By Associated Press - Monday, May 2, 2016

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - Pierce County officials say homelessness in the county has reached a crisis level with more than 2,000 people on the streets in 2016.

KOMO-TV reports (https://bit.ly/1W3Larm ) that a recent head count found there were nearly 500 more people homeless in Pierce County than there were in 2015, a 37 percent increase.

Pierce County Council Chair Doug Richardson says the council plans to use the results from the count to try to determine a plan of action.

Some county leaders have brought up the idea of pushing for a 0.1 percent sales tax increase to support mental health and chemical dependency programs.

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Information from: KOMO-TV, https://www.komotv.com/

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