The Pierce County Council is continuing its efforts to end homelessness by adopting a comprehensive plan, creating an oversight office and allocating $9 million.

After earmarking its largest-ever allocation for housing and homelessness last year, the council approved final money and pushed for more oversight Tuesday to address the county’s growing homeless population. County staff reported in November there are more than 3,300 people experiencing homelessness across the county with only about 1,000 shelter beds available.

The council ratified a Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness, giving the Human Services department a guiding document for future policy with the goal of a unified and immediate response.

Last March, the county tasked a new board with creating a plan to end street homelessness by November. While Human Services director Heather Moss said that lofty goal wasn’t likely to be reached, it pushed leaders to address the urgent need for more shelters, affordable housing and services.

The plan’s goals include creating a unified homeless response system, preventing homelessness and expanding permanent housing. To ensure accountability, the plan created a regional office and board to oversee progress.

During the November budget approval, council set aside $9 million for the steering committee to allocate in Pierce County’s $253 million spending plan for homelessness and housing.

Here’s how the committee and council decided to spend the $9 million:

• $3.5 million on a new emergency shelter in an “underserved” area
• $2 million for a pilot program on homeless prevention case management
• $1.5 million on expanding critical time case management
• $1 million on a 24-hour “shelter access hub” to provide cots until appropriate shelter can be found for someone experiencing homelessness
• $300,000 to provide workforce development for people experiencing homelessness
• $200,000 to expand the Homeless Housing Fund, a program available to help with housing and homeless-related projects
• $200,000 for a coordinated entry academy
• $200,000 for technical support for minority community service providers
• $100,000 to design and staff a regional office on countywide homelessness
• $50,000 to create a bus pass program for those unhoused

The seven-member council’s vote was 5-1, with council member Amy Cruver (R-Eatonville) as the one dissenting voice and council member Marty Campbell ( D-Tacoma) not present.

Cruver said she recognized that services need to be provided to those experiencing homelessness but said the current financial health and public safety of the county is more concerning. She cited the 8.5 percent inflation increase predicted this quarter as worrisome, as well as Tuesday’s shooting that left a sheriff’s deputy dead and another wounded. The man they were trying to arrest also died.

“This plan is certainly a noble vision,” she said in the meeting. ”However, I’m not seeing how his humanitarian vision works in our reality.”

Other council members felt differently, saying the plan is worth investing in.

Chair Derek Young (D-Gig Harbor) said it’s more expensive to not house people.

“They show up in emergency rooms and jails, and they end up cycling in and out homelessness, and they are never able to get back on their feet, causing a much greater cost on us all,” Young said. “We have already tried the ‘let’s muddle along’ approach, and that has not worked.”

Council member Dave Morell (R-Lake Tapps) said better funded programs could connect people experiencing homelessness to resources.

“I am optimistic that we can at least make headway in this endeavor to make homelessness something we do not have to deal with on a regular basis,” he said.

The plan calls for the creation of a regional office that would oversee efforts to end homelessness.

Council member Hans Zeiger (R- Puyallup) introduced a successful amendment to require the county to establish the office, making it clear who is responsible for the regional work.

“I think it’s appropriate that we not only assume the responsibility, but that we have the accountability that goes with that,” Zeiger said.

Lakewood shared its enthusiasm for the countywide approach, city planning manager Tiffany Speir said, but worries about city agreements with homeless service providers if a regional council were created.

“There are legal dangers to existing agreements on homeless services, and I request that the county watch closely so this regional office is a success,” she told council.

Staff must return to the council before the end of the year with recommendations and plans for a unified regional council.

To encourage more community input, the council also directed the steering committee to continue its work with more community representatives over the next two years. The Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness Implementation Advisory Board is expected to provide the council with semi-annual reports on progress.