The Tacoma City Council received an update on the city's efforts to combat homelessness. In a recent briefing, the council heard about Tacoma's multifaceted strategy that aims to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring, as reported by the City of Tacoma. The city is taking steps to balance immediate needs with sustainable, long-term solutions, working in tandem with state and regional plans, and pulling from various data sources for informed decision-making.
With winter bearing down, Tacoma has amped up its shelter capacity for harsh weather conditions. Valeo Vocations is operating seasonal shelters with 53 beds available until March 31. When temperatures plummet, Catholic Community Services Nativity House and Beacon Young Adult Shelter open additional inclement weather beds, and 20 motel units are kept on standby to shelter families. According to the City of Tacoma, these measures help to connect individuals and families to refuge during challenging times.
The update also highlighted Tacoma's five-year Homelessness Strategy, which is in sync with Washington's Homeless Housing Strategic Plan. Both place a strong emphasis on prevention, the creation of affordable housing, and enhancing response systems, while addressing the higher risk of homelessness faced by marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ populations.
Despite these efforts, Tacoma stands at a crossroads with the potential closure of temporary and emergency shelters slated for June 2025 due to the expiration of federal funding. However, the city has actively been seeking to secure additional state funding to continue addressing housing instability and homelessness. To date, it has bagged $3 million to keep shelter operations running through June 2025 and is working on funding strategies for the future. The transition of sites like Shiloh Baptist and Altheimer in 2025 will be managed carefully, targeting permanent housing solutions, as detailed by the City of Tacoma.
For more details on the City of Tacoma’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness, please visit the City’s website.
