Trending...
- Tacoma: Applications Now Being Accepted for three Positions on the Urban Design Board
- Premier Expands Presence with New Bellevue Flexible Workspace Location
- Spokane: City Service Adjustments During Fire Response
~ In a recent Tacoma City Council study session, Pierce County Councilmember Jani Hitchen presented the proposed Pierce County Unified Regional Approach (URA) to address the issue of homelessness. The URA aims to bring together various governments in Pierce County to work towards reducing homelessness in a unified manner.
Led by Community Vitality and Safety Committee Chair and District 2 Tacoma City Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh, the City Council will consider a resolution on August 25 committing to collaborate with other Pierce County governments in launching the URA.
Council Member Rumbaugh expressed her appreciation for Pierce County's leadership in investing resources towards a unified regional approach. She stated, "Rather than asking each jurisdiction to solve this challenge on its own, the County committed resources, convened partners from across Pierce County, and created a process where every city has a voice in shaping the path forward."
The URA's Elected Leadership Group currently consists of Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen, Council Member Rumbaugh, and District 4 Tacoma City Council Member Sandesh Sadalge. Other jurisdictions that have adopted resolutions expressing their intent to participate in the URA include Fife, Gig Harbor, and Lakewood. Presentations will also be made to the city councils of Ruston, University Place, and Fircrest in the coming weeks.
More on Washingtoner
Mayor Ibsen commended neighboring jurisdictions for joining forces to address one of the community's biggest concerns. He stated, "Together, we can responsibly and proactively deal with the root causes of homelessness."
Homelessness is an issue that transcends city borders. According to Pierce County's 2025 Point-in-Time Count, there are nearly 3,000 people experiencing homelessness across the county. More than half of those individuals reported being from a Tacoma zip code. However, 76 percent of those identified in the count were staying at shelters in Tacoma. The city hosts approximately 85 percent of shelter beds in Pierce County.
Council Member Sadalge emphasized the need for a regional response to this challenge. He stated, "Tacoma has stepped up to tackle this issue in various ways over the years, but the truth is we can't do it alone. A regional approach is not just ideal, it is necessary. Collaborating with willing jurisdictions across Pierce County will help us serve our unhoused neighbors more effectively, efficiently, and compassionately."
More on Washingtoner
In partnership with Mayor Ibsen and Council Member Sadalge, Council Member Rumbaugh will sponsor a resolution for Council consideration on August 25. The resolution aims to express the Tacoma City Council's intent and commitment to working with other governments to launch a URA. It also directs staff to work towards developing an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) and outlines various actions that the city will take while the ILA is in development.
These actions include developing or updating data collection requirements for homeless service providers, creating procedures to connect homeless or at-risk residents with resources such as housing and shelter, establishing policies for inclement weather events, and supporting at least one homeless intervention.
More information on the URA can be found on their website at unifiedregionalapproach.com. As Pierce County continues its efforts towards a unified regional approach to reduce homelessness, it is hoped that other jurisdictions will join in this important cause.
Led by Community Vitality and Safety Committee Chair and District 2 Tacoma City Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh, the City Council will consider a resolution on August 25 committing to collaborate with other Pierce County governments in launching the URA.
Council Member Rumbaugh expressed her appreciation for Pierce County's leadership in investing resources towards a unified regional approach. She stated, "Rather than asking each jurisdiction to solve this challenge on its own, the County committed resources, convened partners from across Pierce County, and created a process where every city has a voice in shaping the path forward."
The URA's Elected Leadership Group currently consists of Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen, Council Member Rumbaugh, and District 4 Tacoma City Council Member Sandesh Sadalge. Other jurisdictions that have adopted resolutions expressing their intent to participate in the URA include Fife, Gig Harbor, and Lakewood. Presentations will also be made to the city councils of Ruston, University Place, and Fircrest in the coming weeks.
More on Washingtoner
- Built to Last: Why BSI Is Among the Nation's Fastest-Growing Companies, and One of Its Best Places to Work
- Bent Danholm's The Architecture of Demand Reaches No. 2 in Amazon Real Estate Sales
- Contracting Resources Group Named to Inc. 5000 for the Ninth Time
- ImagineX Named to 2026 Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies
- ASSIST Software Becomes One of the First European Companies Certified to ISO/IEC 42001
Mayor Ibsen commended neighboring jurisdictions for joining forces to address one of the community's biggest concerns. He stated, "Together, we can responsibly and proactively deal with the root causes of homelessness."
Homelessness is an issue that transcends city borders. According to Pierce County's 2025 Point-in-Time Count, there are nearly 3,000 people experiencing homelessness across the county. More than half of those individuals reported being from a Tacoma zip code. However, 76 percent of those identified in the count were staying at shelters in Tacoma. The city hosts approximately 85 percent of shelter beds in Pierce County.
Council Member Sadalge emphasized the need for a regional response to this challenge. He stated, "Tacoma has stepped up to tackle this issue in various ways over the years, but the truth is we can't do it alone. A regional approach is not just ideal, it is necessary. Collaborating with willing jurisdictions across Pierce County will help us serve our unhoused neighbors more effectively, efficiently, and compassionately."
More on Washingtoner
- The World's No.1 Superstar® Enters the Occult with New Track and Cinematic Visual "Under Your Spell"
- PricZone Launches Online Shopping Platform Offering Electronics, Gaming, and More
- Heritage at South Brunswick Introduces New Ferndale Floorplan: The Largest Single-Family Home Design in the Community
- Lineus Medical Elevates Leadership to Accelerate Growth After Breakthrough Clinical Results
- Gateway Center Arena Announces Duane Curry as General Manger
In partnership with Mayor Ibsen and Council Member Sadalge, Council Member Rumbaugh will sponsor a resolution for Council consideration on August 25. The resolution aims to express the Tacoma City Council's intent and commitment to working with other governments to launch a URA. It also directs staff to work towards developing an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) and outlines various actions that the city will take while the ILA is in development.
These actions include developing or updating data collection requirements for homeless service providers, creating procedures to connect homeless or at-risk residents with resources such as housing and shelter, establishing policies for inclement weather events, and supporting at least one homeless intervention.
More information on the URA can be found on their website at unifiedregionalapproach.com. As Pierce County continues its efforts towards a unified regional approach to reduce homelessness, it is hoped that other jurisdictions will join in this important cause.
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- City of Spokane Staff on Hand at Disaster Assistance Center
- Tacoma: Homicide Investigation – 2100 block of N 30th St
- The City's Most Elegant Open-Air Dinner Party Returns September 12, 2026
- Spokane: Incorrect Info Regarding Downgraded Evacuation Status on Popular App
- FDA Clears Major Regulatory Hurdle as Preservative-Free Ketamine Program Moves Within Reach of Commercialization: NRx Pharmaceuticals: (NAS DAQ: NRXP)
- Autonomous Robotics Platform Expansion as Public Market Debut is Very Close: MBody AI Corp. (N A S D A Q: MBAI)
- Tacoma Voters Approve Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy (Proposition 1)
- Loud! OOH calls for prize draw advertising standards as £1.3bn category moves outdoors
- Black Ribbon Productions Launches With Fearless 2026 Horror Slate
- Spokane: Disaster Assistance Center will open Aug 6 at Shadle Park High School
- Actor Dominic Pace Returns to Television and Film
- Avenue Dental Care North Spokane Offers Free Emergency Care to Firefighters
- Opteamix welcomes Girish Ramachandra to its leadership team as Senior Vice President of Client Services
- Silicon Box Ships 500M Units at High Yield, Expands Production Capacity for Panel-Level Packaging
- Statement from Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen on Spokane Wildfires
- Why Baton Rouge's Humid Climate Can Contribute to Carpenter Ant Damage — J&J Exterminating Explains How to Protect Your Home
- RPR Promotes Emily Line to Chief Strategy Officer and Janine Sieja to Chief Product Officer
- Expanding Beyond Space as New Drone Market Opportunities Accelerate Growth: Ascent Solar Technologies (N A S D A Q: ASTI)
- Lauren Merrell, Dale Sorensen Real Estate, announces price improvement for an extraordinary island retreat
- Spokane: Construction Impacts for Freya Street Corridor