TACOMA, Wash. – The City of Tacoma’s Homeless Engagement and Alternatives Liaison (HEAL) Team continues to see progress in its ongoing efforts to address homelessness. The HEAL Team, a cornerstone of the City’s broader alternative response strategy, remains dedicated to connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with the support and resources they need.
This year, the HEAL Team has achieved:
- Faster response to community concerns with decreased 311 response times
- Increased efficiency in homeless outreach with an “on-time” completion rate for homeless outreach requests that has more than doubled, from 30 percent to 82 percent
- Reduced reliance on police intervention in response to encampment outreach
- Improved communication with the community with enhancements to the 311 system to provide real-time case progress updates to the public
The HEAL Team’s data-driven approach, including a comprehensive dashboard, allows for continuous monitoring and improvement of services. This mirrors the City’s broader commitment to data transparency which ensures accountability and facilitates ongoing program optimization.
By the numbers, as of November 30, the HEAL Team has:
- Made 2,798 new and repeat contacts with individuals experiencing homelessness
- Connected 1,039 individuals experiencing homelessness to essential services
- Supported 276 individuals experiencing homelessness with placement into temporary shelter
- Helped 12 individuals experiencing homelessness access detox programs
- Referred 15 individuals experiencing homelessness to the HOPE Team for further assistance
The HEAL Team’s ongoing efforts underscore the importance of the City’s integrated and collaborative approach to community well-being.
A recording of today’s City Council Study Session presentation is available at facebook.com/cityoftacoma.
This statement may not be entirely accurate.
In West gate shopping area, HEAL team was able to find free housing for some of the drug addicts. But , it’s winter time . I can guarantee that many of these folks are still hanging around here , sleeping in front of the UPS store, the Big Lots store , the Tacoma smiles dentistry, back of planet fitness property, excetera.
Panhandlers mostly drug addicts, continue to stay at West gate entrance off N 21th and the entrance to Safeway off of N 26 th street.
Sometimes with children in tow.
I’m not sure why I approve of giving drug addicts free apt housing , but if it removes them from Westgate residential neighborhood, then this is the only way to get drug addicts to leave the area. Now , they are continuing to do drugs in an apt complex. I sure hope there are no elderly, or families with children that are housed with drug addicts. I hope there is not increased garbage, fires , theft , vandalism or crimes in those apts .
These folks whom do these things were hanging out doing drugs in West gate shopping area.
Do you think with a free apt housing. This trend will suddenly decline????
Some ride the bus from their free apt to continue to panhandle here it West gate.
The only thing now the government is not providing is cold hard cash to buy drugs.
The truely needy and those who are drug addicts, need to be separated. The drug addicts need to be forced to treatment.
If they refuse, they need to be removed from camping , loitering, panhandling from public sidewalk, commercial business property, and outskirts of residential neighborhoods .
Im tired of supporting the drug lifestyle, but if I don’t pay taxes for their free apt housing, they will remain camping out overnight, in my nieghborhood.
Those who accept HEAL team and are truely in need. I support.
Thank you
Krista
Progress? Have they driven down S Tacoma Way past the Mission? Have those people been offered help? Seems the homeless move from one part of town to another then another with no end in sight. Council has failed these people and let Tacoma turn into a trash filled, drug crazed, lawless city.