I was just forwarded this email from Councilwoman Roachs office and need your help! I fully support the concept and didn't know Rick and Doug were working something out. At the bottom of my email I've included a powerpoint of a program proposal I have been working on. I believe a property in fife is ideal and would love to push for helping the homeless through a sustainable model of tiny homes.
"ACRES OF TINY HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS COMING TO UNINCORPORATED PIERCE COUNTY.
*Attn: Drug abusers, sex offenders and felons will not be excluded.
The Pierce County Council has a Thanksgiving surprise for all of you living in unincorporated areas. And, I don’t think you’re gonna like it!
Councilmembers Rick Talbert (D) and Chair Doug Richardson (R?) are running an amendment to the budget that will site tiny homes for the homeless in outlying areas. Yes, maybe within walking distance of your home.
In this first of many, an acre will have 10 tiny homes. They will seed this with $200,000 from the Homeless Empowerment Employment funds and from another pot, $50,000. Non-profits will finish off the costs. Pierce Co. will kick in the land. Haven’t heard of this? Well, no. It was all sprung the last minute.
This is being done as an addition to the budget! This is clearly legislating through the budget which is unethical and possibly illegal. (But, never mind that, they don’t care.)
This proposal has not been viewed by the public. It has not had a public hearing! This is an end-run around the public process. Why no public notice? Well, they don’t want any opposition.
There are no parameters. How many homeless will live in each of these tiny, tiny homes? Will felons, sex offenders, and drug users be eligible for housing? (This is public housing... cannot turn them down). On a one acre site, where do you put the cars for people that have them? How many dogs and cats will be allowed in these tiny homes? How long will a single wall construction tiny home actually last? Who pays for the transportation of the homeless should they actually get jobs? How do they get to grocery stores if they live in the unincorporated area?
What is the process for determining where these sites will be located? Will the public even be informed? It has come to my attention that Building and Land Development rarely lets people know when they plan on doing something. They were working to annex Browns Point and Dash Point into the City of Tacoma and never mentioned it to anyone, including me, until after they began the process.
Building and Land Development will determine the parameters, I hear. Really? That’s what the Council is supposed to do. The Council is the policy arm of government. And, the Council should exercise that authority with the advise and consent of the people.
I wonder how easy it will be to sell a home next-door to one of these things. The costs to the public are high in this model. That’s why it is being done under cloak.
Call 253-798-7777 and ask to talk to your Councilmember. Tell them the public should be involved in these decisions. The Council hopes you don’t notice. The truth is they do not care about you!
Pam Roach
253-798-2222
Open the 700 empty jail cells for housing! Let people get help there!"
I do agree we do need oversight but I'm happy to hear people are passionately trying to move some solutions forward. I've been working on this since 2010 and its been ultimately frustrating seeing nothing happen!
Feel free to pass on and would love your support!
Todd McKellips
Director Washington Tiny house Association
State Chapter Leader American Tiny House Association
Founder of True Tiny Homes, llc
206.941.3038 cell