Pierce County announces $1 million allocation to homeless shelters
Pierce County has released first-round recipients of $1.6 million to help vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic.
To date, the Human Services Department has allocated just over $1 million largely to help homeless service providers provide basic necessities to those experiencing homelessness.
Here is the breakdown:
Catholic Community Services: $459,240
The Rescue Mission: $198,875
Homeward Bound: New Hope: $150,000
Helping Hand House: $100,835
Altheimer Memorial Church: $24,300
The Coffee Oasis: $13,860
St. Vincent DePaul: $5,100
The state provided Pierce County $1.6 million in coronavirus relief funds. Emergency shelter expansions were a priority for the funding, Pierce County spokesperson Kari Moore said. Agencies with emergency shelters were given their full requested amount.
Denny Hunthausen, the executive director for Catholic Community Services, said the $459,240 will help pay staff and cover the costs of social distancing in shelters.
Enforcing the six-feet apart rule, the organization has rented hotel rooms for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, and is looking to expand shelters.
Staff who interact with the homeless have been given a raise of $2 an hour as “hero pay,” he said.
Duke Paulson with the Tacoma Rescue Mission said the organization essentially created a second shelter at Bellarmine High School to comply with social distancing. Two shelters means twice the number of staff, causing an increase in the budget, he said.
On average, the Rescue Mission feeds about 820 people a day, but the pandemic has caused a surge of those who need help. Now, about 1,200 people take to-go lunches from the shelter.
“The funds are really valuable to us,” Paulson said.
Helping Hand House CEO Kevin Bates said the money will help prepare for twice the number of families the Puyallup nonprofit normally sees. Its Open Hearth program places families into hotel rooms until more permanent housing is found.
Once the eviction moratorium ends, Bates expects an influx of families needing shelter.
“We are going to see some folks experiencing homelessness for the first time,” he said.
Normally, Helping Hand House’s Open Hearth program serves about four families a month. Bates predicts that it will help 50 families in the next four to five months.
“We are doubling the expectations for families becoming homeless this year,” he said.
Both Hunthausen and Bates said they are grateful for the community rallying to support service providers with funding.
“It’s been a godsend to us and it’s been helpful, but I am concerned about long-term funding and how this will impact us,” Hunthausen said.
The rest of the funding, $524,773, has yet to be granted.
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 5:05 AM.
