20th July 2022
Safety
Question: “When and how do we homeowners who live at ground zero in the 35th Street area get to be heard? Because the [crime] is on the rise, and we're seeking some answers from someone that lives in our community.”
Answer: You can reach out to shelters@cityoftacoma.org for any questions or concerns about the shelter specifically at any time. If you have a community meeting that you would like staff to attend, please feel free to reach out and I will coordinate a time when we can join you in person. You can also reach out to Luis at luisr@trm.org to join the Community Advisory Committee for ongoing concerns about shelter operations. The first meeting will be scheduled after the first month of operations and we will have city representation at this meeting. If you have concerns about community safety, please refer to your Community Policing Division and reach out to a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) when you see or experience a crime:
Question: “So, there are two residences in my immediate area conducting drug and other criminal activity, this has been reported police and nothing is done, and I witness this daily by my family and neighbors, happening now. If the police won’t act next to my house, how will I know you’d keep the area safe bringing in more potential activity? I live with drug activity next to my home.”
Answer: The shelter is a response to the growing encampment concerns along Pacific Avenue and throughout the city and when we set up a shelter, we usually see a reduction in crime. An example is a previous site that we have at 6th and Orchard. The 911 calls for service surrounding our 6th and Orchard site have seen a decrease in calls when comparing activity in the five months before and after the shelter opened. We also recommend that you continue to report any violent crimes to Tacoma Police Department.
Tacoma Crime Plan
Question: “You're giving them clean needles at the camp? and then sending them into our neighborhoods to get high?”
Answer: The City of Tacoma contracts with a street outreach provider who conducts outreach to individuals at encampments, recruits and engages high-risk, hard-to-reach people who use drugs or engage in sex work throughout Tacoma and at targeted encampment locations. They provide sterile injecting equipment, safer sex supplies, MRSA prevention wound care kits, and Naloxone (opiate overdose reversal drug) to people who inject drugs. The program also provides health
education including topics such as drug use prevention, safer injecting techniques, vein and soft tissue care, proper nutrition, overdose prevention, wound care, and safer sex.
Question: “As the owner of a home with a fresh bullet hole in it, near the current unregulated campsite, it doesn't sound like there is a great plan for mitigating offsite illegal camping (e.g. South Tacoma Way near the current mission). Is there anything that the onsite [employees] can do to prevent nearby camping or an avenue for homeowners nearby to get effect removal
of campsites?”
Answer: Illegal camping continues to be a focus for the City Council, the City Manager, and the Neighborhood and Community Services Department. We have a removal process for encampments that pose a health and safety risk on public property. We also have a Private Property Encampment Abatement program to help private property owners remove unauthorized encampments and help prevent future encampments. Our contracted providers will continue to assist with mitigating encampments around the city in partnership with the city’s HEAL Team along with on providing outreach to unsheltered individuals.
Encampment and Outreach
Question: “How close are the nearest neighborhoods to your successful encampments?”
Answer: All our emergency shelters, except one, are in residential areas. These shelters are also spread across the city in all districts. If you would like to hear about
the positive impacts they have had in neighborhoods, you could join one of the Committee Advisory Committees to talk with their neighborhood directly.
Question: “For those who choose not to move into the sanctioned site, how do you plan to prevent new unsanctioned encampments from popping up in the neighborhood? What is the long-term solution for these individuals?”
Answer: The unsanctioned encampment will go through the removal process as we open the shelter site, and we will fence of the areas off to prevent any future encampments. The provider will assist with also continue to mitigate encampments around the property and will partner will the City’s HEAL Team along with their own outreach team on providing outreach to those individuals.
The provider will also hold a Community Advisory Committee meeting monthly to stay in consistent contact with the neighborhood about any concerns that may arise.
This site is a good example of both short and long-term solutions because this property is expected to transition into mixed housing, including affordable housing. While the City is working on that process, TCRA has agreed to let us use this property for emergency shelter. This shelter model is the first step for people to work towards healing and stability.
Question: “It will be interesting to see how many of the existing encampment will accept the new housing. Ten - 15% seems to be the norm. The others have to find another place to pitch their tent. Will we be offering them bus tickets to other cities as it seems other cities/states have done to us?”
Answer: We will continue to provide outreach for individuals who do not accept services and assess our sheltered needs to meet the demand of people who are
unsheltered in the City of Tacoma. The city also contracts with providers in Diversion Programs that are designed to provide transportation assistance to people who are homeless a path to stability by connecting them to family or friends support outside of Tacoma.
Generally, most people who are unsheltered are from the area and have ties to the area. We work with them to find solutions that will keep them in the city and community because that has shown to have the most success.
Other Questions
Question: “That is such refreshing & great news! I rarely see news like that! Please share MORE information about your accomplishments! I think doing that would change the tone and narrative around this for neighboring communities!!! What if information about your successes were featured on the Mayor's TV Tacoma show 'Inside Tacoma'? I really enjoyed the episode with the Police Chief.”
Answer: Thank you for your suggestion on communicating more about our accomplishments and outcomes. We have been featured on Tacoma TV as well recently on May 18th and June 17th and we discussed our Strategy and accomplishments.
Question: “Is there any provision to deal with people with mental health issues? I live a block from this site and have seen men with no pants wandering down my street, a man swearing at the top of his lungs walking down D street, and too many more instances to innumerate.”
Answer: The City has been collecting the 1/10 of 1 percent sales tax since July 2012. The purpose of the tax is to provide services to the community to address barriers to mental health and substance use disorder. All programs must have a component of mental health and/or substance use disorder to be eligible for this funding.
The original intent of this funding source was to reduce the high utilization of emergency services. The City funds programs that provide treatment, case management, bed nights and supports programs like the Tacoma Police Department Co-Responders, who have designated mental health professionals to assist Tacoma residents who are experiencing behavioral health crisis and help them access treatment and resources that have a positive impact on their life. The Co Responder program responds to locations at TPD’s request, once the scene is stable, the program also works closely with the Homeless Engagement Alternative Liaison team, you may know it by HEAL or (formerly the Homeless Outreach Team).
Question: “Can you clarify the future plans for the two sites? It sounds like Mercy Housing apartments to the north, cottages in the center, and then mixed use in the southern part?”
Answer: The Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority (TCRA) selected Mercy Housing Northwest as the developer for the vacant parcels north of Division.
Mercy Housing’s proposal is for a five-story structure with 80 rental units available to households earning 60% area median income or less. An early learning center is proposed for the ground floor.
The TCRA will be releasing a request for proposals (RFP) in September seeking a developer to bring a mixed-use, affordable housing development to parcel south of Division. The community will be updated at that time on opportunities to participate in selection process. The timeline for the selection process will depend on the number of responses the TCRA receives to the RFP.
Question: “What efforts are being made to add healthy food choices, i.e., Farmer’s Markets, grocery in this food desert area? Currently there are two convenience stores in the vicinity.”
Answer: The TCRA accepted ownership of the property south of Division with the condition that the input we received from neighbors is prioritized in the RFP and
project selection. Staff have structured the RFP to invite respondents to describe their strategy for bringing mixed-use to the property. The RFP will include an evaluation of the property for siting a small- to mid-size food store. Input received from the neighboring community will be factored into the scoring of any proposals received.
Community Comments
Comment 1:
“You are muting the real individuals facing the REAL
neighborhood members, this is ridiculous. This is heavily rehearsed and appalling that you would call this a community meeting. I wonder what the local news networks will think of this.” -Sean
Comment 2:
“Let the community members speak! You are silencing the community.” - Sean
Comment 3:
“Community members in China and Russia would have more of a say than this, legal counsel and news outlets needs to know about this.” -Sean
Comment 4:
“we are not confused about what site you are referring to” –Anonymous
Comment 5:
“WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CONFUSED. This is a lie and needs to be exposed.” -Sean
Comment 6:
“Again, we are here, LET US SPEAK” -Sean
Comment 7:
“When stray bullets come through my window, you will hear about it.” - Sean
Comment 8:
“If poverty, unhoused, food insecurity, and basic human needs were all met we wouldn’t need police that only solve 54% of murders and less than 14% of sexual crimes, that’s out of the 2% of SA crimes that are reported. If those crimes they receive less punishment than unhoused do for breathing in the wrong location.” -Ondriea
Comment 9:
“The cause of the unhoused is not drug use and choices by the people in the mix of it. Them being hard on your eyes is nothing compared to what they carry. Those of you passing judgement wouldn’t emotionally last a day in their shoes. After losing a home due to rent increases many turn to drugs because of the way they are treated by those of you wanting to just clear the area rather than provide solutions.” -Ondriea
Comment 10:
“Thank you, I ask because I wanted to know whether everyone living there would be able to be served in the new site if they wanted it.” - Deleena
Comment 11:
“Comprehensive is having a really hard time taking on new clients tho.” - Ondriea
Comment 12:
“As someone who has dealt often with the city officials and the folks working with the unhoused in this neighborhood - this specific issue - over the years I can attest that they are accessible and accommodating and
more than willing to meet and listen and discuss these complicated issues with community members. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them.” - kathyj
