Keeping seniors, disabled in their homes

The Pierce County Health and Human Services Committee learned about the growing crisis affecting homeless older adults and individuals with disabilities.

On June 3, the Pierce County Health and Human Services Committee heard from frontline providers about the growing crisis affecting older adults and individuals with disabilities experiencing homelessness. The discussion highlighted a cycle in which vulnerable individuals move between emergency rooms, shelters, and the streets often due to the lack of long-term care and stable housing options.

Providers shared graphic images from the Yakima Avenue Health for All Free Clinic showing severe untreated medical conditions caused by inconsistent access to care. Many residents face long waitlists for subsidized housing or must meet strict vulnerability score criteria to qualify for services. These barriers leave some without any support at all.

From January to May 2025, 404 unhoused patients were discharged from Tacoma General and Allenmore hospitals. Many remained hospitalized longer than needed simply because they had nowhere else to go and were eventually released back onto the streets.

“This includes elderly and disabled community members, many of whom become unhoused after losing a partner, facing medical complications, or incurring medical debt,” said Council Chair Jani Hitchen (District 6). “While every unhoused person is a tragedy, it is especially frustrating when someone over the age of 60 is discharged from a hospital with no safe place to go. It is simply wrong.”

The committee emphasized the importance of federal and state funding, particularly the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant and the Mental Health Block Grant, which are essential to maintaining the county’s behavioral health and crisis response systems. These programs intersect directly with housing strategies, offering critical support for people facing complex mental health and substance use challenges that often accompany or contribute to homelessness.

The panel also included an update from Rebuilding Together South Sound, a nonprofit that helps seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families stay in their homes through critical repairs and modifications. The organization plays a key role in the county’s broader effort to prevent homelessness before it starts by preserving existing housing and reducing the risk of displacement.

As Pierce County enters its 2026-2027 Biennial Budget Development Process, the Council is focused on maximizing limited resources to improve access to housing, healthcare, and support services, ensuring residents can remain safely and securely housed.