Traction builds for regional approach to homelessness in Pierce County

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Pierce County wants to end the patchwork of homeless services by joining with other cities to take a regional approach to the crisis, an effort King County has been undertaking for several years with varying success.

Last week, county officials brought together representatives from more than a dozen cities to discuss how that unified effort would look. The move is part of a long-range vision the county adopted two years ago called the Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness (CPEH). Six main goals were identified with an emphasis placed on a Unified Regional Approach (URA).

Pierce County Councilmember Jani Hitchen, chair of the county’s Health and Human Services Committee, said there has been an increase in homelessness, and now is the time to coordinate access to services.

“No matter where you live in Pierce County, when you enter homelessness we should have services, and right now, it doesn't happen that way because there isn't a unified response,” Hitchen said.

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For comparison, King County made the move to share resources three years ago through the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, but since the KCRHA’s launch in 2021, the CEO has quit, payments to service providers have been delayed, and smaller cities have been reluctant to contribute resources.

Pierce County is determined to avoid those pitfalls.

“Pooling funding is interesting because whenever you mix money and policy and rules it really gets complicated," Hitchen said.

During last week’s meeting of regional leaders, one area of common ground was a desire to have a coordinated case management system to better handle shelter referrals and other services.

“Case management is huge when you enter homelessness, and the systems are complicated,” Hitchen said. “And right, now it's based on who you call. There's a long list, and it's not coordinated, and that's the part I'm really hopeful about."

Others have raised concerns that a regional approach will add another layer of bureaucracy, but Hitchen said it’s about creating a shared vision and eliminating redundancy so systems are more efficient and cost-effective.

Participating in the talks were officials from Auburn, Bonney Lake, DuPont, Edgewood, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Orting, Pierce County, Puyallup, Steilacoom, and Tacoma.

Pierce County has budgeted $141 million to address homelessness this year and next. Last year, the county invested $87 million in these efforts. Much of the funding comes from state and federal sources.

Pierce County has also set aside $1 million to hire a consultant to help manage the development of a regional approach to homelessness.

“I know one of the arguments or frustrations is that this has taken us a while. It's been intentional to walk together as a group,” Hitchen said. “I think we're on the right path. I think this is going to be good, and it's just going to take a little bit of time and trust building, but I'm excited about it."