Council considers removing barriers to accessing emergency shelters

Pierce County is currently facing a public health and safety emergency regarding homelessness. The 2024 Point-in-Time Census revealed a 23% increase in the number of homeless people year over year, with 30% of those experiencing homelessness. The closure of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Hope Veterans Village, the county’s only licensed veteran tent encampment, will further increase the need for emergency shelter for our most vulnerable neighbors.

To address this emergency, the Pierce County Council is considering an interim emergency ordinance to amend three chapters of the Pierce County Code (PCC) to remove regulatory barriers for temporary housing communities, or THCs, in unincorporated Pierce County. The Pierce County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday, July 9 at or shortly after 3 p.m. to hear public testimony and take final action.

What: Public Hearing on Proposal No. O2024-538, Interim Amendments to Chapters 17C.30, 18.25 and 18A.38 of the PCC

When: Tuesday, July 9th at 3pm or shortly thereafter

Or: 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 1046 in Tacoma or remotely via Zoom. Remote participation is available by calling (253) 215-8782 and using Webinar ID: 976-6178-7423, or by using this link: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/9215903381

Proposal

Proposal No. O2024-538 establishes a permitting process for a temporary housing community (THC) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the applicant and the Pierce County Department of Human Services. The MOU will include conditions of approval, an operations and safety plan, a code of conduct, a transition plan, public participation and more. You can read all of the required elements included in the MOU in Exhibit C, Section F of the Order.

The proposed interim amendments to the Pierce County THC Code Update Regulations are as follows:

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Allow temporary housing communities to house up to 100 people.

·

Allow temporary housing communities for 180 days, with the possibility of renewal depending on compliance with rules and relations with the community.

·

Schedule a community meeting as part of the permitting process. The meeting must be held at least seven days before a memorandum of understanding establishing a temporary housing community is finalized, with notices posted and mailed at least 14 days in advance.

·

Define health and safety requirements for temporary housing communities, including water, sewer, sanitation, security and emergency plans.

·

Exempt small structures and tents less than 150 square feet from building permits when used for lodging in temporary housing communities.

The County Department of Planning and Public Works identified existing regulations as barriers to emergency shelter development during this year’s periodic comprehensive plan update and revision. These amendments provide an interim process to mitigate these regulatory barriers until final regulations can be adopted through the comprehensive plan update.

The interim emergency ordinance must receive five votes to be enacted as an emergency measure and then signed by the county executive. The interim ordinance will be in effect for six months or until renewed, repealed by the council or replaced by a permanent ordinance. Permanent ordinances are currently being developed by the Department of Planning and Public Works, and permanent ordinances are expected to be considered by the council by the end of 2024.

The process

Ordinances are typically submitted to a committee of the Council for review and recommendation before any final action is taken. Emergency ordinances do not follow normal legislative procedures because they are intended to address an emergency situation that requires immediate attention.

These revisions are inspired by the county’s secure parking requirements and are modeled after Tacoma’s successful temporary shelter regulations to ensure consistency for community and emergency shelter providers.