Financial
How to Stay Warm & Snuggly
BY R. DYER, Allied Residential
How are we affording to live right now? Some of us that are housed, over 25% according to LIHEAP, face the choice between keeping the heat at a safe and healthy temperature or paying for essentials, such as food or medical care, every single month. If those same households face an emergency or unforeseen expense, where can they go? Last month, we went over websites that are available 24/7 and will include them at the end.
DSHS has helped over 2.1 million folks make ends meet and can help you find out to see if you qualify. By using the See if I Qualify link and filling out the quick intake on WashingtonConnection.Org to connect to DSHS and other federal, state, and local resources.
South Sound 2-1-1- can also help you find the resources you may need.: (Text) “211WAOD” to 898211, call (Phone)2-1-1 or toll free 1-877-211-WASH (9274), or visit www.WA211.org. You can also connect by downloading the WIN 2-1-1 app.
There are programs available to us at both the federal and local levels that can help qualified applicants by subsidizing or paying their utility bills, including LIHEAP, LIHWAP and weatherization assistance projects.
These programs have been out there for years, and many people are not applying for them because they don’t know thatdo not understand they may qualify for them. If these programs are created for you, the money is budgeted for you already. Often, it is based on what you owe, and then you pay a portion of it through the program. If the money runs out, you just have to be patient with these programs and wait for the money to be refilled.
These federal programs do not require you to pay any money out of pocket. There are other weatherization programs and utility assistance programs that pay a portion of weatherization costs through state or local agencies. No one should be asking you to pay them up front for applying for this federal assistance.
From the Office of Community Services website: The Low- Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs.
LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer through programs that reduce the risk of health and safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling situations and practices.
The Low- Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides funds to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills. LIHWAP grants are available to all states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. tTerritories, and fFederally and sState-recognized Tribes and Tribal Organizations.
In Pierce County:, call: Pierce County Human Services
Pierce County Human Services: (855) 798-4328
Outside of Tacoma,: the Metropolitan Development Council administers the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program is administered by:.
Pierce County Human Services: (855) 798-4328
Metropolitan Development Council: (253) 572-5577
www.energyhelp.us
Call the: Energy Assistance Hotline toll- free at 1-866-674-6327, wWeekdays from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (ET) or email. Email: energyassistance@ncat.org and include your city, country, and state
The www.energyhelp.us website lets you can search online tools by state, territory, or tribe for the following:
Energy Bill Assistance: Help with paying for home energy bills including electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, or wood.
Weatherization Support: Help to make your house more energy-efficient to reduce costs.,
Crisis Assistance: Priority assistance for households without (or in danger of being without) heating or cooling.
Equipment Repair & Replacement: Assistance in fixing your heating and cooling equipment.
Energy Education: Provides resources and strategies to assist in managing home energy usage and bills.
Disaster Assistance: Support during or after a natural disaster.
More tips on how to weatherize your home are available from the National Center for Appropriate Technology. Visit www.ncat.org to learn more.
LIHWAP – weatherization assistance:
These programs have been available for years, and they’re free. These are not programs that you have to pay for. You do not need to pay out of pocket for these programs that pay to help you weatherize your home if you qualify. If you are renting, the funds are is dispensed per unit, so you must share information about the programs with talk to your landlord about these programs and share the information.
For information about LIHEAP and LIHWAP, contact the following:
City of Tacoma residents: Call (253) 572-5557 or visit the Metropolitan Development Council website.
Pierce County residents (outside the City of Tacoma): Call (855) 798-4328 or visit the Pierce County Human Services website.
How do I get help with my power bill in Pierce County?
Apply for the Pierce County Energy Assistance Program over the phone by calling (253) 798-4328
For questions or other translations, please call (253) 798-4400.
How do Ito get a free air conditioner in Washington State?
To be eligible for an air conditioner or air purifier unit, you must be eligible for LIHEAP. To apply, please contact your local LIHEAP agency by clicking on the map in the “How to Apply” section.
Tacoma Public Utilities:
You can find energy assistance programs on their website at: www.MyTPU.org/Assistance or by calling their customer service line at: (253) 502-8400 for current financial credit, discount rate, and income eligibility information for their Bill Credit Assistance Plan and Discount Rate Programs.
While it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet for many of us, we are part of a community that’s rich in information, experiences, and resources. We are not alone. Together, we can make athe difference for our communities. Please consider sharing, consider connecting, and consider mutual aid. No matter how we define community, we are all a part of it as it exists right here and now. We can contribute to resilient, resourceful, successful communities without making withdrawals from our own savings or quality of life by sharing resources, knowledge, and skills.
What resources are making your life better? Do you know resources you would like us to share?
Connect with us via email at: outreach@weekly-volcano.com.
RESOURCES IN OUR AREA
LIHEAP and LIHWAP:
Pierce County Residents outside of the City of Tacoma: (855) 798-4328
City of Tacoma Residents: (253) 572-5557
Tacoma Public Utilities Energy Assistance Programs: (253) 502-8400
SHELTERS AND HYGIENE RESOURCES
United Way Helpline 2-1-1
TACID (253)-565-9000
Catholic Community Center
Family Day Center
Families (defined as pregnant women and parent(s) with minor children in custody)
5050 South Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98409
General Information: (253) 471-5340
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 am–4 pm; Wednesday: 12 pm-6 pm; No appointment necessary
Nativity House Day and Overnight Shelters
Available to adult men and women.
702 S 14th Street Tacoma, WA 98405
Contact: (253) -502-8780
Hours: Day Shelter: 7:00 am–5:00 pm every day, including weekends and holidays
Overnight Shelter: 5:00 pm–7:00 am every night, including weekends and holidays
To volunteer or donate: Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm, call: (253) 365-4111 or email: meganed@ccsww.org.
Jarvie Memorial Family Lodge
Emergency Family Shelter
1521 Sixth Ave Tacoma, WA 98405
Office Hours: Sunday–Monday, 10:30 am–4:40 pm
Phone: (253) -572-8452, eExt. 127
Tacoma Rescue Mission
Adam’s Street Family Campus
Not open to the public. Contact for services and availability.
Phone: (253) -383-4493 or Email: info@trm.org
Men’s Shelter
For single men experiencing homelessness
425 South Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-383-4493, ext. 1106 or Email: info@trm.org
Hours: 3:30 pm for sign-up, 6:30 pm for roll call
Women’s Emergency Shelter
For unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness
425 South Tacoma Way Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-383-4493, ext. 1106 or Email: info@trm.org
Hours: 6:30 pm to sign- up for bed, 8:00 pm roll call
EMERGENCY AND CRISIS LINES
Child Protective Services 866-363-4276
Crisis Clinic 24-Hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747
Crisis Connections:
24-Hour Crisis Line 866-427-4747
Teen Link 866-833-6546
WA Recovery Helpline 866-789-1511
WA Warm Line 877-500-9276
Domestic Violence Helpline 253-798-4166
Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233
Family Renewal Center 253-475-9010
Family Renewal Center 888 888-550-3915
MultiCare Behavioral Health 253-697-8400
National Suicide and Crisis Line 9-8-8
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255
Planned Parenthood 800-769-0045
Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County 253-597-6424
Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County toll-free 800-756-7273
Veterans Affairs Crisis Line (option1) 800-273-8255
WAFHome (KWA) 253-359-0470
Washington Poison Center Information Line 800-222-1222
Washington Listens 833-681-0211
Washington Recovery Helpline 866-789-1511
ADVOCACY RESOURCES
Adult Protective Services 877-734-6277
Aging & Disability Resources Center 253-798-4600
Aging & Disability Resources Center toll-free 800-562-0332
Disabled American Veterans 253-472-4680
Medicare Beneficiary Helpline 800-633-4227
DISABILITY RESOURCES
Northwest Access Fund 206-328-5166
Northwest ADA Center 800-949-4232
Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources 253-798-4600
Pierce County Coalition for Developmental Disabilities 253-564-0707
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals
wWith Disabilities (TACID) V/TDD 253-565-9000
TTY 253-565-3486
WA Talking Book and Braille Library 800-542-0866
WA TBI Resource Coordination 253-572-0383
WA TDD Relay Services 7-1-1
DISASTER RESOURCES
American Red Cross 253-474-0400
BePreparedWA 253-592-0321
FEMA 800-525-0321
Salvation Army 253-572-8452
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
Crystal Judson Family Justice Center Advocate Line 253-798-4166
Family Renewal Shelter 253-475-9010
Family Renewal Shelter toll-free 888-550-9315
Joint Base Lewis-McChord Safeline 253-966-7233
KWA Domestic Violence Hotline 253-359-0470
New Phoebe House Association 253-383-7710
Our Sister’s House Advocate 253-383-4275
Police 9-1-1
Rebuilding Hope, Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County 253-474-7273
Tacoma Community House Advocacy 253-383-3951
YWCA Pierce County Domestic Violence Hotline 253-383-2593
DV Shelters
YWCA: 253-383-2593
Korean Women’s Association: 253-359-0470
Family Renewal Shelter: 253-485-9010
CDVAP Puyallup Tribal Shelter: 253-680-5499
DV Legal/Advocacy
Crystal Judson Family Justice Center: 253-798-4310
YWCA: 253-365-6352
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association: 253-572-5134
Tacoma Community House: 253-383-3951
Northwest Immigrants Rights Project: 206-587-4009
General Information
Pierce County Resource Line: Dial 211
FOOD RESOURCES
All Saints Catholic Church, Puyallup (delivery) 253-848-2000
Allen Food Pantry 253-627-6855
BASH 253-531-9600
Bread of Life at Lake City 253-582-2515
Buckley 253-266-7309
Catholic Community Service (frozen delivery) 253-474-1300
Community Christian Assembly 253-537-4010
Department of Social & Health Services (benefit) 877-501-2233
Eatonville Family Agency 360-832-6805
Eatonville Living Word Assembly of God 360-832-4220
Eloise Cooking Pot 253-426-1994
Emmanuel Food Pantry 253-863-3655
Holy Family of Jesus Cambodian Church (benefit) 253-471-9838
Korean Women’s Association (benefit) 253-535-4202
Lutheran Community Services NW (frozen delivery) 253-272-8433
Nourish Pierce County Food Banks
Information 253-383-3164
Edgewood 253-826-4654
Graham 253-846-3805
Jackson Street 253-383-3164
Lakes 253-581-1116
NW Tacoma 253-756-4974
SE Tacoma 253-531-4530
Food Connections 253-383-5048
Gig Harbor Peninsula (Nourish) 253-858-6179
Lakewood/Prince of Peace 253-584-2565
Orting 360-893-0095
My Sister’s Pantry 253-627-1186
Parkland 1st Baptist 253-535-1293
Puyallup (Nourish) 253-848-5458
Roy/McKenna 253-843-3033
Salvation Army
Puyallup 253-841-1491 ext. 201
Tacoma 253-572-8452
South Sound Outreach Services (benefit) 253-593-2111
Spanaway (Nourish) 253-383-1817
Steilacoom 253-581-1076
SE Asian Diets 253-472-7264
Sumner 253-863-3793
Tacoma/Bounty 253-475-7098
Tacoma Adventist Community Services/special diets 253-272-8289
Trinity Lutheran Food Pantry 253-537-0201
United Lutheran Church 253-475-3175
University Place (Nourish) 253-460-3134
WLSA/Steilacoom 253-581-1076
Yelm Community Services 360-458-7000
FOOD RESOURCES:- HOT MEALS
Beacon Activity Center 253-591-5083
415 S 13th St., Tacoma
Bonney Lake Senior Center 253-863-7658
19304 Bonney Lake Blvd.
Buckley Senior Center 360-829-0190
811 Main St.
Catholic Community Services and Center 253-502-2723
1323 S. Yakima, Tacoma
Community Christian Assembly Food Bank 253-537-4010
10401 19th Ave. Ct. E., Tacoma
Eastside Community Center 253-404-3990
1721 E. 56th St., Tacoma
Eatonville Community Center 360-832-6805
305 W. Center St.
Fife Community Center 253-922-0900
2111 54th Ave. E.
Gig Harbor Senior Center 253-514-6338
6509 38th Ave. NW.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 253-473-4848
140 E. 56th St., Tacoma
Hospitality Kitchen 253-502-2695
1323 S. Yakima, Tacoma
Key Peninsula Community Service 253-884-4440
10715 9th St Ct. KPN, Lakebay
Korean Women’s Association 253-535-4202
123 East 96th St., Tacoma
KWA Indochinese Cultural Services Center 253-473-5666
1427 E. 40th St., Tacoma
Lighthouse Senior Center 253-591-5080
5016 E. A St., Tacoma
Mid-County Community Center 253-531-8412
10205 44th Ave. E., Tacoma
My Sister’s Pantry 253-627-1186
621 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma
Nativity House 253-272-5266
2304 S. Jefferson, Tacoma
Orting Valley Senior Center 360-893-5827
120 Washington St., Orting
Algona-Pacific Senior Center 253-929-1150
100 Third Ave. SE., Pacific
Point Defiance-Ruston Senior Center 253-756-0601
4716 N. Baltimore
Puyallup Activity Center 253-841-5555
210 W. Pioneer
Puyallup Tribal Elders Intertribal Native American 253-680-5480
1650 E. 30th St., Tacoma
Salvation Army-Puyallup 253-841-1491
4009 9th St. SW.
Spana-Park Senior Center 253-537-4854
325 E. 152nd St., Spanaway
Steilacoom Community Center 253-983-2059
2301 Worthington, Steilacoom
Sumner Senior Center 253-863-2910
15506 62nd St Ct. E, Sumner
Tacoma Rescue Mission 253-383-4493
425 South Tacoma Way
Tillicum/American Lake Gardens Community Center 253-584-1280
14916 Washington Ave. SW., Tillicum
Trinity Lutheran Church 253-537-0201
12115 Park Ave. S., Parkland
University Place Senior Community Center 253-564-1992
2534 Grandview Dr. W
HOUSING ISSUE RESOURCES
City of Tacoma housing complaints 253-591-5151
City of Tacoma down payment assistance 253-591-5230
Housing Justice Project 253-572-5134
Rental Assistance 2-1-1
LEGAL RESOURCES
Northwest Justice Project 206-464-1519
Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution 253-572-3657
Rehmke Law Offices 253-460-3190
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, referrals 253-383-3432
Tacoma Pro Bono 888-822-5134
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Asian Counseling Services 253-301-5250
Bi-pPolar Support Group (TACID) 253-565-9000
Catholic Community Services 253-383-3697
Community Connections 253-798-4500
Crisis Line 800-576-7764
HopeSparks 253-565-4484
Comprehensive Mental Health Center 253-396-5000
DSHS Mental Health Division 800-446-0259
MultiCare Behavioral Healthcare 253-697-8400
Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare 253-581-7020
Mental Health Ombudsman 800-531-0508
Mobile Outreach Crisis Team 800-576-7764
Sea Mar Behavioral Health Center
Tacoma 253-396-1634
Puyallup 253-864-4770
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255
TACID Mental Health Resource 253-565-9000 x20
Therapy Center (Pacific Lutheran University) 253-535-8782
Washington Warm Line 877-500-9276
Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital 253-301-5494
SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES
Al-Anon 888-425-2666
Alcoholics Anonymous 253-474-8897
Good Samaritan Behavioral Health 253-697-8400
Sea Mar (inpatient) 253-280-9860
Tacoma Detox Unit 253-593-2413
Websites where you can access resources 24/7: