Human Services COVID-19 Help

Housing

• Landlords and tenants can register for rental and utility assistance. Click here to apply online. Residents without internet access can call 2-1-1 to apply over the phone.

• Landlords with 4 or fewer units with unresponsive tenants, or tenants deemed ineligible by other programs, can apply for the Washington State Landlord Limited Relief Program. This is a Washington State Department of Commerce program. For questions or feedback, contact Nicholas Yuva at 360-725-2949.

• Mortgage Assistance is currently available for City of Tacoma residents. The program provides foreclosure prevention counseling and up to 4 months of mortgage assistance ($6,000 cap) paid directly to the loan servicer, bank or mortgage company of households who live in the city limits of Tacoma, 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. Click here to apply.

  • Homeowners in need of support should contact the Washington State Foreclosure Prevention hotline at 1-877-894-4663.

• If you are experiencing homelessness, call 2-1-1 for on-demand support or to schedule a virtual Coordinated Entry housing appointment. Youth experiencing homelessness ages 12-24 can access housing and other services online through the REACH center.
  • New Hope Mobile Resource Response Team provides access to showers, laundry services, food, clothing, phone chargers, bus passes, first aid supplies, mental health services and more. Hours and locations vary. Call 253-845-0174 for the updated schedule.
• Pierce County residents at risk of eviction due to non-payment of rent are eligible for free Eviction Defense and Landlord/Tenant mediation through the Eviction Resolution Program at TACOMAPROBONO. Call 253-572-5137 ext. 102 or email [email protected]. Whether it’s creating a payment plan, leaving an eviction filing off your record or extending your due date to help you get on your feet, the Eviction Resolution Program has specialists to help find solutions that work for both the tenant and landlord. 
• Pierce County Minor Home Repairs program can help homeowners address health and safety issues. Residents must live outside the city limits of Tacoma, Lakewood and Bonney Lake to qualify. Call 253-798-4400 (press #2).

Financial Resources

• Apply for resources like Basic Food, SNAP-Ed, Apple Health and more at Washington Connections.
• The Disaster Cash Assistance Program is available to families and individuals who wouldn’t normally be eligible for cash benefits.
• Apply for unemployment benefits through the Washington State Employment Security Department.
• Need help paying your energy bill? Pierce County Energy Assistance may be able to help. Call 253-798-4328.
• As of March 18, effective for all Washington State utilities until at least July 31, 2021, the Governor has stated that all energy, telecommunications and water providers are prohibited from the following:
  • Disconnecting any residential customers from energy, telecommunications, or water service due to nonpayment on an active account, except at the request of the customer.
  • Refusing to reconnect any residential customer who has been disconnected due to nonpayment.
  • Charging fees for late payment or reconnection of energy, telecommunications, or water service.
  • Disconnecting service to any residential customer who has contacted the utility to request assistance from the utility’s COVID-19 Customer Support Program.
• Get help with your utility and energy bills:
  • Puget Sound Energy
  • Peninsula Light Co. at 253-857-5950 or [email protected]
  • Tacoma Public Utilities Emergency Assistance Program at 253-502-8600 or 800-752-6745.
  • Lakeview Light & Power at 253-584-6060
  • Pierce County Rental and Utility Assistance Program. Apply online or call 2-1-1.

Related Health Information

• Washington State COVID-19 Response
• Centers for Disease Control
• The Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) website offers Information for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing regarding COVID-19. Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL) COVID-19 Resource List
• Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Information
• Information for supporting your mental and emotional well-being
• National Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7/365 crisis counseling & emotional support continues to be available for anyone experiencing distress or other mental health concerns during the ongoing COVID-19 infectious disease outbreak. Calls (1-800-985-5990; press "2" for Spanish) and texts (text TalkWithUs to 66746) are answered by trained counselors from a network of independently-operated crisis centers located across the U.S.
• Support for domestic violence services and family law help can be found through TACOMAPROBONO. Call 253-572-5134 ext. 102 or email [email protected].
  
• Washington Listens is a free community service that helps people manage stress and anxiety they may be experiencing because of COVID-19. If you or anyone you know is in need of support, help is out there. Call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211 Monday-Friday from 9AM-9PM, and 9AM-6PM on weekends.
• National Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7/365 crisis counseling & emotional support continues to be available for anyone experiencing distress or other mental health concerns during the ongoing COVID-19 infectious disease outbreak. Calls (1-800-985-5990; press "2" for Spanish) and texts (text TalkWithUs to 66746) are answered by trained counselors from a network of independently-operated crisis centers located across the U.S.
• Find mental health counseling and substance use support using our Behavioral Health Services Locator.
• For a non-life threatening but urgent behavioral health crisis, please contact the Pierce County Crisis Line at 1-800-576-7764 or text 741-741.
• The Washington Warm Line is a peer support help line for people experiencing emotional and mental health challenges. Call 1-877-500-WARM or 877-500-9276.