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Where should additional homeless shelters open in Tacoma? Public asked to share ideas
A new temporary homeless shelter soon will be opened at Altheimer’s Memorial Church in Tacoma.
More could soon follow.
The Metropolitan Development Council (MDC), a nonprofit organization hired by the city in December to identify additional shelter options, is seeking ideas from the public on where those shelters should be located.
Community meetings are scheduled for Feb. 4 and Feb. 18.
Two temporary shelters recently opened in Tacoma: a 35-person micro shelter on Martin Luther King Jr. Way and a 40-bed overnight shelter at Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Altheimer Memorial Church’s overnight shelter is awaiting final permits and is expected to open sometime in February. The 32-bed shelter will cater to families with children experiencing homelessness.
So far, MDC has held public meetings since executing an agreement with the city for $150,000 on Nov. 1. Suggestions from the public have ranged from empty parking lots to vacant buildings and other churches.
MDC, in partnership with Associated Ministries and The Ministerial Alliance, will report back to the city in April with a landscape analysis of potential shelter sites, according to MDC’s contract.
Meeting information
▪ Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1-2:30 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 7410 S. 12th St.
▪ Tuesday, Feb. 18, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Mason United Methodist Church, 2710 N. Madison St.
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