Encampment Overview
Encampments create a public safety concern for people who live in the space, because of the exposure to human waste, drug paraphernalia and/or inclement weather.
Encampments may be reported to the City through TacomaFIRST 311. All requests are investigated the City's Homeless Outreach Team who determine the appropriate method for removing active sites.
COVID-19 Update: Encampment Removals
The City of Tacoma is following COVID-19 guidance on encampment response from the Center for Disease Control and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, which recommends not dispersing already congregated encampments. The City has cleaned up encampments when no person is living at the site and cleanups on private property are still occurring.
If an encampment poses additional significant public health risks a cleanup may be completed to mitigate COVID-19 spread and individuals encamped at the cleaned locations are able to obtain safe alternate sheltering options.
How Cleanups Work
- City staff find or are notified of an encampment site.
- The City's Homeless Outreach Team visit the site and determine next steps.
- The site is posted with 72-hours' notice that the property will be cleaned up and those living in the encampment are offered assistance finding shelter and services.
- On the scheduled cleanup day a private contractor or City services will clean up the site to meet Tacoma Municipal Code standards for public health and safety.
- Site Reclamation may occur once the site has been cleaned to help prevent the encampment from returning.
Response to Private Property Encampments
The City generally does not perform public encampment cleanups on private property. The City will follow the Tacoma Municipal Code to work with private property owners to ensure encampments are abated.
- Property owners are responsible for addressing homeless encampments that occur on their property.
- Code Compliance responds to encampment-related issues on private properties and will follow normal code compliance procedures per the Tacoma Municipal Code.
- The City offers property owners resources such as No Trespass orders and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments to assist property owners in mitigating future issues.
- Encampments are generally removed by the property owner, in partnership with Tacoma Police. If they do not correct the issue on their own, the City may abate the encampment at the expense of the property owner.
Response to Encampments on Other Public Property
The City generally does not perform encampment cleanups on non-City owned public property.
- If the City receives a complaint of an encampment on non-City owned public property, (WSDOT, Tacoma Schools, Sound Transit) the property owner is notified of the issue by City staff.
- Tacoma residents concerned with an unauthorized encampment on a non- City owned public property are encouraged to contact the property owner directly to learn about their response plan.
Encampment Removal
The City of Tacoma inspects and removes unauthorized encampments on a routine basis based on complaints received and the conditions of the encampment.
Encampment removal is performed after notice and outreach. In accordance with the City of Tacoma Storage Policy, the map below shows information about specific removals including dates, location and whether items were stored.
If items were stored, they will be kept at 1421 Puyallup Avenue (unless the owner of the items is otherwise notified) and an appointment to access items may be made by calling 3-1-1 and indicating that you with to retrieve stored items.
Site Reclamation
Site Reclamation is the process of making public and private spaces safer and more welcoming for people who live or work in the area to be, while discouraging criminal activity and loitering.
Site Reclamation is used in conjunction with community outreach and service delivery to help individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness get settled into more permanent housing options, as well as using it to reduce blight and increase public health and safety.
Encampment Response Map
Detailed information about the City's response to reported encampments can be found using the Encampment Response Map. Information on the map includes resident concerns reported though 3-1-1, code compliance results of private property inspections, encampment cleanups performed by the City, and site reclamation interventions.
View the Encampment Response Map
Challenges to this Work
According to the most recent Pierce County Point-in-Time Count, the number of homeless individuals exceeds the number of locally available shelter beds. Finding immediate shelter options for people being displaced from encampments continues to be an ongoing challenge.
It is common for encampments to re-populate or move to a nearby location after the City has conducted a cleanup. It is not unlawful for individuals to be homeless in public places, except in limited and specific circumstances.