House Passes New Federal Funding to Expand Services for People Experiencing Homelessness in Tacoma
Kilmer Leads Effort to Include $3 Million to Help Expand Tacoma Rescue Mission Shelter
Washington, DC – On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8294, a package of six fiscal year 2023 federal funding bills, which included new funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to enable the City of Tacoma to begin the permitting and design work necessary to expand the Tacoma Rescue Mission. The expansion will increase permanent shelter capacity, inclement weather shelter capacity, addiction recovery services, and day-use space to provide critical wellness services such as workforce development, mental health services, and substance use counseling.
“There are far too many folks in our region that are experiencing homelessness. If we want to get folks back on their feet, help them make ends meet, and limit the number of people experiencing homelessness – we’ve got to ensure that the shelter and services they need are readily available,” said Rep. Kilmer. “That’s why I’ve been pushing to get the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Rescue Mission more funding to help them move forward with expanding their facilities, shelter capacity, and service options. I’ll keep pushing to get this funding signed into law.”
“I am grateful for Congressman Kilmer’s support of the City’s Community Project Funding request for the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s shelter expansion project,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “This construction will significantly increase capacity to serve those who are most in need in Tacoma. Congressman Kilmer has been a longtime champion of our city, and his efforts to secure this critical funding will help us serve more people with dignity and care.”
“The Tacoma Rescue Mission is excited to reach this important step. The Shelter Expansion project is critical to more than double our shelter capacity, as well as significantly expand services and increase the dignified way we accommodate people experiencing homelessness in our community,” said Tacoma Rescue Mission Executive Director Duke Paulson. “We are overjoyed that this need is being wholeheartedly recognized by the Appropriations Committee.”
The 2021 Pierce County Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness estimates 2,287 individuals live unsheltered Countywide, with an estimated 1,432 of those individuals residing in Tacoma. The City currently funds 1,005 beds across emergency, temporary and permanent shelter, meaning there is an estimated gap of at least 427 beds in Tacoma at any given time. Specifically, the report shows a need for an additional 200 adult congregate shelter beds in Tacoma.
Expansion of the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s Men’s Shelter will increase permanent shelter capacity to accommodate an additional 100 individuals during normal operations and will allow for inclement weather shelter expansion of an additional 20-40 spaces when need is most critical, while doubling bathroom, shower, and dining room capacity. It will also allow for an additional capacity of 15 individuals needing addiction recovery services. The project will also create day-use space, which will increase staff space for case management, medical services and third-party partner service provision, such a mental health care.
An increase in shelter capacity is in alignment with goals and strategies identified in Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness, the City of Tacoma’s five-year strategy to address homelessness, and the City’s Consolidated Action Plan on Homeless Strategy.
This project will create local, prevailing wage jobs during construction and, once operational, the additional space will require new staff to support expanded service delivery.
Rep. Kilmer led the effort to secure funding for the project through the House Appropriations Committee’s Community Project Funding process. The project is support by Pierce County Human Services and the City of Tacoma.