Low Barrier Family Shelter

Pierce County is soliciting proposals to operate low‑barrier emergency shelters for families with minor children experiencing homelessness, and to provide rapid‑exit housing assistance. The contract will fund up to $2.5 million, split roughly evenly between shelter operations and housing assistance. Providers must deliver safe congregate, non‑congregate, or hotel/motel shelter spaces, basic needs support, intake and assessment, case management, and direct housing‑related financial assistance. Coordination with the County’s Shelter Access Hub, Coordinated Entry system, and Human Services during inclement‑weather events is mandatory, as is participation in the annual Point‑in‑Time count and HMIS data reporting. The initial performance period runs from April 1 2027 to June 30 2028 (≈15 months) with possible one‑year renewals up to a total of five years. Multiple contracts may be awarded, with preference for expanding capacity in underserved areas outside Tacoma. • $2.5 M total funding (≈$1.25 M for shelter ops, $1.25 M for housing assistance) • Services: emergency shelter (various models), basic needs, intake/assessment, case management, rental & utility assistance, childcare, benefit linkage • Required coordination: Shelter Access Hub, Coordinated Entry, annual PIT count, HMIS reporting, inclement‑weather activation support • Target geography: underserved parts of Pierce County (e.g., Lakewood, Spanaway, Puyallup, South Hill, Bonney Lake) • Contract term: 15 months (April 1 2027 – June 30 2028) with up to four 1‑year extensions • Proposal deadline: September 16 2026 2:00 PM; pre‑bid meeting (optional) August 26 2026.