Imagining new, innovative & dignified ways to care for our Chronically unhoused neighbors

Our chronically homeless neighbors deserve dignity, care, and love. Through the Pierce County Village, we are so excited to imagine and implement new and innovative ways to care for and address the unique barriers of our neighbors experiencing chronic homelessness. In doing so, we are shaping a brighter future for our community and for all of Pierce County.

Community Village ModelA Community of Hope for Pierce County

Pierce County leaders are working to establish a planned community of micro homes, work opportunities, and onsite physical and mental health care, patterned after the stunningly successful Community First! Village near Austin, Texas. This new community would address the biggest challenge to homelessness in Pierce County: permanent housing for the chronically homeless. No homeless housing strategy is credible without addressing the chronically homeless. 

Pierce County commissioned an advisory board to make recommendations on the feasibility and merits of the Pierce County Village project. The findings of this advisory board were overwhelmingly positive. Those findings include:

  • This is an ideal location. There are no other properties available as well suited considering many factors including proximity to services, cost, size, or impact on neighbors.
  • The environmental concerns have all been addressed in a way that is beyond the minimum needed environmentally to proceed with the project.
  • The impact of the village development on the environment and land use is significantly less than the impact single-family housing would have, which is what the land is currently zoned for.
  • The operations and capital funding budgets are solid.
  • This is a fantastic opportunity to serve our most chronically homeless, and there are no other barriers from the Mission to serving all people who want help.

To learn more about the full scope of this project, visit the project’s page on the Pierce County website.

(Source: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7845/Pierce-County-Village#community)

Video made by Pierce County