More homeless services headed to Lakewood. Hygiene center, more housing units planned
Lakewood’s only homeless service nonprofit, Living Access Support Alliance (LASA), plans to offer more to its homeless and low-income population in the coming months.
It announced a phased expansion project at a breakfast fundraiser. The plan is to add a hygiene center, up to 50 low-income housing units and a day care center near its center on Gravelly Lake Drive.
The April 27 fundraiser held at Clover Park Technical College’s McGavick Conference Center brought together Lakewood elected officials, LASA staff, volunteers and donors to discuss the future of the nonprofit.
LASA was founded in 1989, seven years before the City of Lakewood incorporated. It provides help and resources to low-income families. Executive director Janne Hutchins spearheaded its growth, largely through public funding. In 2016, LASA opened 15 units of permanent supportive housing for families. It also opened a client service center. Those who qualify for permanent housing must be a family with a disability and be chronically homeless for a year.
The nonprofit houses about 75 families annually. One woman, Nicole, shared with the breakfast guests that she was homeless with four kids when she came to LASA for help in 2019. Now, she has a home, a driver’s license and a substance-abuse counseling license. She is about to graduate from a chemical-dependency program to become a peer counselor.
“I found my structure and stability again,” Nicole said.
Hutchins told guests LASA has raised enough money — $625,000 — to build a hygiene center with two showers and three washers and dryers.
The center also will serve as a warming and cooling shelter for unhoused people during inclement weather. The nonprofit has started the permitting process and hopes to start the project by the end of spring.
“We are in full-speed ahead,” Hutchins said.
Lakewood Mayor Jason Whalen said the need for more affordable housing is greater than ever.
“We’re excited about the opportunity,” he told the breakfast guests.
LASA provides the only homeless shelter in the city. In 2020, Lakewood held the third highest homeless population, after Tacoma and Puyallup, with few resources outside of LASA.
In recent years, the government has invested thousands of dollars in LASA. The state and city granted LASA funds to help house residents throughout the pandemic and build a nest egg for its future projects.
“LASA goes a long way to help a Lakewood resident. LASA is accountable with their funding, and they use it efficiently to serve vulnerable families and restore dignity in times of need,” Lakewood spokesperson Jim Kopriva said.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, LASA received $129,871 from Lakewood’s federal COVID-19 dollars and ultimately provided rental and utility assistance to 1,451 households.
Federal funds for the coronavirus pandemic has sparked a shift in Pierce County as a whole, pushing cities like Puyallup and Pierce County to prioritize homeless services and affordable housing. The County Council approved its biggest allocation — $253 million — for homeless services in November. Those dollars will expand existing shelters and add more across Pierce County, while also increasing support services.
LASA secured $515,000 in the state budget last year to help expand their services and facilities. In the coming Lakewood budget, the City Council is considering a $600,000 allocation for LASA’s affordable housing efforts.
Future plans
The nonprofit also announced plans to build up to 50 units of low-income and affordable permanent housing on the 1.5 acres next to the LASA Client Service Center on Gravelly Lake Drive.
Hutchins previously told The News Tribune there are three steps to successfully transitioning someone from living outside into stable housing: adequate shelters, then temporary housing, and ultimately permanent housing. She wants these units to provide the final step.
Long-term plans include a low-cost day care center.
“It’s not enough to have housing if we want people to be able to move into the housing,” Hutchins said in a March 7 presentation to the Lakewood City Council.
LASA’s efforts are crucial, especially when one bedroom apartments across the city are more than $1,700 a month, Lakewood’s mayor said.
“It’s very, very challenging for people to have the opportunity to earn enough income to either live in an apartment of their choice or house of their choice,” Whalen said at the Wednesday breakfast.
This story was originally published May 4, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
