2009 Annual Report available!
Take a look at the Helping Hand House 2009 Annual Report, with design done pro-bono by Chris Bivins of Spilled Ink Studios. Thanks to all the individuals, churches, groups of all kinds, companies, foundations, and government entities that made it possible to end homelessness for over 250 Pierce County families in 2009. We’d also particularly like to recognize the volunteers who contributed over 1,800 hours of service to the mission, creating quilts, baking cakes, mowing lawns, and so much more.
Enjoy!
Click here to download the report (PDF)
Pierce County consolodating departments
Not sure what the impact will be on local organizations like ours, but greater efficiency is a great thing!
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.
Incredible “No Place Like Home” Breakfast raises $122,000 for work with homeless families
Wow. What an incredible morning that was. Friends and family from across the community, together to make an impact at a time of real crisis in our country. 2 incredible families shared their stories, with tears flowing freely – victory emerging from times of real pain, vulnerably shared with a room mostly unknown. The common thread was an ache for the wrong things to be made right – for little children to have a bed for their bedtime story. For the courageous ones who flee in the middle of the night for the sake of their children to be taken in and cared for.
Generous hearts in that room contributed over $122,000 in gifts and pledges for the day to day operations of our work with homeless families – and we couldn’t be more grateful. We know the lives that this will change – good on you, folks. A true class act, you are. We are honored to be a part of a community like this!
Thank you from the families and staff of Helping Hand House!
