Housing and Shelter Services

Housing and Shelter Services Program

This Associated Ministries' program helps homeless people find shelter and those facing eviction find resources to stay in their homes. During 2009, the Housing & Shelter Services Director fielded 7,937 calls and for the first five months of this year (2010) there have been 4,326 calls from individuals needing assistance with housing resources, including referrals to emergency, transitional, and permanent housing and homelessness prevention resources such as rental and utility assistance.

For more information please contact the Housing and Shelter Services Director at 253-682-3401 or e-mail yvonnee@associatedministries.org.

Emergency Shelter and Homeless Prevention Program

The Emergency Shelter Assistance Program provides funding and oversight to twelve shelters in Pierce County. Through this program, Associated Ministries annually manages over $1,000,000 of the state and county’s homelessness prevention funds.

For more information please contact Yvonne Eden, Housing and Shelter Services Director, at 253-682-34501 or email yvonnee@associatedministries.org.

Recovery Act Rental Assistance Program

Associated Ministries is the centralized location for intake and eligibility determination for the Recovery Act Rental Assistance Program offered through federal stimulus monies, the City of Tacoma, and local partnering agencies. Households of all sizes need to still be in their rental housing but at imminent risk of losing their housing, have no other community or family support, meet income guidelines and be recently impacted by the downturn in our economy.

Are you facing evictions (within two weeks?)

Locate emergency and transitional housing vacancies available in Pierce County.

Locate a listing of rent and utility services provided in Pierce County.

Have you had a sudden loss of income?

• Hours cut at work?
• Laid off?
• Unemployment running out?
• Start a new job and have not received your first paycheck yet?

Are you actively looking for a job?

Is your income at or below the income guideines listed to the right?

For further program information contact Yvonne Eden, Housing and Shelter Director at yvonnee@associatedministries.org or call (253) 682-3401.

Severe Weather Assistance Program

The Severe Weather Assistance Program provides motel rooms for homeless families with children under 18 when shelters are full during freezing weather. Since the 2005-06 severe weather season, Associated Ministries has helped up to 108 families a season, and up to 291 individuals remain safe and warm during thw harsh winter months.

For more information please contact the Housing and Shelter Services Director at 253-682-3401 or e-mail yvonnee@associatedminisries.org.

Open Hearth Ministries

Open Hearth Ministries provides motel vouchers and volunteer visitor services to homeless families in the Puyallup/South Hill area. During 2009, this Associated Ministries program sheltered 124 families, providing approximately 1,045 bed nights to homeless adults and children. Open Hearth Ministries was started because there currently is insufficient shelter bed space in Eastern Pierce County to meet the needs of the growing homeless population. Through motel vouchers, Open Hearth Ministries provides a temporary, emergency solution for families until they can be placed in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. Along with supplying motel vouchers, the program provides volunteer visitor services and food to homeless families who are served through the program. Volunteer visitors help families access the necessary programs to stabilize their lives and secure longer-term housing.

For more information please contact Open Hearth Ministries at 253-307-2274, or email bev.cascio@gmail.com.