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.

• Diversion/Rapid Re-housing provides housing relocation and stabilization services and short-term and medium-term rental assistance from 3-12 months to assist families with children who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.
• Emergency/Interim Housing stabilizes families with children under the age of 18 who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, and help them obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible.
• Transition-In-Place provides single-family housing and intensive, individualized case management for up to with a strong emphasis on financial literacy (budgeting and saving money), life-skills, and workforce training. Leases are in the client family’s name, to support continuity in that location. Program locations throughout eastern Pierce County.
• 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 Transition in Place, and Permanent Supportive Housing programs by providing monthly opportunities for outdoor experiences in nature, including hikes, beach clean-ups, and snowshoeing. Studies have demonstrated the positive effects of such programs in addressing PTSD and other traumatic experiences experienced by many of the clients in our programs.

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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