Transitional housing, services, and support to Pierce County mothers and children impacted by substance abuse, primarily methamphetamine.
Network Tacoma expects to assist 48-58 homeless individuals this year in Pierce County. Most families we assist are single parents with 2-3 children and are living in shelters, with friends, or in their car. Some may face eviction. Due to social and economic conditions in the community, domestic violence, job loss, divorce or death, these families find themselves in circumstances straining their resources and capabilities to the point where they need help.
Network has one emergency apartment, ten transitional housing units, and twenty-two permanent low-income apartments. The families in emergency housing transfer to our transitional units if they are seeking a hand-up rather than a hand-out. Network then assists with seeking employment, day care, transportation, education, food, furniture and household goods. Network also provides financial counseling to coordinate the path back to self-sufficiency. We expect the families to take responsibility and contribute to their own stability. When a family is self-sufficient, they have the opportunity to move into our permanent housing, or are assisted in finding other stable options.
Low Income Housing
Our low-income housing units, located in Lakewood, provide stable housing for families who are living under the poverty line. Because we supplement rental prices, our parents are able to afford a place for their children to grow up.
Emergency and Transitional Housing Program
Our primary purpose in our transitional program is to provide skilled case management to coordinate the path back to self-sufficiency. Network screens families who are willing to work towards this goal. Because we expect them to be responsible and contribute to their own stability, the case manager monitors the parent's initiative in obtaining job interviews and in how actively they participate in their progress.
Employment
The case manager is actively involved in helping one or both parents find employment. Once a job is obtained, they are counseled on how to retain that job and how to advance in the job market.
Financial Counseling
Parents also are put on a budget and receive financially counseling on a weekly basis.
Other Needs
Network partners with local churches, businesses, individuals, and other agencies to provide essentials such as daycare, food, clothing, household goods, and transportation.
Long-term Planning
Through our connections and partnerships, Network is able to provide emotional, spiritual and financial counseling. We feel that this is needed to prevent further crisis and thus escape the cycle of poverty.
Evaluation
We continue with each family for 6-12 months or until they gain the confidence and resources they need to become independent of any private or public assistance and have become self-supporting. When the family is able to secure permanent housing, they 'graduate' from our program.
We measure success as the family living independently of any social service/financial program or agency for one year after their exit date with Network. In the past three years, serving 12-15 families each year, we have had a 70-80% success rate.
“The mission of Network Tacoma is to provide a program that addresses the root causes of the cycle of homelessness in order to keep the next generation of children off the streets.”
6832 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
1.16 miles away
123 East 96TH Street, Tacoma
2.73 miles away
613 S 15th Street, Tacoma
2.91 miles away
425 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma
3.23 miles away
915 S. 7th,
3.43 miles away
405 Broadway, Tacoma
3.73 miles away
PO Box 1006, Sumner
9.87 miles away
1419 SW 150th Street, Burien
18.64 miles away
221 W. Gowe Street, Tukwila
20.49 miles away
P.O. Box 217, Renton
22.00 miles away