Tacoma considers six sanctioned homeless camps

TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma's Planning Commission wants public input on allowing more sanctioned homeless camps.

The changes would allow for as many as six sanctioned camps in the city with up to 100 people per camp.

A year ago, the City of Tacoma declared a state of public health emergency on their homeless issue and set up city-sanctioned shelters in temporary spots.

Tacoma's Planning Commission wants to change city municipal code to allow religious groups or non-profits to host these shelters on land they own, whether it be indoors or outdoors.

The six shelters or camps would not be clustered.  There would be two per police sector and the city says those groups must have background and warrant checks for residents, as well as shower and trash facilities.

The camps would only be in one given spot for up to six months.

The meeting will be held at the Tacoma Municipal Building, North Room 16 at 733 Market Street at 5:30 p.m.

Cox Media Group