We, the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness, are relying on you to extend the state eviction moratorium until renters can reasonably be protected from losing their homes. Nearly 200,000 Washington
renters are currently behind on rent, and Black and Latinx renters are twice as likely to be behind on rent as white renters. Over 126,000 of households behind on rent have children under the age of 18.
Pierce County Human Services has worked hard to get the rental assistance money out. TacomaProBono just today reminded our listserv of 700+ individuals and organizations to encourage tenants not to panic and to remain housed and use
their new tenant protections.
We have no available shelter beds in our county. The City of Tacoma and the County of Pierce formally adopted our Coalition's request to end Street Homelessness by Nov. 1, 2021 and to develop a regional plan to end homelessness. We
are participating in the Shelter Work Group and the longer term Steering Committee. There is simply no way we can absorb more people experiencing homelessness.
Tonight we're working to try to get drinking water to people living in encampments across our county so that no one dies during the coming heat wave.
You have the power to keep people housed. Please do so. We're doing our part. Please do yours.
Despite our best efforts, we simply need more time.