In the News

Pierce County is taking a major step toward addressing chronic homelessness with the development of Good Neighbor Village, a 90‑acre community in Spanaway designed to provide both stable housing and wraparound support services. The project will include 285 individual cottages, each offering residents a safe, private space while connecting them to essential on‑site mental‑health and medical care—a key component in helping formerly homeless individuals rebuild long‑term stability.

Project manager Stephen Stanford says the layout of the village was intentionally designed to foster connection and community among residents. By weaving shared gathering spaces throughout the development, the team hopes to nurture natural social support networks. As Stanford explains,

“It’s just going to bring people into a hub… It’s going to bring people from their cottages into spaces where they can start building community.”

Stanford emphasizes that while Good Neighbor Village is a “huge stepping stone” in addressing the region’s housing needs, lasting progress will require collaboration across agencies, service providers, and community members. He notes that the success of the project depends on a true “group effort” to help residents transition toward stability and independence.

Modeled after a proven community in Austin, Texas, the Spanaway village adopts a service‑led, relationship‑driven approach, focusing not only on shelter but on restoring community ties, access to care, and pathways to meaningful engagement.

With construction underway, Good Neighbor Village represents a significant and hopeful investment in compassionate, community‑based solutions to homelessness, one that aims to give residents not only a place to live, but a place to heal, connect, and thrive.