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Updates on Pierce County's approach to housing and homelessness

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

This list of curated articles explores how Pierce County is tackling homelessness. Efforts share themes of expanding shelter capacity, providing transitional housing, and addressing systemic issues.

In Tacoma, a recent move broadens the no-camping zones around schools and parks. Meanwhile, Tacoma's tiny-home village model transitions hundreds to permanent housing.

In another effort, Pierce County invests in youth homelessness programs, focusing on transitional housing and supportive services.

Sonja Nikiema, a Point in Time Count volunteer, talks with a person living out of their car on the side of East I Street in Tacoma, Wash., on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. By Pete Caster

NO. 1: 2025 SURVEY SHOWS INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS. SOME THINK THE TOTAL IS WAY HIGHER.

After several months of delay, Pierce County’s annual survey of those experiencing homelessness counted an 11% increase over the previous year. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Pierce County eviction filing data shows upward trend in 2024.

NO. 2: PIERCE COUNTY PREPARES TO SPEND $13 MILLION TO CURB THE RISING RATE OF EVICTIONS

In the past year, Pierce County spent more than $5.5 million as part of its Eviction Prevention program, but the need for assistance still outweighs what the program provides. | Published August 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Wheelchairs are not uncommon at encampments near Tacoma’s Nativity House shelter. By Cameron Sheppard

NO. 3: HUNDREDS EXIT HOSPITALS INTO HOMELESSNESS. WHAT IS PIERCE COUNTY DOING ABOUT IT?

This year hundreds of people have been discharged from Pierce County hospitals directly into homelessness. | Published August 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Stock photo

NO. 4: PIERCE COUNTY EVICTIONS REACH ‘ALL-TIME HIGH.’ WHO IS FILING THE MOST?

Some of Pierce County’s largest landlords filed evictions at the highest rates, according to data from the Pierce County Clerk’s Office. | Published September 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Tacoma Emergency Micro Shelter (TEMS) 3, one of a few shelter stability sites established by the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 5: ‘GOOD PROOF OF CONCEPT.’ NORTH END VILLAGE MAKES GAINS AGAINST HOMELESSNESS

Over nearly four years, the City of Tacoma has paid roughly $2.5 million dollars to maintain a tiny-home village for the homeless in the North End. | Published September 23, 2025 | 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: HOW MUCH OF TACOMA’S HOMELESS POPULATION COMES FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY?

The percentage of Tacoma’s homeless population that reports coming from outside the city grew from 2024 to this year, according to data from Pierce County’s annual survey of people living unhoused. | Published September 19, 2025 | 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. 7: HOW WILL PIERCE COUNTY USE $3.5M IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP UNHOUSED YOUTH?

Pierce County has decided what it will do with $3.5 million in federal grant funding aimed at addressing homelessness among youth and young adults. | Published September 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The former Comfort Inn on the 8600 block of South Hosmer Street in Tacoma was purchased by the Low Income Housing Institute in October. With the financial assistance from Pierce County, the City of Tacoma and City of Lakewood, the institute has turned the hotel into a 94-room new, enchanted shelter. It started accepting residents on Dec. 15. By Pete Caster

NO. 8: SHOULD TACOMA EXPAND THE AREAS WHERE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED?

The Tacoma City Council will consider an amendment to the city’s public-camping ban that will expand the areas in which people living unhoused are prohibited from camping. | Published October 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The property at 602 N. Orchard St. is currently home to First Christian Church and the Village at 6th and Orchard, operated by the Low Income Housing Institute.

NO. 9: $50M CANCER CENTER COULD REDEVELOP SITE OF CHURCH, TINY-HOME VILLAGE IN TACOMA

A familiar church and a tiny-home village in Tacoma that’s served as an emergency housing shelter since the pandemic could make way for a proposed new cancer-treatment center. | Published October 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debbie Cockrell

Map of proposed prohibited camping buffer zones. Yellow: 10 blocks from temporary or emergency shelters in the “Downtown Zone.” Orange: 5 blocks from temporary or emergency shelters outside of the “Downtown Zone.” Purple: 2 blocks from public schools (K-12), public parks and public libraries. Blue: 200 feet from protected waterways.

NO. 10: WHERE IN TACOMA WILL HOMELESS CAMPS BE BANNED UNDER AMENDED ORDINANCE?

This month, the Tacoma City Council will consider an amendment to an ordinance that prohibits public camping in certain parts of the city. | Published October 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Map of the new areas camping where camping is prohibited in Tacoma. Yellow: Within 10 blocks of temporary or emergency shelters in the downtown zone. Orange: Within five blocks of temporary or emergency shelters outside the downtown zone. Purple: Within two blocks of public schools (K-12), public parks and public libraries. Blue: Within 200 feet of protected waterways. By City of Tacoma

NO. 11: HOW WILL TACOMA’S ENCAMPMENT-BAN EXPANSION IMPACT PLANS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS?

The Tacoma City Council passed an amendment to expand areas where homeless encampments are prohibited. | Published October 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

Map of the new areas camping where camping is prohibited in Tacoma. Yellow: Within 10 blocks of temporary or emergency shelters in the downtown zone. Orange: Within five blocks of temporary or emergency shelters outside the downtown zone. Purple: With two blocks of public schools (K-12), public parks and public libraries. Blue: Within 200 feet of protected waterways. By City of Tacoma

NO. 12: IN A SPLIT VOTE, TACOMA COUNCIL DECIDES FATE OF HOMELESS CAMPING-BAN EXPANSION

On Oct. | Published October 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The Housing Authority of the City of Tacoma building in Tacoma, Washington, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. By Tony Overman

NO. 13: SHOULD AFFORDABLE-HOUSING PROVIDERS BE EXEMPT FROM TACOMA EVICTION PROTECTIONS?

We need to get up higher here that the city is considering changes to the code, which is why these folks are writing now. | Published November 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

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