OUTREACH – Homeless Services

Pierce County (hereafter referred to as “the County”), in alignment with the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness (CPEH), has made approximately $1,679,000 available to support regionalized outreach services for homeless households throughout Pierce County using a Geographic Information System (GIS)-informed approach. These funds are intended to support an integrated housing crisis response system (HCRS) that rapidly responds to the immediate needs of households experiencing homelessness in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidance.

Separate solicitations will be released for Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, Transitional Housing, Emergency Overnight Shelter, Safe Parking, and Day Center.

In March 2026, Pierce County updated the Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness (CPEH), which aims to document the scale of the need and design a system to end homelessness in Pierce County. The CPEH is designed to achieve “functional zero” – a state where any person starting a new episode of homelessness has immediate access to shelter and a permanent housing intervention. The CPEH outlines the following eight goals:

1. Promote a comprehensive, accountable and transparent homeless crisis response system.

2. Prioritize assistance based on the greatest barriers to housing stability and the greatest risk of harm and ensure interventions are effective for all populations.

3. Prevent homeless episodes whenever possible.

4. Ensure adjacent systems address needs of people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

5. Meet the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness.

6. Expand the permanent housing system to meet the need.

7. Strengthen the homeless provider workforce.

8. Seek to house everyone in a stable setting that meets their needs.

This effort is in direct support of the CPEH goal 5.