What We Do

The programs at Helping Hand House enable families living in poverty in Pierce County to overcome challenges and obstacles that have kept them financially vulnerable. To be eligible for our programs, families must reside in Pierce County, have one child (age 17 or under) living with them and be homeless or nearly homeless. Each of our programs is tailored to the specific needs, barriers, culture, and location of the families.

• Homeless Prevention provides once a year rent and utility assistance for families with an eviction or utility shut-off notice. Mandatory budgeting and energy conservation life-skills class. Program serves families county-wide.
• Emergency Housing provides single-family housing and basic needs for up to 90 days with intensive case management and life-skills classes required. Program locations in Puyallup and Sumner.
• Transitional Housing provides single-family housing and intensive case management for up to 24 months with strong emphasis on financial literacy (budgeting and saving money), life-skills, and workforce training. Program locations in Orting, Eatonville, Sumner, Puyallup, Buckley, and Bonney Lake.
• Permanent Supportive Housing provides single-family housing support, life-skills training, and intensive case management that decreases gradually as financial resources and skills improve to enable independence. Strong emphasis on workforce training and financial literacy. Program locations in Sumner.
• The Employment Program benefits families in our Rapid Re-Housing and Emergency, Transitional, and Permanent Supportive Housing programs. Employment, wage progression and financial literacy are key elements of our mission to end family homelessness. Helping Hand House has a full time Employment Specialist who works with adult family members who are unemployed and underemployed.
• The Women In Nature (WIN) Program benefits women in the Transitional, and Permanent Supportive Housing programs by providing monthly opportunities for outdoor experiences in nature, including hikes, beach clean-ups, and snowshoeing. Excursions are in the context of small groups and are part of a University of Washington study regarding the impacts of nature on women suffering from PTSD, particularly for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Although access is not limited to residents in a particular area, the East Pierce County location of our housing does provide a unique opportunity for families to remain in their communities of origin. Staying local can reduce the trauma, especially for the children. They can keep those support systems that may in place – like friends, school, trusted child care providers – and make the transition to stability smoother. The goal of all programs is family stability and self-reliance.

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