Pierce County wants to double homeless shelter space. It has begun asking for ideas
Pierce County is looking to more than double the number of homeless shelter beds across the county in an effort to end street homelessness.
In a “request for information” bid posted Wednesday, the county asks providers to help find ways to create 2,300 shelter beds in various projects.
The proposal from Pierce County Human Services has a goal that more than half the shelter space will be sanctioned encampments across the county.
Interested organizations can send a proposal with potential costs and additional ideas. Pierce County communication director Libby Catalinich said the request is like crowdsourcing for ideas, not specific projects. Applicants would not be committing to implementing a project.
The Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness Ad Hoc Committee was created in May. It is a group of representatives from cities, towns, the county and service providers. It includes two groups: a steering committee and a Shelter Work Group.
The steering committee is developing a comprehensive plan to be presented to the Pierce County Council in November. Proposals from organizations will help shape the plan, according to the county bid.
The Shelter Work Group is charged with creating and implementing a plan to end street homelessness by Nov. 1.
Human Services director Heather Moss previously told The News Tribune that there will be more homeless shelters in Pierce County by November, but everything being planned won’t be completed until some time in 2022.
Pierce County numbers
As of Aug. 17, Pierce County reported there are 998 shelter beds across the county, 787 of which are located in Tacoma. The county said 109 shelter beds are in confidential locations for safety reasons, Puyallup has 74 shelter beds, Orting has 20 tiny homes for veterans experiencing homelessness and Lakewood has eight beds for families.
According to an August presentation to the Pierce County Council, more than 2,200 people are unhoused in Pierce County without access to year-round shelter beds.
The county has tracked where those experiencing homelessness are sleeping. The most common location in vehicles. The county has estimated that includes 648 people. The second most common location is on streets or sidewalks, with an estimated 600 people. Outdoor encampments are the third most common location, with 477 estimated people. Other locations include parks, under bridges and overpasses, abandoned buildings and bus and train stations.
The request
The request asks organizations to create proposals for 2,300 beds, or 1,700 units of households, in the following breakdown:
Non-Congregate Shelter, with an target of up to 525 additional units. A non-congregate shelter is any facility that provides private rooms as shelter for people experiencing homelessness. These could be leased hotel/motel units, apartments or any other facility with a separate room for each household. Services would be offered.
Mental Health/Respite Beds, with a target of up to 50 additional units. Mental health beds provide extra services to guests with medical and mental health needs that exceed the resources of standard shelter case management.
Safe Parking Space, with a target of up to 350 additional spaces. Safe parking is a parking lot where people experiencing homelessness can park and remain in their vehicle overnight without penalty. Security and hygiene stations might also be available at the site. No services would be provided on-site, but providers can offer mobile outreach.
Sanctioned Encampments, with a target of up to 775 additional units. Sanctioned encampments are outdoor camps in an area approved by a jurisdiction and the landowner to host people experiencing homelessness in tents or other temporary structures. Must include security, hygiene stations and services provided by a nonprofit organization. The county has asked that sanctioned encampment proposals be designed to evolve into a more durable/non-temporary shelter model, like a tiny home village.
The housing options are expected to be available to families, couples, unaccompanied youth and young adults, and domestic violence survivors, the proposal said.
The proposal hopes to add up to 645 additional units in Tacoma, up to 455 additional units in Lakewood and South Pierce County, up to 100 additional units in the Fife area, up to 450 additional units in Puyallup and East Pierce County and up to 50 additional units in Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula.
Funding for the shelters have not yet been determined, but could include county funds, state grants and a portion of the county’s $158 million in federal COVID-19 dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act, the proposal said.
Organizations have until Oct. 25 to submit a proposal.
This story was originally published October 9, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
