~ 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.

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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."

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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.

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