and Lakewood, have adopted resolutions expressing an intent to help launch the URA, with presentations to the city councils of Ruston, University Place, and Fircrest taking place in the coming weeks.
“I am proud of our neighboring jurisdictions for joining us to address the community’s biggest concern,” said Mayor Ibsen. “Together, we can responsibly and proactively deal with the root causes of homelessness.”
Homelessness is a challenge that crosses city borders. Pierce County’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count identified nearly 3,000 people experiencing homelessness across the county. Of the 1,044 people who reported where they lived prior to being homeless, more than half reported being from a Tacoma zip code, however, 76 percent of the individuals identified in the Point-in-Time count were staying at a shelter in Tacoma. The City of Tacoma hosts approximately 85 percent of the shelter beds in Pierce County.
“Tacoma has stepped up to tackle this challenge in a myriad of ways over the years, but the truth is we can’t do it alone,” said Council Member Sadalge. “A regional response is not just ideal, it is necessary. Expanding collaboration with willing jurisdictions across Pierce County will help us serve our unhoused neighbors more effectively, efficiently, and compassionately.”
Council Member Rumbaugh, in partnership with Mayor Ibsen and Council Member Sadalge, will sponsor the resolution coming forward for Council consideration on August 25 which will:
- Express the Tacoma City Council’s intent and commitment to working with other governments to launch a URA.
- Direct staff to work with other governments to develop an ILA.
- While an ILA is in development, continue the City’s work to:
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- Develop or update data collection requirements for homeless service providers,
- Develop or update a procedure to connect residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to resources (e.g. housing, shelter, rental assistance),
- Develop or update a policy to connect homeless residents to resources during inclement weather events (e.g. extreme heat and cold) and identify locations that may serve as inclement weather shelter, and
- Support the establishment or expansion of at least one homeless intervention.
More information on the URA is available at unifiedregionalapproach.com.