FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS

City of Tacoma Plans to Establish Micro-Shelters Site

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org , (253) 591-5152Megan Snow, Media and Communications, msnow@cityoftacoma.org , (253) 591-5051

The City of Tacoma is moving forward with a plan to establish an emergency micro-shelters site at 802 Martin Luther King Jr. Way to address health and safety concerns caused by the growing encampment at People’s Park.



The site, when completed in December, will provide up to 22 micro-shelters and serve up to 35 individuals experiencing homelessness for up to seven months.



“I am encouraged by the efforts City staff have made to meet the commitments made at the October 1 City Council meeting before amendments to the daytime park structure regulations take effect on December 1,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “Specifically, staff have identified a solution that addresses the daytime shelter concerns by adding overnight shelter capacity that can be offered to unhoused residents at People’s Park.”



The site would provide basic human amenities, including portable toilets, garbage services, handwashing stations and drinking water. The property would be fenced and have 24-hour security, with on-site management provided by a contracted service provider with expertise in operating temporary shelter sites.



The Tacoma City Council approved Resolution 40488, which authorizes the execution of an agreement with Low Income Housing Institute, in the amount of $388,000, budgeted from the General Fund, to operate the temporary emergency shelter site.



“The Low Income Housing Institute is the leading expert at operating these facilities throughout the Puget Sound region,” said City Council Member Keith Blocker. “These 22 temporary emergency micro-shelters will provide a safer option for individuals experiencing homelessness while the City identifies long-term housing solutions.”



The City Council also passed first and final reading of Ordinance 28637 to extend the Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency to remain in effect until such time as there is shelter availability for 95 percent of unsheltered individuals in Tacoma as noted in the annual Point in Time Count.



More information about the City’s homelessness services is available at cityoftacoma.org/homelessness.

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