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Housing Assistance and Programs
Human Services offers a variety of services, programs, and resources to assist residents with their housing needs. They include a variety of grant and loan programs to assist renters, homebuyers, homeowners and affordable housing developers. Click on the titles below to find out more about each category.
If you are homeless or fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking, see Pierce County's Homeless Programs for information.
For Current and Prospective Renters:
Looking for affordable housing in Pierce County? Human Services has collected resources to assist low-income families to find an apartment that fits their budget and needs. The majority of these apartments are rent-restricted and require income verification. You must apply for housing at either the agency or property. You do not apply through Pierce County Human Services.
Resources
- Call 2-1-1: South Sound 2-1-1 is a telephone service available from 9 AM to 4 PM weekdays. Housing resources include waitlists for affordable housing and permanent housing resources.
- Aptfinder.org is a non-profit website formed to connect low income households throughout Washington State. Listings are voluntarily advertised by owners and managers of rental apartments for low-income households whose annual income is below 80% of area median income. Click here to see Aptfinder's Pierce County listings .
- Associated Ministries’ Adult Home Sharing Program matches Home Providers who have a spare bedroom, with an individual in need of affordable housing, using screening tools that ensure safe and lasting matches. In some cases, an exchange of services such as meal prep, driving, or home maintenance, can be arranged with the Home Provider to offset lower rent, though Home Seekers must earn enough income to pay rent each month. The Adult Home Share program increases affordable housing, reduces isolationism, and promotes aging in place.
The Pierce County Eviction Prevention program supports eligible low-income households with their past due rent. Submitting an application does not guarantee payment and due to limited funding, not all eligible households can be served through this program.
ELIGIBILITY
- Household must live in Pierce County.
- Household must agree to Case Management Services.
- Household must be a renter.
- Household is behind on rent up to 3 months. We do not pay for more than 3 months past due rent and this program does not pay for utilities only.
- Household is under 80% Area Median Income.
- Household must have a lease in their own name.
- Household must have all document listed below:
- Photo IDs for all household members over age 18
- Proof of income or self-attestation to no income
- Lease in their own name
- Ledger from Landlord
- Utility bills in their name (must have past due rents to be eligible for this program)
- Landlord must be willing to work with the program.
- Tenants are STRONGLY encouraged to work with their landlords to obtain the following information PRIOR to submission:
- Landlord First and Last Name
- Landlord Email
- Landlord Phone number
- Landlord Address
- Tenants are STRONGLY encouraged to work with their landlords to obtain the following information PRIOR to submission:
Landlords can begin the application process for tenants but cannot apply on their behalf. After applications are submitted and referred, households will be contacted by service providers. If you haven't heard from a service provider within a few weeks of your application submission, please check your spam/junk email folders.
Learn more about the program here.
Program Structure
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) pays heating bills directly to utility companies for eligible applicants. Payments are based on eligible household's fuel usage for the past 12 months and income.
Eligibility
Pierce County's Low-Income residents outside of the City of Tacoma are eligible. See the Pierce County Energy assistance webpage for eligible income levels, which are updated annually. If you are in City of Tacoma, click here to find out more about the City of Tacoma program.
Next Steps
Federal law prohibits discrimination in the provision of housing or access to housing based on membership in certain protected classes of persons or personal status: race, color, national origin or ethnicity, sex, religion, familial status, mental and physical disability and use of a service animal or guide dog by a disabled person. These classes and statuses are 'protected' by federal law. Washington State law codifies the federal protections and adds protection to creed and marital status. Pierce County also legally protects residents based on age.
Resources
- Read more at Pierce County's Fair Housing Resource Page
- File a complaint with Fair Housing Center of Washington
For Current and Prospective Homeowners:
More information coming soon
Additional Resources
Program Structure
Mortgage assistance is given to current homeowners at risk of foreclosure due to COVID-19 related loss in employment or reduced wages. Eligible homeowners will receive foreclosure prevention counseling and up to 4 months of mortgage assistance ($6,000 cap) paid directly to the loan servicer, bank or mortgage company.
Eligibility
- Owners must own homes in the City of Tacoma or the Pierce County Consortium (see consortium members below).
- Homeowners must have experienced loss of employment or reduction in wages due to COVID-19
- and have an income at or below 80 percent Area Median Income for Pierce County.
Pierce County Consortium Members:
City of DuPont City of Buckley Unincorporated Pierce County
City of University Place Town of Carbonado City of Fife
Town of Eatonville City of Edgewood City of Milton
City of Fircrest City of Gig Harbor City of Roy
City of Orting City of Puyallup City of Sumner
Town of Ruston Town of South Prairie Town of Steilacoom
Town of Wilkeson
Homeowners that are outside the City of Tacoma or the Pierce County Consortium in need of support should contact the Washington State Foreclosure Prevention hotline at 1-877-894-4663.
Next Steps
Apply to the portal below. If you are an eligible homeowner in the City of Tacoma, apply to the City of Tacoma.
All others should be directed to the Pierce County Consortium.
| City of Tacoma Mortgage Assistance Applications | Pierce County Consortium Mortgage Assistance Applications |
|---|---|
|
Program Structure
Pierce County Human Services provides two programs to assist households with health and safety repairs of their home.
- The Home Repair Program provides grants for no-cost emergency health and safety repairs.
- The Home Rehabilitation Loan Program, offered through a partnership with the Pierce County Community Development Corporation, provides 20-year low-interest loans for rehabilitation.
Eligibility
- Applicants must reside in Pierce County, outside the cities of Tacoma or Lakewood. If you are a Tacoma or Lakewood homeowner, please visit their webpages for information on repair.
- Applicants must be low income (Below 80% Area Median Income). If you are unsure about your income level, visit the websites below to find income limits based on family size.
- Participants must own their home
- Unit must be occupied by the owner for at least 1 year at the time of application
- [Home Rehab only] Owner must meet the Pierce County Community Development Corporation's Loan Policy
Next Steps
Additional Resources
Program Structure
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) pays heating bills directly to utility companies for eligible applicants. Payments are based on eligible household's fuel usage for the past 12 months and income.
Eligibility
Pierce County's Low-Income residents outside of the City of Tacoma are eligible. See the Pierce County Energy assistance webpage for eligible income levels, which are updated annually. If you are in City of Tacoma, click here to find out more about the City of Tacoma program.
Next Steps
Program Structure
The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to reduce their energy costs by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety. The Home Weatherization program functions as a grant to owner-occupiers and owners of rental units serving low-income families.
The County provides the following Weatherization measures:
- Home assessment
- Insulation (floor, attic, duct, and walls)
- Air sealing
- Heat loss reduction
- Test all gas appliances
- Furnace repairs
- Carbon Monoxide detectors
- Improve indoor air quality
- Energy conservation measures
Have you or someone in your family got Asthma, COPD or other respiratory issues? Weatherization has partnered with the Pierce County Health Department to assist households in a joint project called Weatherization Plus Health.
Eligibility
Pierce County Human Services provides weatherization services to qualifying low-income residents outside the city of Tacoma.
During the pandemic, we've seen a variety of households become eligible for services, so all interested parties are encouraged to apply.
Next Steps
For Current and Prospective Affordable Housing Developers/Owners:
Program Structure
Human Services in partnership with the Pierce County Community Development Corporation provides financing for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, preservation and O&M of affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities all to benefit low income households in Pierce County. Funding is allocated at least once per year through a competitive Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
Eligibility
Developers and current owners of affordable housing, including non-profits, for-profit developers, partnerships, cooperatives, and individuals. Developers and current owners must be able to meet state, federal, and local requirements outlined in the annual NOFA.
Project eligibility is dependent on funding source and proposed restricted income level, based on Area Median Income (AMI). Due to the competitive nature of funding, eligibility does not guarantee funding. Sources of funding include:
- Federal HUD: HOME Investment Partnership Program (80% AMI and under);
- Local: SHB 2060 Document Recording Fee Fund (50% AMI and under); and
- Local: 1406 Affordable Sales Tax Fund (60% AMI and under).
Next Steps
- Visit the Affordable Housing Finance webpage for more information about policies, procedures, and timelines
- Join Pierce County's Affordable Housing Developer mailing list to receive County updates [LINK TBA]
Program Structure
Pierce County Human Services, in partnership with Pierce County Planning and Public Works, offers financial and regulatory incentives for both multifamily and single family housing developments within urban zones in unincorporated Pierce County. Incentives include reduced fees, priority reviews, alternative development standards, and bonus units. The program target the creation of affordable housing under 80% AMI, including within mixed-income developments.
Eligibility
At a minimum, developments shall:
- be located in unincorporated Pierce County's urban zones
- contain units which target households under 80% AMI
- maintain affordability for 50 years, including in the case of resale
Furthermore, incentives have minimum requirements based on the types of incentive, with three categories:
- 20% of the total housing units in a development are affordable for-low income households, if the incentive is for a whole project; or,
- incentives may only apply to low-income units within a project, with no minimum threshold; or,
- for lot area and green space/open space reductions only, a minimum of 10% of total housing units in a development are affordable for low-income households.
Next Steps
- Read the Pierce County Code to find out which incentives are available for your development
- Connect with Pierce County Human Services and Pierce County Planning and Public Works for the required Customer Information Meeting
- Person of Contact: Rob Jenkins, Current Planning Supervisor - [email protected]
Additional Resources
Program Structure
The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to reduce their energy costs by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety. The Home Weatherization program functions as a grant to owner-occupiers and owners of rental units serving low-income families.
The County provides the following Weatherization measures:
- Home assessment
- Insulation (floor, attic, duct, and walls)
- Air sealing
- Heat loss reduction
- Test all gas appliances
- Furnace repairs
- Carbon Monoxide detectors
- Improve indoor air quality
- Energy conservation measures
Have you or someone in your family got Asthma, COPD or other respiratory issues? Weatherization has partnered with the Pierce County Health Department to assist households n a joint project called Weatherization Plus Health
Eligibility
Pierce County Human Services provides weatherization services to qualifying low-income residents outside the city of Tacoma.
During the pandemic, we've seen a variety of households become eligible for services, so all interested parties are encouraged to apply.