Cities around the country are shifting their focus to address the negative impacts of street camping. Seattle and King County recently announced a “Partnership for Zero” to reduce the number of unhoused in Downtown Seattle to less than 30. You also have leaders like Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler acknowledging the worsening situation stating, “I would be an idiot to sit here and tell you that things are better today than they were five years ago with regard to homelessness. People in this city aren’t stupid. They can open their eyes.”
Five years ago also happens to be when the City of Tacoma first opened the Stability Site on Puyallup Avenue. Since then, hundreds more beds have come on-line, and hundreds of people have been served according to the City’s weekly shelter report. But has much improved? To try and help with the challenge, the Pierce County Council recently passed a Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness with Chair Derek Young saying, “We have already tried the ‘let’s muddle along’ approach, and that has not worked.”
As the Downtown Tacoma Partnership looks forward into 2022 and beyond, we know that addressing the homelessness crisis is a critical component of helping the City and Downtown recover post-pandemic. We look forward to continuing to work with City of Tacoma and Pierce County.
To learn more about the resources that are available to Tacoma’s homeless community, please visit:
- City of Tacoma’s Homeless Outreach Team
- City of Tacoma Homeless Shelters & Resources
- Pierce County Human Services Homeless Programs
- Comprehensive Life Resources
- Downtown Tacoma Partnership Safety Team: 253-383-1131
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