TACOMA, Wash. — A hotel in Tacoma is being converted into housing for people experiencing homelessness in the city and Pierce County.
The Oasis Inn was acquired by the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) at the end of October, and they already have around 20 people experiencing homelessness living in the building. The hotel is just off Interstate 5 near the Tacoma Mall.
It is one of five hotels that the organization has acquired since 2021 to help address community housing needs. This specific project will have a focus on providing medical care.
“When we're able to get these hotels, we’re able to move a large amount of individuals off of the streets,” said John Brown, the program manager with the Low Income Housing Institute.
LIHI plans to renovate the hotel over the next year but will be able to house people during that time at partial capacity.
Brown said some rooms will provide permanent supportive housing and enhanced shelter, while others will be for people who need medical respite care. Residents will not need to pay rent, as LIHI said the State Department of Commerce and Pierce County will fund operations.
The building will have 24/7 staffing and other resources on site.
“We’re going to be able to have nurses here on-site, we are also going to have case managers to help individuals get their IDs, licenses, socials,” said Brown. “The goal here is to move them into permanent housing, certainly a great launching pad for individuals, they just need a little bit of help.”
Community Health Care is the on-site healthcare provider that they say will provide health, dental and behavioral health services.
According to this year's point in time count, there are around 2,600 people experiencing homelessness in Pierce County. Of those, around 46% are living unsheltered.
“That’s really what we want to do is help these people experiencing homelessness get back on their feet,” said Brown.
Some rooms will be set aside for people who need continued care after a hospital stay.
“If you're wounded or you're hurt, and you're going right back to the streets, you don't have a place where you can heal up properly, you can’t have nurses come and check on you,” said Brown. “And by us having this here, it’s really going to allow individuals to really get better.”
Brown said he hopes when people drive by the old Oasis Inn, they realize people are being helped inside.
“You have these big hotels, rather than sitting empty or not being used, you know, we can turn them around and use them for something good," said Brown.