Pierce County Human Services is awarding $100,000 to Social Change Partners, LLC to lead the process to develop the regional approach, creating a unified response to homelessness.
Social Change Partners was chosen through a competitive process with Pierce County Human Services and a scoring committee of stakeholders from the Lived Experience Coalition, Continuum of Care and representatives from cities and towns in Pierce County.
To design a system to end homelessness, the Pierce County Council commissioned the creation of a Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness (Plan). That Plan, adopted by the County Council on March 15th, 2022, calls for a system designed around the actual needs of the people experiencing homelessness in Pierce County.
Recognizing the importance of deep coordination among all the groups working to end homelessness in Pierce County, the Plan recommends developing a Unified Regional Approach. Designing a county-wide approach that works for Pierce County will take research on best practices as well as significant input from a wide variety of stakeholders across Pierce County including people with lived experience of homelessness in Pierce County, business leaders, community organizations, nonprofits, and the philanthropic community.
Next steps for the Unified Regional Approach include research, interviews and stakeholder consultations. A full report and recommendation are due to the County Council before the end of the year, with the expected new approach beginning July 1, 2023.
Stay updated with the consultant-led Unified Regional Approach project at www.piercecountywa.gov/homelessplan