Pierce County executive says funds better spent on housing, not ‘a tent city’

(The Center Square) – Pierce County councilmembers are frustrated with a proposed shift of funding away from a planned homeless stability site, but the county executive says the funding is better used to build up more stable housing.

The county council originally dedicated $2.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars toward a homeless stability site outside Tacoma. A low-barrier homeless stability site is a shelter that provides basic amenities and services to help people experiencing homelessness get into permanent housing.

However, the project has not taken off as the county has struggled to find a homeless stability site outside Tacoma.

Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier’s office is now proposing shifting $1.85 million from the stability site funding to the Aviva Crossing Project, $635,000 to homeless and housing services, and $140,000 to youth diversion programs as part of its proposed supplemental budget changes. This is due to the project having recently been flagged for $11 million in increased infrastructure costs by the Tacoma Housing Authority.

The agency identified a funding gap of $1.85 million as a result.

Pierce County councilmembers voiced their frustrations with this proposal last month as it all but ends plans for the homeless stability site this year. However, Dammeier argues that the funding is being better utilized in going to a higher priority: stable housing.

Dammeier said his office is focused on programs and initiatives that get results for people experiencing chronic homelessness. In his opinion, the stability site does not do so and instead serves as “a tent city” as it is currently proposed.

Dammeier added that the homeless stability site cannot be accommodated in unincorporated Pierce County under current code.

“I believe we’re much better off using that money in different ways. Specifically toward getting more stable housing for people who are trying to get their lives on track,” Dammeier said to The Center Square in a phone call.

According to the county, there are currently 1,318 units of shelter and 1,726 beds in various locations across Pierce County. However, the bulk of shelter beds are non-congregate and are located within Tacoma.

Notably, the average utilization rate for shelter beds across the county was 73% in 2023.

“We believe that we have enough temporary shelters,” Dammeier said. “In 2023, only 73% of our temporary shelter beds were used and we already have programs to bring on 200 additional beds in 2025.”

The Aviva Crossing Project that would take the majority of the ARPA funding intends to redevelop the James Center in Tacoma into more significant affordable housing, which Dammeier believes is a much more effective way to bring more stable housing online quickly with the $1.85 million in shifted funds. The project would be better situated to break ground later this fall.

According to the Tacoma Housing Authority, 600 units of housing are planned with the addition of 30,000 square feet of commercial retail space in the planned James Center project.

The Pierce County Council will have to adopt the supplemental budget by Aug. 27.