Homelessness Resources

resources

Coordinated Entry

If you're experiencing homelessness or are in need of housing services, please use our Coordinated Entry System and call 2-1-1 weekdays from 8AM-4PM for on-demand support or to schedule an appointment. 24-hour voicemail is available nights and weekends. Click here for coordinated entry locations.

Coalition to End Homelessness

The Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness is a loose network of individuals, non-profit agencies, government agencies, and community businesses working together to serve people experiencing homelessness. Their end goal is to help folks establish safe housing as quickly as possible and help them to retain that housing so their homeless episode is short and never repeated. There are a number of facilities designed for people experiencing homelessness, providing shelter, food and other supports. Below are resources you may find helpful:

Other Housing Assistance


Community Outreach

Coming soon.

provider academies

In 2014 and 2016, Pierce County hosted Homeless Provider Academies for providers and partners in the community. These trainings consisted of web-based learning, in-person trainings and peer-learning opportunities focused on best practices in case management and service provision. Below are links to recordings of various trainings and curriculum from these academies.

Fair Housing (1 hr 15 min)

This session will provide a legal foundation of fair housing, including laws and regulations and key concepts. Participants will also learn the impact of fair housing on eligibility and tenant selection, coordinated entry, and leases. Trainers will discuss how to put the information to work through amending program rules, accommodation, and eviction prevention.

Cultural Competency (1 hr 9 min)
After this session, attendees will be able to clearly define and understand culture and cultural competency. Attendees will also be able to determine how to apply cultural competency in the programs and work.

Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care (1 hr 1 min)
Participants will review the basic concepts of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), and will be introduced to the key elements of each practice. Participants will also be able to understand how MI and TIC practices intersect and how they relate to his/her work.

Progressive Engagement (1 hr 25 min)
This session will provide an overview of the core tenets and implementation of progressive engagement: serving all, light touch, housing stability, consumer resilience, and outcome-driven approach.

Reducing Barriers to Services and Housing (1 hr 14 min)
In this session, attendees will receive information on system-level barriers in regards to systems thinking, centralized intake, data & right-sizing, and consumer input/governance. Program-level barriers and expectations are discussed along with potential consequences of screening out.

Housing and Employment-Focused Services (56 min)
This session will focus on creating an employment focus/culture, beyond helping people increase their income. Discussion will be on sustaining clients' employment skills and therefore housing. Participants will receive an introduction to the LEAP Program and its purpose to prevent/end family homelessness through employment opportunities.

Pierce County Provider Kickoff (34 min)
Participants will be introduced to the Provider Academy and how it will advance systems change efforts in Pierce County. This session covers the Continuum of Care as well as expectations of what to expect throughout the Academy.