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City Authorized Emergency Shelter Sites

City Authorized Emergency Shelters 

 

City Authorized Emergency Shelters are permitted under the Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency and provide a safer alternative to unauthorized encampments. We contract with experienced providers to operate the sites, which, at a minimum, include fencing, hand washing stations, garbage services, bathroom facilities, electricity, and potable water. 

 

Site offerings and guest requirements vary by location and operator, but the model of services at each site can broadly be categorized as a micro-shelter site, a mitigation site, an enhanced shelter, or safe parking.

 

All authorized emergency shelters listed on this page:

  • Allow pets
  • Have 24-hour on-site staffing, security, and perimeter fencing
  • Provide on-site case management and supportive services (i.e. financial counseling, employment services, self-enrichment activities, etc.)
  • Require residents to follow a code of conduct
  • Encourage residents to engage in services to work towards obtaining permanent housing

 

Click this link to view the shelters’ capacity and outcomes that are reported and updated weekly.  

 

Micro-Shelter Sites  

Micro-shelter sites offer non-congregate sheltering where individuals or family units have their own designated shelter unit assigned to them for the duration of their residency. These sites provide 24-hour staffing and have case management and supportive services available on-site, which are included in the overall operating cost.

 

Tacoma Emergency Micro-Shelters (TEMS) 3: 602 N Orchard Street

The City worked with First Christian Church to lease part of their property at 602 North Orchard Street to develop an emergency micro-shelter site in partnership with the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI). This site has been in operation since December of 2020. Families with children and single women are eligible to live at this site.

 

The Site Provides:

  • 40 shelter units, serving up to 60 individuals
  • Communal kitchen, laundry, office space for case management, restrooms, showers, community spaces, and trash removal services

 Virtual Community Meeting

  • To view the frequently asked questions from the meeting, click here
  • A full list of attendee questions and comments can be viewed here
  • To watch the video of the virtual community meeting, click here

Questions?

Please contact the site provider if you have a donation or questions about TEMS 3 at 6th and Orchard Street: John Brown at john.brown@lihi.org or (360) 854-1805.

Stability Site: 1421 Puyallup Avenue

The City partners with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to operate a low-barrier emergency shelter at 1421 Puyallup Avenue on City owned property. The Stability Site was established in June 2017 in response to the Public Health State of Emergency on Homelessness and growing unauthorized encampments in the surrounding area.

 

The site provides:

  • 58 shelter units, serving up to 100 individuals
  • Basic human amenities including restrooms, garbage services, handwashing stations and drinking water
  • Case management services
  • Access to food and other supportive services including temporary employment

In 2017, set-up of the Stability Site cost $900,000 and ongoing operations cost approximately $248,000 per month for the 2017-2018 biennium.

 

Initially, the site contained individual tents inside of a larger temperature controlled structure with individual pallet shelters located outside the structure. In spring 2020, the City improved the site by replacing all tents with pallet shelters and moving all shelters into the temperature controlled structure. Streamlining operations has also helped reduce expenses.

 

For 2021-2022, we expect to spend $3.6 million using General Fund and Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Sales Tax funds.

 

To volunteer or to donate to the Stability Site, contact Megan Edwin, Volunteer Coordinator

 

RISE Freedom Project: 2135 Martin Luther King Jr. Way

The City has partnered with Brotherhood RISE to manage an emergency micro-shelter site (RISE Freedom Project) at 2135 MLK Jr. Way. This site has been in operation since June 2023. Adults 18 years and older, including couples, are eligible to live at this site.

 

The Site Provides:

  • 16 shelter units, serving up to 32 individuals
  • Meal services, restrooms, showers, and trash removal services in addition to access to Brotherhood RISE’s main operating office across the street.

Virtual Community Meeting

  • To watch the video of the virtual community meeting, click here

Questions?

Please contact the site provider if you have a donation or questions about RISE Freedom Project: James White at jwhite@fms-elcamino.org or (253) 331-5336.

 

Emergency Mitigation Sites

Mitigation sites are City authorized encampments under the Public Health State of Emergency that provide basic hygiene services and safe sleeping accommodations for people currently living outdoors in Tacoma. These sites provide 24-hour staffing and have case management and supportive services available on-site, which are included in the overall operating cost.

Forging Path Community: 3561 Pacific Avenue

The City is partnering with The Rescue Mission to operate a low-barrier emergency mitigation site at 3561 Pacific Ave. This site has been in operation since November 2022. Adults 18 years and older, including couples, are eligible to live at this site.

 

The Site Provides:

  • 50 units, serving up to 50 individuals
  •  Communal space/kitchen, laundry, office space for case management, restrooms, showers, and trash removal services

Virtual Community Meeting

Questions?

Please contact the site provider if you have a donation or questions about Forging Path Community: Jesse Salgado at JesseS@trm.org or (253) 348-3856.

 

Safe Parking

Safe Parking sites are locations that provide 24/7 on-site management and access to wrap-around services.  At these sites, individuals stay in their cars in a parking lot setting with hygiene facilities; and typically either stay during the night or for extended period of time while working on housing goals and maintaining a safe place to stay.

 

Groups and/or organizations that are interested in hosting a Safe Parking site may be able to do so without permitting requirements.

  

View the City of Tacoma's Safe Parking Checklist which gives guidance on when a permit may be needed.

Holy Rosary Safe Parking: 520 S 30th Street

The City has partnered with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to develop a Safe Parking site at Holy Rosary campus which began operating in April 2023. The site serves families, couples, and single adults. CCS performs extensive background checks during their intake process to ensure the safety of all residents. 

 

The Site Provides:

  • Service for up to 40 individuals or 20 vehicles at a time
  • Communal kitchen, laundry, office space for case management, restrooms, showers, community spaces, and trash removal services. The shelter provider and site residents have access to the existing rectory building on site for these services.

In-Person Community Meeting

  • A community meeting was held in person on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, from 6-7:30 PM, to listen and discuss the community comments and concerns for this project.

Questions?

Please contact the site provider if you have a donation or questions about Holy Rosary Safe Parking: Nick Leider at nickl@ccsww.org.

 

 

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings

Shelter providers hold Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings to discuss and support the site operations, troubleshoot any issues on site or in the neighborhood and provide an opportunity for residents to partner with the site operator and City staff directly. Community members are invited to join the Community Advisory Committees to review operations and progress of the site(s), address questions and concerns, and provide ideas and advisory input. 

 

All interested in participating in a CAC Meeting are encouraged to complete this survey to receive the meeting details from the shelter provider.

 

Aspen Court (8620 S Hosmer St)

The CAC meets online (via Google Meet) the first Wednesday of every month from 5:30 PM to 7 PM.

Forging Path Community (S 35th St and Pacific Ave)

The CAC meets in person on the third floor of the Holy Rosary School (504 S 30th Street) on the third Thursday of every month from 6 PM to 7 PM.

Holy Rosary Safe Parking (424 S 30th St)

The CAC meets in person in the convent building at Holy Rosary (424 S 30th Street) on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6 PM to 7 PM.

RISE Center (S 23rd St and MLK Jr. Way)

The CAC meets in person at Brotherhood RISE (2136 MLK Jr Way) on the fourth Monday of every month from 6 PM to 7 PM.

TEMS 3 (6th Ave and Orchard St)

The CAC meets online (via Google Meet) the second Wednesday of every month from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.

TEMS 4 (S 69th St and Proctor St)

The CAC meets online (via Google Meet) the third Monday of every month from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.

FOB HOPE

The CAC meets in person at Veteran’s Village (8202 Pacific Ave) on the first Monday of every month from 6 PM to 7 PM.

Stay in Touch

Donations

Shelter sites tend to need donations such as: blankets, hand/feet warmers, food/drinks, clothes (i.e. new socks/underwear, jackets, etc.), kitchen paper products (i.e. paper plates, napkins, cutlery, etc.), toiletries (i.e. deodorant, shampoo/conditioners, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.), among other everyday items and specialized requests.

 

If you would like to donate to a shelter, please call or email the appropriate point of contact listed under the shelter above that you would like to donate to.

Contact Us

Caleb Carbone

Homeless Strategies, Systems and Services

Email

(253) 591-5015

 

Join our email listserv to receive updates about authorized encampments



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