2027 - 2028 Homeless Prevention

Pierce County (hereafter referred to as “the County”), in alignment with the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness (CPEH), has made approximately $1,100,000 available to provide homeless prevention services that assist low-income Pierce County households experiencing housing instability to remain safely housed and avoid entering homelessness. Homeless prevention services are intended to intervene before a household becomes homeless by resolving immediate housing crises, addressing barriers to housing stability, and connecting households with the resources necessary to maintain permanent housing.

Prevention services may include financial assistance for housing stabilization, interventions related to code enforcement actions, outreach and engagement, case management, coordination of services with partner organizations, and rapid response to disasters and inclement weather events. Services are designed to assist eligible low-income households experiencing housing instability who are not eligible for the County's Eviction Prevention Program . Contractors are expected to deliver housing-focused interventions that stabilize households, reduce the likelihood of homelessness, and connect households with mainstream benefits, community resources, and other services that support long-term housing stability.

In addition to responding to referrals, contractors will be expected to conduct targeted outreach activities as directed by the County to identify and engage specific populations or geographic areas determined to be at increased risk of homelessness. Target populations and outreach priorities may be modified during the contract term based on emerging community needs, available data, funding source requirements, or County priorities.

In June 2026, Pierce County adopted an update to the Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness ( Pierce County 2025-2030 Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness ), reaffirming the County's commitment to preventing and ending homelessness through a coordinated, data-informed homeless crisis response system. The updated CPEH documents the scale of homelessness in Pierce County and establishes strategies to achieve functional zero—a state in which any person experiencing a new episode of homelessness has immediate access to shelter and an appropriate permanent housing intervention.

The updated CPEH identifies eight strategic goals:

1. 1. Promote an equitable, accountable, and transparent homeless crisis response system.
   2. Prioritize assistance based on the greatest barriers to housing stability and the greatest risk of harm while ensuring interventions are effective for all populations.
   3. Prevent homeless episodes whenever possible.
   4. Ensure adjacent systems address the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
   5. Meet the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness.
   6. Expand the permanent housing system to meet community need.
   7. Strengthen the homeless provider workforce.
   8. Ensure every person has access to stable housing that meets their needs.

This funding opportunity directly supports Goal 3: Prevent Homeless Episodes Whenever Possible.