Pierce County Council unanimously approves $3.2M in services funding for permanent supportive housing
Loading...
Summary
The Pierce County Council on April 2026 adopted Resolution R2026‑127 to accept recommendations from a NOFA and authorize expenditures from the Maureen Howard housing and related services fund, awarding roughly $3.2 million for permanent supportive housing services that would support up to 619 households.
Pierce County Council on a unanimous vote adopted Resolution R2026‑127 to accept the 2026 permanent supportive housing services notice of funding availability (NOFA) and approve expenditures from the housing and related services fund.
The resolution implements recommendations from an October 2025 NOFA that devoted about $3.2 million to services. Mary Connolly, council policy analyst, told the council the human services department received 13 eligible applications requesting about $5.6 million. An evaluation committee recommended funding 10 applications (seven at the full requested amount and three for partial funding); the county executive approved the recommendations under Pierce County Code chapter 2.111.
Why it matters: The awards are part of the Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Act funding framework (a one‑tenth of 1% sales tax for housing and related services). County staff said the recommended expenditures would support as many as 619 households — including 486 existing units and 133 units receiving new service dollars — and are intended to strengthen services available to permanent supportive housing (PSH) tenants countywide.
Questions and accountability: Council members pressed staff on performance measurement and program accountability before the vote. Devon Isaacson, homeless services supervisor, said the county uses multiple tools to monitor service quality and outcomes: “We have provider scorecards located on Open Pierce,” Isaacson said, and staff also track outcomes in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), conduct annual provider monitoring including review of client files and case notes, and collect qualitative feedback from providers and people receiving services. Staff reported a systemwide PSH utilization rate of over 95% and an average 37‑day interval from referral to move‑in across the system; they said the county is pursuing strategies (including a system navigation program and performance‑based contracts) to shorten move‑in time and maintain high utilization.
Public comment and next steps: Victoria Kent, director of supportive services at the Low Income Housing Institute, spoke in favor of the awards and said projects supported by the funding (including Aspen Court and Oasis) will add 58 new PSH units and expand wraparound supports. After concluding discussion, the council approved R2026‑127 by roll call (result announced as 7 ayes, 0 nays). The resolution accepts the NOFA recommendations and authorizes the expenditures as described; staff noted the recommended expenditures are included in the county’s biennial budget so no budget amendment was required.
The council action moves the recommended contracts and awards toward implementation. Staff said more detail on awardees and funding amounts is available in exhibit A of the packet and in a human services memo included with the item.