Local

Strategies Pierce County is funding to combat homelessness

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

Efforts to address homelessness in Pierce County include identifying locations for stability sites, such as low-barrier shelters. The county's new shelter-access hub provides centralized access to shelter coordination. An affordable housing tax aims to boost long-term housing availability, yet demand significantly outpaces supply.

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.

Rosa Larios and her four daughters are staying at the Family Promise shelter and resource center in Spanaway, Washington, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. “This place is amazing,” Larios said of the resource center and staff. “They’re helping you with the little steps that make a longer journey. So it’s pretty cool.” By Tony Overman

NO. 1: CAN AI HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES FIND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS? A LOCAL MODEL SHOWS PROMISE

Family Promise operates out of small portable in Spanaway, but technology it built in-house helps it punch above its weight. | Published April 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

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

Tacoma City Council and Pierce County Council appear to have resolved a controversy regarding affordable housing funds after the city agreed to redo an ordinance the county claimed would cost it $10 million. By Jupiter Images

NO. 3: NEW TAX TO NEARLY TRIPLE COUNTY’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONEY, BUT EVEN THAT’S NOT ENOUGH

Pierce County’s goal is to fund the construction, renovation or acquisition of 1,700 units of affordable housing over the next six years. | Published April 22, 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. 4: PIERCE COUNTY WANTS TO OPEN A NEW HOMELESS SHELTER. WHERE TO PUT IT HAS BECOME A PROBLEM

Human Services officials said they would have a plan for the site by June 1, but the county’s current zoning codes might prohibit such a facility. | Published May 12, 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. 5: 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

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. 6: UNABLE TO FIND ONE ITSELF, COUNTY TO PAY SOMEONE TO LOCATE NEW HOMELESS SHELTER SITE

With time running out on funding for the project, Pierce County to seek help from a third-party contractor. | Published June 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in Grants Pass vs. Johnson, a case that involves whether local governments can ticket the unhoused or if that is cruel and unusual punishment, on April 23, 2024. By Megan Smith

NO. 7: NOW WITH MORE AUTHORITY TO OUTLAW PUBLIC CAMPING, WHAT WILL PIERCE COUNTY LEADERS DO?

A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court gives local governments more leeway to enforce camping bans. | Published July 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The G Street homeless encampment across from Wright Park in Tacoma, Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. By Tony Overman

NO. 8: PIERCE COUNTY’S SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING HOMELESS SERVICES IS A MESS, A CONSULTANT SAYS

The Continuum of Care lacks direction and accountability, among other things, new report shows. | Published September 20, 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. By Cameron Sheppard

NO. 9: 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

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. By Tony Overman

NO. 10: 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

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.