11 ways Pierce County tackles homelessness, what it costs

Pierce County's efforts to combat homelessness reveal a complex landscape and initiatives aimed at addressing the urgent needs of unhoused residents. While the demand for homelessness services has surged, programs such as the Tacoma Housing Authority's partnership with schools highlight targeted approaches to housing stability, especially for vulnerable student populations. However, regional funding disparities and bureaucratic hurdles illustrate significant obstacles in accessing necessary federal support.

The county's exploration of a Unified Regional Approach indicates an acknowledgment that a fragmented system hinders effective service delivery, yet progress is slow, drawing scrutiny from local leaders. Furthermore, investments like the purchase of Olga Dor Court by a resident cooperative underscore a proactive stance in preserving affordable housing and demonstrate a mix of innovative solutions.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Tacoma Public Schools’ Central Administration Building.

NO. 1: NEW PILOT PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP UNHOUSED TACOMA STUDENTS ACCESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Tacoma Housing Authority and Tacoma Public Schools are teaming up to assist local, vulnerable families who can no longer afford rising rents. | Published April 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

This photo shows the homeless encampment at Juniper Ridge near Bend, Oregon. A 56-year-old man was fatally attacked by three dogs at the camp on July 19, deputies said.

NO. 2: WOULD REGIONAL APPROACH WORK BETTER TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS? LOCAL EFFORT IS UNDERWAY

Some Pierce County leaders think the Unified Regional Approach is a necessary step. Some are skeptical. | Published April 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Homeless return to their camp after receiving cups of jambalaya soup and hot barbecue beef sandwiches from “Mr. Terry” Hayes’ “Da Van that know The Man” food truck in downtown Tacoma, Washington, on Monday, Feb. 5, 2023.

NO. 3: WHY WILL IT TAKE 2 MORE YEARS AND $1M TO CREATE REGIONAL GROUP TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS?

“We plan, plan, plan, but we don’t act, act, act,” one Puyallup City Council member complained. | Published May 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

A child colors a picture at the preschool at Tacoma Rescue Mission’s Adams Street Family Shelter in 2017.

NO. 4: ‘SURVIVE UNTIL YOU FIND SOMETHING.’ SHELTERS SPARSE FOR PIERCE COUNTY’S HOMELESS KIDS

“Every day, and sometimes every hour, I have to tell people with children in tow, that there is ‘nowhere for you to go,’” one service provider said. | Published September 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Motorhome and travel trailers have set up an encampment in the Pierce Transit Center Street Park & Ride lot on bordering Highway 16 in Tacoma, Washington, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

NO. 5: PIERCE COUNTY HAS MORE HOMELESSNESS, GETS LESS FEDERAL MONEY THAN SNOHOMISH COUNTY. WHY?

It’s a competitive process to get HUD money, and our friends to the north appear to be better at it. | Published October 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The shelter-access hub will use a previously unused part of the Parkland Community Center to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

NO. 6: NEW HOMELESS SHELTER-ACCESS HUB AIMS TO DO SOMETHING PIERCE COUNTY HAS NEVER DONE

“This place will serve as the single intake building for anyone experiencing homelessness,” operator says. | Published October 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

A homeless encampment partially blocks the sidewalk along 96th Street east of Hosmer Street in Tacoma, Washington, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2024.

NO. 7: HALF OF HOMELESS PEOPLE CONTACTED BY TACOMA OUTREACH TEAM REFUSE HELP. WHY IS THAT?

“The city respects individuals’ rights to self determination,” a spokesperson said. “We focus on offering support that respects their autonomy.” | Published November 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Make-shift shacks and RVs are scattered around the wooded area along the 9700 block of Steele Street South where a medium-sized homeless encampment has existed on-and-off for over five years in Tacoma, Wash.

NO. 8: $3.5M TO ADDRESS YOUTH HOMELESSNESS HEADED TO PIERCE COUNTY, WHERE SHELTER OPTIONS FEW

Pierce County is among 14 communities across the country to receive funding and the only county in Washington. | Published November 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Lethecia Lee packs up her tent and belongings in anticipation of a forced move from the homeless encampment where she has stayed for the past three months on I Street and East 72nd Avenue in southeast Tacoma on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.

NO. 9: DEMAND FOR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES IN PIERCE COUNTY HAS SURGED SO FAR THIS YEAR, DATA SHOWS

It’s not all bad news, and some key numbers have decreased, county officials say. | Published November 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Olga Dor Court in the Parkland area will become a resident-owned housing cooperative after help from a Pierce County investment.

NO. 10: PARKLAND MOBILE-HOME PARK WAS BEING SOLD. COUNTY PONIED UP $750K TO HELP RESIDENTS BUY IT

It was a chance to retain affordable housing for the long term, supporters say. | Published November 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The Pierce County Council considers repealing a zoning amendment for shared-living villages during a Pierce County Council meeting, Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash.

NO. 11: $72 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING WAS AT STAKE. PIERCE COUNTY SAYS IT WILL KEEP ITS ARPA FUNDING

Pierce County had until the end of 2024 to allocate its ARPA funding. After some political discord, the county leaders have agreed on a supplemental budget. | Published December 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.