Pierce County Council approves correction to supportive‑housing allocations after public concern about provider

Pierce County Council on May 19 unanimously adopted Resolution R2026‑151 to amend Exhibit A of a prior housing resolution and correct a transposition of two Metropolitan Development Council project names and descriptions.

Council staff said the error was an administrative transposition: the funding recommendations for Hilltop Lofts and Housing First were switched in Exhibit A to R2026‑127, and the amendment restores the correct project names and descriptions without changing the total funding awarded to the Metropolitan Development Council. Mary Connolly, council staff, told the council the correction has a “de minimis fiscal impact” and is intended to ensure audit records match the projects funded.

The move drew one substantive public comment. Angeline Escudo urged the council to pause and double‑check funding for the Metropolitan Development Council, saying she had witnessed care and safety problems at some of the provider’s facilities and asking the council to require additional audits and oversight. Escudo told the council she had “witnessed patients not being given any food or even drink,” described abuse and inadequate monitoring, and asked the county to ensure providers meet safety and medical‑care standards.

Devon Isaacson of Pierce County Human Services responded that contract providers are required to give clients grievance policies at intake and that the county maintains a pipeline to receive and review complaints. Isaacson said provider grievance procedures are monitored annually and that clients should contact Human Services when they have concerns.

Councilmember Denson moved approval of R2026‑151 and the motion was seconded; the measure passed on a roll call vote of 7‑0. The council also said it plans additional review and discussion of provider vetting and monitoring at a future meeting.

The correction amends the record for prior allocations made under the Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Act and does not change the total funding allocated to the Metropolitan Development Council.