What a great Community Quarterly Meeting we had last week! Thanks again to Rev. Eric Jackson for hosting us!
Special thanks also goes to Tiegan Tidball from the City of Tacoma, Mike Yoder, Executive Director for Associated Ministries and Mark Merrill, Executive Director for Shared Housing Services for presenting. Everyone did a great job!
Here are links to the materials we reviewed at the meeting:
To keep everyone encouraged and energized, I would like to share a few results from the breakout sessions. We had three breakout groups this quarter: Catholic Community Services’ Family Housing Network (FHN), Shared Housing Services, and the City of Tacoma, which explored ways the faith community could get involved to support the Emergency Declaration.
Catholic Community Services’ Family
Housing Network Workgroup
The Family Housing Network Workgroup agreed to make some homeless kits filled with useful items for families experiencing homelessness. There was also emphasis on getting the word out in the community about this awesome program, so the workgroup is planning to have Alan Brown, the Director of Family Housing Network, present during scheduled community meetings.
Shared Housing Services Workgroup
The Shared Housing Workgroup took a similar path. They too wanted to get the word out about this great opportunity for the faith community. This workgroup plans to do more outreach in neighborhoods, congregations, neighborhood councils as well as some community gatherings.
City of Tacoma Workgroup
The City of Tacoma Workgroup came up with some pretty creative ideas about how the faith community can get directly involved to support the Emergency Declaration on Homelessness, including safe parking, permanent housing solutions such as rehabbing derelict houses or purchasing tiny houses, and exploring policy changes such as screening practices for rental applications.
The goal of the Community Quarterly meeting is to create an energizing space in Pierce County for people of faith and goodwill to share knowledge and act on strategies to end homelessness.
Please plan to join us for future gatherings. Upcoming Community Quarterly Meetings:
- Thursday, Sept. 21st from 4-6 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7410 South 12th Street, Tacoma, WA 98465.
- Tuesday, Dec. 5th from 4-6pm at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 4818 East Portland Ave, Tacoma, WA 98404.
Associated Ministries will host a brand new event this fall entitled “AMAZING QUEST to Understand Homelessness.” This unique family-friendly event invites the community to take part in an exciting scavenger hunt-style challenge with the goal of better understanding the realities faced by those who are homeless in our community. It will be a bit like The Amazing Race television show, with activity stations and learning opportunities located at various landmarks throughout Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood.
AM executive director Mike Yoder is excited about the event’s potential to move the needle on homelessness awareness in Tacoma and Pierce County. “There are so many misconceptions about homelessness,” says Yoder. “This event will address these misconceptions, illustrating the daily struggles of our homeless neighbors, while fundraising to inspire change and make a lasting impact.”
The Amazing Quest will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, beginning and ending at People’s Park in Tacoma. Teams of 2-8 people will visit various locations around the Hilltop and participate in challenges to win points. These challenge points will be combined with points earned during a fundraising period prior to the event, with prizes awarded to the winning team. Teams can consist of families and friends, church groups, office teams, and others.
Funds raised before and during the event will benefit Associated Ministries and its work to address homelessness and empower people to live stabilized lives off the streets. “Amazing Quest to Understand Homelessness is our way of not just telling Pierce County residents about the realities of homelessness,” says Yoder. “It’s our way of engaging them in an impactful and memorable way.”
Check the AM website in the coming weeks for more details and team registration information.
City of Tacoma’s Explanation of Declaration of
State of Emergency Responding to
Homeless Encampments
The City of Tacoma has called a meeting to explain and discuss the recent declaration of a state of emergency responding to homeless encampments. Agenda is attached here.
Thursday, May 18
3:00 – 4:30 pm
Tacoma Municipal Bldg. North
733 Market St., Room 16
Tacoma 98402
Main meeting topics will include:
Explanation of the Declaration
The City’s Response to the Declaration
Aligning the Response with Coordinated Entry & Pierce County
Forming a Data Committee
Next Steps
Faith-based organizations interested in participating or who have additional questions can respond directly to Tiegan Tidball with the City of Tacoma at 253-573-2320 or ttidball@cityoftacoma.org.
Your collaboration and support in this endeavor to support the homeless in our community is appreciated.
On Friday, June 2, 2017, Associated Ministries will be welcoming groups of youth from different faith communities to our first-ever “Skating for Homes” skate-a-thon. This free and fun event, will be from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Rollin’ 253 Skate and Community Center.
Through our partnership with Rollin’ 253 Skate & Community Center, and Help Us Move In, we are able to help educate youth about the issue of homelessness and help raise funds for youth who, along with their families, are experiencing homelessness. Youth will have the opportunity to seek donations for either each lap they complete within one hour, or a flat donation. All funds raised will be matched dollar for dollar by the generosity of Help Us Move In and will be used to directly assist clients with children who are in need of help with housing.
This is also a wonderful opportunity for youth leaders at our partner faith communities to help their youth understand the issue of homelessness and discuss ways they are drawn to help. For more information or to request a housing specialist to speak to your group, please contact Wendy Morris, Community Engagement Coordinator at wendym@associatedministries.org or 253-383-3056 ext. 117.
Registration for “Skating for Homes” closes on Friday, May 26th so make sure to turn your request for tickets and receive pledge cards in to wendym@associatedministries.org before the deadline.
Associated Ministries’ Community Quarterly Meeting
Learn How YOU Can Impact Homelessness
All people of faith and good will are invited to attend an interactive learning session on Thursday, March 16 from 4-6pm, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7410 South 12th Street, Tacoma, WA 98465.
Attendees will learn about Associated Ministries’ programs and services, what homelessness looks like in Pierce County, and how people of faith can directly impact homelessness.
The crisis of homelessness in our community is real!
In 2016, 13,740 households contacted Pierce County’s Coordinated Entry System experiencing some level of housing instability. These are struggling families and vulnerable individuals who spent the previous night on the street, in a shelter, or in a place not meant for human habitation, as well as those fleeing from domestic violence.
YOU can make a difference!
Please plan to join us to continue our conversation about ways that people of faith can impact homelessness!
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Valorie Crout, Associated Ministries’ Chief Program Officer via email or 253-383-3056 ext. 108.
What can members of our community do to address the growing challenge of homelessness? People of faith and goodwill are invited to attend an interactive learning session regarding homelessness in Pierce County. Participants will come away with a better understanding of this crisis and will be briefed on the assistance programs that are available, as well as the work that remains to be done.
The crisis is real: during the past 11 months, Associated Ministries interacted with 7,212 households that were experiencing some level of housing instability in Pierce County. These are struggling families and vulnerable individuals who spent the previous night on the street, in a shelter, in a place not meant for human habitation, as well as those fleeing from domestic violence.
Rev. Dr. Eric Jackson of Bethlehem Baptist Church, a member of Associated Ministries’ Board of Directors, will host the gatherings; he invites all people of faith and goodwill to attend to learn more about how to assist those experiencing homelessness in Pierce County.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact AM Communications at communications@associatedministries.org.
What can members of our community do to address the growing challenge of homelessness? People of faith and goodwill are invited to attend an interactive learning session regarding homelessness in Pierce County. Participants will come away with a better understanding of this crisis and will be briefed on the assistance programs that are available, as well as the work that remains to be done.
The crisis is real: during the past 11 months, Associated Ministries interacted with 7,212 households that were experiencing some level of housing instability in Pierce County. These are struggling families and vulnerable individuals who spent the previous night on the street, in a shelter, in a place not meant for human habitation, as well as those fleeing from domestic violence.
Rev. Martin Yabroff of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, a member of Associated Ministries’ Board of Directors, will host the gatherings; he invites all people of faith and goodwill to attend to learn more about how to assist those experiencing homelessness in Pierce County.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact AM Communications at communications@associatedministries.org.
The crisis is real: during the past 11 months, Associated Ministries interacted with 7,212 households that were experiencing some level of housing instability in Pierce County. These are struggling families and vulnerable individuals who spent the previous night on the street, in a shelter, in a place not meant for human habitation, as well as those fleeing from domestic violence.
So what does this number mean? It represents those who have reached out to the Coordinated Entry System (CES), Pierce County’s Homeless Crisis Response System for help, and were determined to be genuinely homeless. The CES is a partnership of Associated Ministries, Catholic Community Services, Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare and Comprehensive Life Resources and is funded by Pierce County Community Connections.
What can people of faith and goodwill in our community do to address the growing challenge of homelessness? To begin, attend one of two interactive learning sessions regarding homelessness in Pierce County on Jan. 19 or 24. Participants will come away with a better understanding of this crisis and will be briefed on the assistance programs that are available, as well as the work that remains to be done.
We are grateful to Rev. Martin Yabroff of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Rev. Dr. Eric Jackson of Bethlehem Baptist Church, both members of Associated Ministries’ Board of Directors, who will host the gatherings. “I hope that as many congregations as possible will be represented to learn about the Homeless Crisis Response System,” said Rev. Yabroff.
Rev. Jackson added, “Often those who need assistance the most don’t know how to tap into the necessary resources. This is the same case with congregations and various faith institutions who seek to support those without a place to call ‘home.’ I personally invite you to attend these meetings and learn about the Homeless Crisis Response System, who should be referred and how to navigate the system. Most importantly, we’ll be better equipped to respond to our community’s homelessness crisis.”
Two opportunities have been scheduled share an overview of homelessness in Pierce County and how the Coordinated Entry System is being designed to address it:
- St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, hosted by Rev. Martin Yabroff at 7410 South 12th Street, Tacoma, WA 98465 on Thurs., Jan. 19th at 1-3pm.
- Bethlehem Baptist Church, hosted by Rev. Dr. Eric Jackson at 4818 East Portland Ave, Tacoma, WA 98404 on Tues., Jan. 24th at 6-8pm.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact us at communications@associatedministries.org.
Associated Ministries (AM) is sad to announce that by the end of December, after 3 years in operation, the Youth Advancement & Housing (YAH) program will be closing operations of the two residences in the Graham area.
The YAH young men’s residence.
Every year the YAH program successfully received competitive funding through Pierce County Community Connections to operate this vital program in the Bethel School District. But in addition to being competitive, funding for transitional housing programs has continued to decrease over the last 2 years in Pierce County and throughout the nation. Tough decisions were made to best manage the very limited resources that are available within the homeless system and this year YAH and several other programs did not receive the level of funding they requested.
The YAH young women’s residence.
This news has been met with deep sadness and concern from our young adult clients still living in the YAH homes. Associated Ministries is committed to preventing all of our residents from entering homelessness following the closure of the YAH program and AM staff are working with them to find immediate housing.
We would like to extend our immense gratitude to our esteemed partner and guide, the Bethel School District, for working alongside Associated Ministries over the last 3 years, devoted to the well-being of students experiencing homelessness in their district. Thank you for helping us and the entire community understand the persistent work and heart necessary to ensure that unincorporated Pierce County has advocates and resources for the most marginalized members of their community.
We are also grateful to the Spanapark Lions, Eagle Scouts, Kiwanis Rotary Club, Key Bank, and so many more individual community members who hoped to support and connect with YAH residents. Thank you all.
Our hopes for solutions does not end with the YAH program. Associated Ministries will continue to build relationships and partner with others in the cause of ending child, youth and young adult homelessness throughout Pierce County.
Catholic Community Services’ Family 
City of Tacoma Workgroup
