The premise we work under? No family who goes through our programs should ever be homeless again. Search through our website or come to a House Warming Tour and learn more about our unique and innovative solutions to family homelessness, eradicating poverty one family at a time, breaking cycles for the generation to come.

No family should ever be homeless. We’re working to make it that way.

When we were growing up, we had friends that cared about the same things that we did and happened to live near enough for it to matter.

Helping Hand House turned 26 this year – 26 years of growing up in east Pierce County. Life is a lot bigger and more complicated than it was in the early days. But we have amazing friends, so many of whom have been with us through thick and thin over the last decades of economic ups and downs in Pierce County.

Some of our friends

We have friends like the Puyallup Valley Quilters (PVQ) – one of several quilting groups who provide a beautiful handmade quilt to every member of every family who comes into one of our housing programs. Whether a person is 4 or 54, there’s nothing like a warm quilt made with care and a little message attached to the corner: “Made with love just for you by the Puyallup Valley Quilters.” It’s one of the touches that help our families understand how much we honor them and want to see them succeed – and it wouldn’t be possible without friends like the Puyallup Valley Quilters. “I think Helping Hand House does wonderful work in our community,” says Patty deCamp, a longtime friend of HHH and PVQ member. “Our members enjoy gathering to make these quilts that they know will be on each family member’s bed when they first move in after being homeless.  Those of us who have attended the breakfasts and open houses have been very touched by the stories of homelessness to hope and want to continue to help in additional ways.”

Then there’s the South Hill Rotary, who purchased a duplex over 13 years ago to house homeless families with children. Their investment so many years ago has provided a home to nearly 115 families who would otherwise be living in a car or tent, their children cold at night and hungry on the way to school. They’ve heard the stories and seen the difference that they have made – so much so that they are in the midst of purchasing a second duplex, providing the means and opportunity to help even more families.

Then there are the countless groups of friends from businesses, churches, and community groups who do yard projects, provide extravagantly for families over the holidays, bake birthday cakes, paint homes, wrap gifts, host food and supply drives (and so much more…). It is the Key Bank‘s and Milgard’s of the world – employees giving selflessly with fantastic attitudes in project after project. Milgard even ‘adopted’ all the kids who have birthdays in July.

Insert your name here – for the times you stepped up when the need was great and you had a hand to give. It is people like you that make hope and safety possible when every option looks bleak and it is raining again.

None of what we do could be done without our friends – the volunteers and partners that give themselves away day after day or a weekend a year. It’s a labor of love to serve families in crisis, and a joy to do it together with you.

From all your friends at Helping Hand House, thank you.

An article from Building Changes (a partner and funder) about a fund-raiser that featured Helping Hand House Executive Director Nola Renz…

A Little Glitz, A Little Glassblowing, and A Lot of Heart

I work in fundraising at Building Changes and a great deal of my time is directed towards engaging people like you in our work. Our donors consist of the most diverse, informed and compassionate residents of Washington state who all believe in our vision – Ending Homelessness Together. In fact, you are all so wonderfully unique and involved that we at Building Changes feel the responsibility to connect you with other like-minded individuals — birds of feather flock together, right? Well, a couple of weeks ago at the spectacular Chihuly Boathouse we did just that.

That’s right. Dale – Chihuly’s – Boathouse! Thanks to board member and former Chihuly employee, Joanna Sikes, we were fortunate enough to occupy one of the most visually stimulating venues in Seattle. The evening could not have been better. Our guests walked freely though the grand Evelyn Room (above), the pool room (below) and into the “hot shop” for a glassblowing demonstration (below).

It was quite a festive event and upon first sight one might not have known that we were all gathered for a very serious cause. That is until Nola Renz came forward to speak. Renz is the Executive Director of Helping Hand House, a supportive housing nonprofit that receives funding from our grantmaking program, the Washington Families Fund. She told a story that is all too common among our state’s 10,000+ homeless families — the story of a young girl who overcame childhood poverty and domestic abuse only to find herself in her mother’s shoes years later — ‘until one day she fled for safety with nothing but her children and their clothes’. It turns out that the heroic, strong and caring mother in Renz’s story was none other than herself…

Board Member Aana Lauckhart, Guest Speaker Nola Renz, and Board President Sam ‘Tripp’ Hunter

At the end of night, in the emptiness of the boathouse, I took a moment to reflect. Sure, we plan these events to raise money — Building Changes is a community supported nonprofit. But it’s the stories that are shared and the truths that are revealed at these venues that are then taken home and shared with family and friends, further expanding awareness and support for our mission to end homelessness.

Pierce County to consolidate departments (Tacoma News Tribune)

Pierce County will consolidate its community services and human services departments as it tries to save money and streamline services.

County Executive Pat McCarthy announced the consolidation this morning.

“We can set up a system that delivers better outcomes, helping more citizens who need our assistance,” McCarthy said in a statement announcing the move. She notified employees in both departments late last week.

The county’s human services department includes services like chemical dependency, mental health and long-term care. Community services covers everything from arts and tourism to homeless assistance and low-income housing.

For several months Deputy Executive Kevin Phelps has led a group studying a possible consolidation of the departments. The group concluded that combining the departments will result in a more effective delivery of services.

Many questions remain to be answered. Among them: how much money, if any, will be saved. The team will spend the next few months creating a detailed implementation plan.

You can view its recommendations to the executive here.

The consolidation of human and community services might be the first phase of a major consolidation of county government. McCarthy ran for executive two years ago on a pledge to improve customer service and find efficiencies in county government.

In addition, the County Council has asked McCarthy to study combining the planning and public works departments. It also has asked the executive to study combining human resources, budget and finance, facilities, risk management and information technology into a new “general services division.”

Reports on those possible consolidations are expected this fall.

Read more: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2010/05/03/pierce-county-to-consolidate-departments/#ixzz0mtm2xQjf

Save the date for Saturday, April 17th and come to the South Hill Rotary Auction – benefiting Helping Hand House, by purchasing a new duplex to house 8+ families every year in our Emergency Housing Program. This is a WORTHY cause, folks.

It’s a cowboy theme and will be so much fun, in addition to raising a huge amount of money for the mission with families.

Details:

Date/Time: Saturday, April 17th from 5:00-9:00pm

Cost: $30 per person – contact Shan at s_vipond@msn.com

Check out the Facebook page on the event here…

Thanks so much for your support of the work of Helping Hand House!!!

But the community needs more help – if you want to step in and play a role, click here to check out volunteer opportunities, or join us for a House Warming Tour.

Tough times, folks.

Did you know that 97% of homeless children move up to three times in a single school year? Helping Hand House is working to prevent and end family homelessness in Pierce County so that children have a stable environment to live and learn.

Mark your calendars to join us Tuesday, October 5, 2010, from 7:30 – 8:30 am for a free breakfast and the chance to create opportunities for homeless families in Pierce County. Incredible stories from those whose lives have been changed, a refreshing morning to be inspired, and the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and change the course of someone’s family for decades to come.

Click here to get more info, including ways to RSVP for this FREE breakfast and way to make a difference in your community.

Click here to download the Homelessness to Hope Benefit Breakfast to your Outlook calendar.

In chatting with a volunteer afterwards, she and her daughter told me about one of the families they were sitting with. As his case manager talked about the victories of his family, this tough-looking man’s eyes brimmed with tears. Dots connected – how important this work is. And that they got to be a part of it? That’s something really special.

Changing lives and strengthening families – that’s what it means to end family homelessness. Not mere buildings or programs or resources…it’s lives changed one at a time. Thank you for all you do to help us serve these families – we couldn’t do it without you!