(The Center Square) – Tacoma is launching a street medicine pilot program to help its homeless population, courtesy of a $1 million grant from the Washington State Health Care Authority.
The pilot program includes medical and behavioral health professionals who reach out to homeless people living on Tacoma streets.
According to the city, Spokane, Everett, King County and Kitsap County have also received similar funding.
Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards said the pilot program will play a crucial role in the city’s comprehensive strategy to address homelessness.
“The street medicine pilot program goes beyond treating illnesses; it aims to build trust, uphold dignity, and provide a pathway to a better life for those experiencing homelessness,” Woodards said in a statement.
The city’s comprehensive plan aims to address homelessness by creating more housing, preserving existing affordable housing, and increasing prevention services.
Pierce County’s 2024 Point-in-Time count revealed a 23% increase of people experiencing homelessness in Pierce County, with 2,661. Out of the 2,661 homeless people tallied, 1,445 , or 54%, were sheltered. Last year, there were 1,385 homeless people counted as being sheltered at the time of the PIT count.
However, the number of people living without shelter in Pierce County jumped 59.4% from 763 in 2023 to 1,216 in 2024.
The pilot program will be implemented through a partnership with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Specially-trained medicine teams will be deployed to encampments, vehicles and other unsheltered locations.
The $1 million grant was approved by the Tacoma City Council on Tuesday as part of its consent agenda.
Last fall, the neighboring Seattle launched its Community Assisted Response and Engagement team, which features behavioral health specialists who have prior field experience and higher education credentials in behavioral health. The team was funded $26.5 million for this year.
The program pairs CARE responders with Seattle Police Department officers when the 911 Center answers an emergency call. When police officers ensure the scene is safe, they can respond to other calls while the CARE team provides services.
