ASSOCIATED MINISTRIES OF TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY

Associated Ministries' programs make impacts on the systems in our county that serve people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Our programs begin with seeing the whole person who comes to our door for services and meeting them where they are. The strengths-based approach and partnership with the people we serve is central to our direct service model. We provide limited financial relief to households caught up in destabilizing crises, walk with them through an action plan for needs they have identified using the strengths, resources and resilience they possess, and leverage the gains they make into transformative changes in their long-term prospects. The impact on each person is that they view themselves as capable of taking charge of their own lives. The impact on communities is that volunteers become a nexus of caring support that strengthens social and economic ties within neighborhoods. The overall impact: reducing homelessness, making housing and other basic needs accessible and affordable, and equity—a fair playing field—becomes visible.

Over 17,000 households are served by Associated Ministries programs and services annually. Programs include:

Coordinated Entry--The entry system for people experiencing homelessness in Pierce County, WA.
Homeless diversion--Meeting people at the front doors of homeless shelters to find ways they can quickly return to affordable housing that meets their needs. This program is modeled on successful "housing first" programs.
Family Permanent Housing--A rapid rehousing program that supports households who can work together with landlords to quickly return to affordable housing.
Homeless mail service and protective payee services--Associated Ministries acts as a mailing address for homeless individuals and works with people receiving public cash benefits to budget their funds and maintain housing and personal stability.
Community Resource Connections Center--a center where individuals receive assistance applying for public benefits and local programs and services as well as financial assistance with one-off needs: driver's license renewal, beds and furniture, bus passes, etc.
Paint Tacoma-Pierce Beautiful--a volunteer-driven program where the homes of low-income, senior, veteran and/or disabled homeowners are painted and beautified.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)--Associated Ministries trains volunteers to accurately prepare tax returns for low-income workers and file them electronically during the tax season at several sites around Pierce County.