7/16/2019

Stability Site Temporary Shelter

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Overview
• Overview of Homelessness in Tacoma

• Homelessness Outreach Team (HOT)

• Stability Site Operations

• Recommendations and Considerations

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Point in Time Count 
2018 2019
Pierce County 1,628 1,486
Tacoma 529 436
Veterans 135 134
Survivors of Domestic  165 106
Violence

Washington State 22,304 n/a

1  33
Pierce County 2018 Point in Time Count Results
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HUD 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report

Primary Causes of Homelessness
Source: Point in Time Count

1. • Lack
MJ combine with
of affordable PIT slide
housing

2. Inadequate income or employment

3. Eviction

4. Mental health/substance abuse

5. Domestic violence and fleeing domestic violence

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Shelter Availability
• Adult and family shelter beds = ~400
• Additional ~160 beds during inclement weather 
• Young Adult shelter beds (ages 18‐24)= ~40
• Domestic Violence shelter beds = 117
• Crisis Residential Center beds (ages 12‐17) 
• Current 6
• Future 12 (Arlington)
• Stability Site shelter beds = 100

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Homeless Emergency Declaration

• Council Action in May 2017 Launched 3‐Phase Plan
• Phase I = Mitigation Site
• Phase II = Stability Site
• Phase III = Transition individuals to appropriate housing 
• Council extended the Declaration in 2017 and 2018
• Currently expires in December 2019

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Contracted Services to Address 
Homelessness
2019‐20 Contracted Amounts
Community  Emergency  General Fund Mental Health  TOTAL
Development  Solutions Substance Use 
Block Grant Grant Disorder
Homeless Services $120,542 $0 $158,398 $1,733,908 $2,012,848

Housing Services $193,166 $184,842 $1,328,518 $1,498,872 $3,205,398

Sheltering $20,000 $97,357 $888,437 $1,303,273 $2,309,067

Complementary  $65,591 $0 $422,378 $389,244 $877,213

Homeless Outreach Team  (HOT)
• Launched May 2017
• Innovative partnership between TPD and NCS
• 5 full‐time TPD officers and two full‐time NCS outreach workers
• Prioritize locations, coordinate responses, ensure monitoring
• Integrated  what we’ve learned into operational approaches 
• Collaborating with Washington State Department of Transportation 
(WSDOT), Metro Parks and Tacoma Public Utilities.
• Partnering with Stability Site operator to refer individuals at 
encampments directly to Stability Site.

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JM2
JM3
SL4

HOT Results
2018 JAN‐MAR 2019
Encampment Cleanups* 127 38
311 Responses 2069 507

HOT Referrals (2018) HOT Referrals (JAN‐MAR 2019)

17%
36%

Individuals Accepting Individuals Accepting
Services Services
64%
Individuals Declining Services Individuals Declining Services
83%
269 individuals  102 individuals

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*Encampment cleanups took place on multiple sites

HOT Results
2018 2019 (Thru June)
Encampment Cleanups* 127 95
311 Responses 2069 789

HOT Referrals (2018) HOT Referrals (2019 thru June)

17%

44%

Individuals Accepting Individuals Accepting
Services 56% Services
Individuals Declining Services Individuals Declining Services
83%
269 individuals  198 individuals

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*Encampment cleanups took place on multiple sites

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Slide 9

JM2 Please align year in graph with year in table

JM3 TPD Must vet their numbers with our numbers and we must all be
consistent
Jorgensen, Matthew, 3/18/2019

SL4 YES PLEASE!

Stability Site 
Total Individuals served since opening in June 2017 304
Individuals housed since June 2017 93
Current Program Data (YTD)

Individuals currently at Stability Site 87
Completed housing stability plan 77

Enrolled in Employment Connections Program 15
Employed after participation in Employment Connections Program 6
Enrolled in Coordinated Entry 46
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Individuals placed in Stability Site referred from HOT 3

Sheltered at the Stability Site 
Demographics Current
Male 64%
Encampment or Living Outside Prior to Entry 100%
Living with disability 72%
Currently Employed 8%
Veterans 3%
Current participant since June 2017 2%
Number of Tacoma residents 100%
Homeless for more than a year 91%
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Stability Site Calls for 
Police Response
2017 2018 2019
Calls for Service with Tacoma PD as Primary Unit 

Calls listing the address 63 74 20
Calls from the Area listing Homeless Contact as  161 356 24
Disposition
Calls from the Area listing Mental Health Contact as  24 25 83
Disposition

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2019 Stability Site Operations

2019 Stability Site Costs
Stability Site Operator $1,772,644

Facilities and Maintenance $206,712

Services Rentals $115,180

Employment connections $160,000

Transportation $51,507

Utilities $31,402

Total $2,337,445 14
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Recommendations

• Improve site safety and security by replacing small tents with 
pallet shelters and transitioning all to inside the large tent
• Reduce the number of Stability Site units, to improve 
operational efficiency, and free up resources for other 
homelessness initiatives
• Mid‐biennial budget authorization to fund site maintenance 
and operations at a reduced level
• Extend the Homeless Emergency Declaration through 
December 2020
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Impacts 
• Replacing tents with pallet shelters and relocating all 
shelters to inside the large tent results in a net loss of 
31 units
• Pallet shelters can accommodate more than one 
individual (can maintain site capacity of 100)
• Potential for longer waiting list
• Site amenities (mobile shower, laundry, restrooms) are 
leased and will require refurbishment or replacement 
• Not intended for long‐term, day to day use 16
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Proposed Budget for 2020 
Stability Site Operations
Estimate 2020 Stability Site Costs
Stability Site Operator $750,000

Facilities and Maintenance $206,712

Services Rentals $119,210

Employment connections $160,000

Transportation $51,507

Utilities $31,402

One‐Time Purchase 18 $80,388
Additional Pallet Shelters
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Total $1,399,219

Concurrent Efforts
• Continue working with partners to increase shelter 
capacity and access to day services
• Build momentum for regional approach to addressing 
homelessness
• Identify opportunities for transfer of ownership and 
operations of site to non‐profit 
• Pursue HB1406 resources for affordable and 
permanent supportive housing (AHAS)

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