United Way of Pierce County

We are committed to helping families in crisis today, helping them become self-sufficient tomorrow and advocating for policies that contribute to ensuring the future of a thriving Pierce County.

No single organization can solve poverty. That’s why our unique role as a community convener brings local organizations, schools, businesses, government and philanthropists together around public problem- solving that is people-centered, innovative and scalable --and that addresses the policies, practices and systems around poverty, rather than a single-program approach. When individuals gain stability, families are stronger, our children are more successful and our community thrives.

Our 3-pronged approach incorporates Prevention, Intervention and Empowerment.
-- Create a solid foundation for Basic Needs: By ensuring basic needs like food, health care, childcare and shelter are met, families can move out of crisis, prevent future crisis and toward greater stability.
-- Break down barriers to self-sufficiency: Through early intervention with supportive services through our community partners and South Sound 2-1-1, we connect individuals to resources and provide navigation services for behavioral health, housing, transportation and employment.
-- Build Strong Families: Our Centers for Strong Families provide the education, 1:1 financial coaching and mentoring to help struggling families improve their financial situation and empower them to become self-sufficient.

We have experienced staff that lead our organization and oversee our work in meeting basic needs for 124,000+ people, stabilizing individuals annually through South Sound 211 and overseeing the expansion of our Center for Strong Families partnerships that includes tracking the success of clients, since program inception in 2016.

South Sound 2-1-1 is the only one of its kind in Washington State to provide navigation services. We provide navigation in the areas of behavioral health, housing, workforce development and transportation. In fact, we have received federal funding for transportation navigation since 2016 and in 2019, we were selected along with 23 other United Way organizations to participate in Ride United, a partnership with Lyft to provide transportation for people who have no other means to get to medical, employment or public benefits appointments.

Centers for Strong Families: Since July 2016 seven centers have opened in Pierce County that have served 1,367 clients as of November 2019. 238 people have increased their credit score; 448 people have new or better paying jobs; 605 are enrolled in an education and training program;358 people achieved a financial goal and 335 people were approved for public benefits.

2-1-1 Since 2006 with the start of the Transportation Navigation program we have added four new navigation services for employment, mental health, basic food and housing. Our housing navigators have placed 109 families who were once homeless into housing from January of 2018 through October of 2019. Last year, our transportation services connected 2,926 to a transportation provider

Our third annual poverty summit, from Poverty to Possibilities focused on affordable housing and we broad cross-sectors together to put forth an action plan. Nearly 250 individuals from cross-sectors attended the summit and each year attendance and our profile in the community as a convener has further established our work as a leader in fighting poverty.

Our historic building which we purchased and renovated in 1992, continues to be a model for social enterprise hub in the center of Tacoma by housing seven non-profit tenants at below market rates so they can spend more resources on their missions.