Key Players / Contact Us / Updates / Maps
Project Update Presentation
What: In late September 2006, the City of Tacoma and social services providers in our community launched a pilot program, the Housing First Encampment Elimination Program, to close and clean up 14 homeless encampments in Tacoma and to help up to 100 homeless individuals move to permanent supportive housing.
Why: Experts estimate there are more than 300 homeless individuals living in Tacoma encampment sites. These people are living in unsanitary, garbage-strewn environments, which are unsafe and inhumane living conditions. These areas are also problematic for those who own property or run a business nearby.
Objective: To clean and permanently close 14 encampment sites around the City using a Housing First model.
Start Date: September 18 – members from Comprehensive Mental Health and Greater Lakes Mental Health’s PATH outreach team will encourage persons living within the encampment site to accept a Housing First Unit.
Sites: There are 14 known encampment sites around the City and they’re currently being surveyed. Sites will be selected and prioritized based on social resources and how many housing units are available to move individuals in to.
Process: Clean ups will occur in conjunction with the provision of housing and supportive services using the Housing First model. Once contact has been made with persons living within the encampment, the persons will be given 72 hours to either accept supportive housing with a case manager who will provide assistance, move to a shelter or simply just move on. Once the camp is vacated, the clean up process will begin.
What happens to those being displaced?
Each person who accepts housing within the selected encampment is assigned a case manager, who provides assistance with the housing and serves as a liaison between the property owner and the individual. The individual is also offered a variety of services, including mental health and substance abuse services, to ensure that they will be successful in housing.
How will the sites be monitored?
Following the clean up, TPD will regularly monitor the areas that have been cleaned. If a site is repopulated, TPD will remove trespassers within 24 hours of a report.
Key players:
- City of Tacoma: Public Works/Streets & Grounds, TPD, Fire, CED, HR&HS, Tacoma CARES
- Community Contractors: Greater Lakes Mental Health, Metropolitan Development Council,Tacoma Rescue Mission
- Community Partners: Comprehensive Mental Health, Greater Lakes Mental Health, Veterans Administration
- Funding Partners: City of Tacoma, Pierce County, MultiCare, Franciscan Health
Role of the Social Service Agencies: The agencies will coordinate the housing and case management for the individuals who enter the Housing First program, and will be the ones to sign leases with the landlords
Funding: $1.3 million allocated for the first year
Encampment Repopulation Hotline: (253) 830-6500.