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Our Visit Count
Friday, February 23, 2024
February 24, 2024: Exciting Update on Medical Respite from the State!
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
February 2024: New Resource Family Promise of Pierce County
Staying connected and forming partnerships are crucial to Family Promise's mission. Feel free to share with others to experience what it can do:
We encourage you to reach out to us in any way you feel
comfortable:
• Visit our website: https://familypromisepiercecou
• Follow us on social media: https://instagram.com/fppierce
• Volunteer your time: https://familypromisepiercecou
• Make a donation: https://familypromisepiercecou
Even if you cannot volunteer or donate at this time, simply spreading the
word about Family Promise and our work can make a significant difference.
Sharing our mission with your friends, family, and colleagues can help us
reach more families in need.
Thank you again for your interest and support. We look forward to staying
in touch and partnering with you to make a difference in the lives of
families experiencing homelessness.
Steve Decker
CEO - Family Promise of Pierce County
253-444-4563 x391 (you can even send SMS text to our main number to reach
me)
Calendar to connect:
comfortable:
• Visit our website: https://familypromisepiercecou
• Follow us on social media: https://instagram.com/fppierce
• Volunteer your time: https://familypromisepiercecou
• Make a donation: https://familypromisepiercecou
Even if you cannot volunteer or donate at this time, simply spreading the
word about Family Promise and our work can make a significant difference.
Sharing our mission with your friends, family, and colleagues can help us
reach more families in need.
Thank you again for your interest and support. We look forward to staying
in touch and partnering with you to make a difference in the lives of
families experiencing homelessness.
Steve Decker
CEO - Family Promise of Pierce County
253-444-4563 x391 (you can even send SMS text to our main number to reach
me)
Calendar to connect:
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
2024: New Year-New Hope
It is wonderful to start 2024 with great news! I wanted to include the newest resource that is literally at our finger tips! Family Promise of Pierce County has been officially formed through the efforts of a local pastor and her mighty staff and volunteers.
In an effort to support families in our area experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness, please see the resource link, below:
Family Promise of Pierce County (https://www.
Please take a look at this website and note that should you come across ANY person experiencing homelessness, this resource can be pivotal to bringing the necessary resources to the person in need.
Here is a link to an intake form that can be filled out and populates individualized resources to the person in need:
The intake has several different languages to give our English Language Learners an ability to complete in their language. Once filled out, my understanding is resources will be populated to the resources available to the individual or family in need.
There's lots more coming. Let's hope more solutions will be born out of the continued efforts to combat homelessness.Together, we CAN help our neighbors in need.
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Update: 6 Month Recap 2023
Some of you know I have been out of the loop for a few months. Thank you for persevering in the midst of some very difficult circumstances, grief and trauma. I wanted to circle back with you to let many of you know that there remains commitment to caring for our populations living in vulnerable states (ie, homeless). Many persons working in the government and private sector have continued to work hard to provide for our vulnerable neighbors. They deserve recognition even though most don't want it.
I wanted to share some good news and resources that have come about due to the faithfulness and commitment of those of you who have prayed or worked directly alongside our homeless communities in need over many months and years:
- January to June 2023: Twenty four nurses enrolled in the UWT BSN program were trained alongside homeless advocates, such as Paula & Lisa (Cornerstone Respite), Laureen (Elevate Health-Medical Respite Steering Committee), Janet (Medical Reserve Corps, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department), Gerald (Brotherhood Rise), Jay (Lived Experiences), Elliot (Greater Lakes) to research and provide evidence for the need for medical respite for homeless populations
- Anton of Northwest Hospitality in Kitsap County has been helping train Olympic College Nurses in this area to care for homeless populations as well.
- Gerald of Brotherhood Rise in Tacoma is in the midst of providing a Tiny Home Village near St. Joseph's Hospital after receiving funds from a government grant
- Duke of Tacoma Rescue Mission has been involved in moving forward on a Tiny Homes Village that appears to be getting closer to a reality: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/plan-build-permanent-tiny-house-village-pierce-county-takes-another-step-forward/RKXEQYTCBJHVXO4A75UXZ7MD6Y/
- Paula and business partner Lisa of Bridges of Hope have successfully provided care and advocacy for many homeless residents needing medical care through their Cornerstone Respite. Over $1000 and personal items from my husband was donated on behalf of my late-husband to this cause.
- Janet and Verna, Medical Reserve Corps nurses, along with Pacific Lutheran University nursing students have successfully been providing weekly foot care for nearly 10 months to the homeless residents of Tacoma Rescue Mission and Nativity House.
- There have been inclement weather listservs and weekly check-ins arranged by Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, Tacoma Pierce County Homeless Coalition and Lived Experience members where our neighbors living homeless have community members checking in on them and providing resources as needed.
- Numerous churches have stepped up to provide safe parking shelters for persons living vulnerable (not mentioning directly due to ensuring the vulnerable populations stay safe). More is needed, but there is action happening!
- There is a service provider involved in making a medical respite facility a reality-more to come-stay tuned!
- Please see the link for the new Homeless Outreach website from the Tacoma Pierce County Public Health Department-It is excellent. Jennie S. of Tacoma Pierce County Public Health Department and many others have been involved in creating the following website to help any of us in the community to help person living homeless-please review:
- New website for homeless service providers and advocates:
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Nov 29-Dec 2, 2022 Inclement Weather Meetings-Pierce County
An inclement weather group has been formed by a member of the Lived Experiences Coalition in partnership with many others in our community, such as many Pierce County employees trying to create sustainable solutions for our residents living unsheltered especially during this time of inclement weather.
Many may already be aware of these efforts. For those interested, please consider attending one of these scheduled meetings via zoom from 9-9:30 am the remainder of this week to learn what's needed and what's being done to meet the needs of our vulnerable neighbors.
I'm including the invite in case you were unaware of these events and to continue to ask for prayer:
Join Zoom Meeting Daily until Dec 2 from 9-9:30 am
https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/95416584180
Meeting ID: 954 1658 4180
Dial by your location
+1 253 205 0468 US
888 788 0099 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 954 1658 4180
Find your local number: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/u/ab3ZhMWNFr
There are many in our community banding together to care for the most needy within our community and this is another attempt to organize efforts and materials to provide shelter and care for these persons experiencing homelessness, especially those without shelter.
Keep in mind, there has been up to three times the need for shelter than we have available:
If you have a need or something to share, please follow the link below to view what's needed and what has been donated to help:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10Ec_bw5KKsFQidzRN7XkM6yea6vHzD0Yf0m5IfjgdpU/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you for whatever you can provide, physically or spiritually. And thank you to those who continue to seek solutions.
Monday, November 14, 2022
November 15, 2022 Update
We welcome & encourage the following partners to our efforts to care and serve our unsheltered neighbors. Please offer prayers for these additional individuals and their organizations who daily serve our community's most vulnerable neighbors:
Update from Kitsap County & NW Hospitality's Annual Fundraiser, held Nov. 4:
60+ fantastic supporters were able to join Anton and NW Hospitality for a fantastic party. Together, through all the planning and buildup, they raised $18,175.22 of their $25,000 goal and it’s not too late to donate to get us even closer!
- Update from Pierce County: Ideal Option
- https://my.idealoption.org/recovery-starts-here/?utm_source=G_S_B_WesternWA&campaignid=10097137430&adgroupid=101495901036&adid=522203714545&gclid=CjwKCAiA68ebBhB-EiwALVC-
- Rebekah has continued to search for and get women at risk off the street and into recovery. Sometimes she finds others in need: This week, please pray for a gentleman ("Mark") who was living in the area of 152nd & Pacific and was unable to walk due to swollen, wounded lower extremities. He was asked to "move" despite his health challenges and declined medical services at a healthcare facility as many frequently do. We have not been able to locate him since Wednesday, Nov. 9 and our hope is he reconsidered seeking services in a healthcare center and may be receiving care there now.
- Brotherhood RISE, located on 23rd & MLK in Tacoma, directed by Gerald Daniels. Brotherhood RISE serves the community of Hilltop through the provision of meals, services, and support. (https://www.risecenterofhilltop.org/). Another gentleman who has been chronically homeless, confined also to a wheelchair and weakening was discovered by Brotherhood RISE caseworkers and later transferred to a facility where shelter was provided; no "on street" care was provided because care was provided through another service provider.
- Spanaway United Methodist (http://spanawayumc.com/) Pastor Samara Jenkins and husband Antwone serve our most vulnerable neighbors in the Spanaway and Parkland areas. We had a scare this week when Sheryl (of Comprehensive Life Resources) reached out to me and our Parkland Davita social worker, Shelby, when our homeless dialysis wheelchair-bound gentleman (Jorge) had "gone missing." We found him "alive and well" at Pastor' Samara's United Methodist church. He had been robbed again (which included his cell phone so no contact was able to be made with him), but was in good spirits and physically appeared to be improving as he reported his kidneys were "working again" (cannot confirm this, but it was great to hear he was feeling better and safe within the church's shelter). Additionally, we also learned that Pastor Samara has been able to provide shelter for 12 other individuals, 7 of whom were children in addition to Jorge within her church!
These organizations know the personal stories of many who are living on our streets and I ask that you continue to pray for them and others serving now especially as our weather changes and it becomes cold and dark.
Pierce County officials are also combining efforts to alert advocates such as Rebeckah, Gerald, Samara, Antwon, and other case workers of inclement weather which increases the safety and health risks to our unsheltered neighbors. Through this organized, systematic approach AND your prayers, the three examples noted above have been able to have needs met in impossible circumstances. Please don't stop prayer intentions for all of those--known and unknown--on the street and for those committed to serve them as well. This work takes its toll and there are workers right now who need direct prayers for healthy minds and bodies to continue to serve. Please don't stop praying. God listens and responds!
Saturday, November 5, 2022
November 2022 Update
Thank you for your continued prayers for our Medical Reserve Corps Nurses, outreach caseworkers from CLR & TRM in Pierce County, the HEART team and NW Hospitality in Kitsap County, as well as other 'unsung heroic volunteers' who continue to seek & search daily for our unsheltered neighbors, especially as the weather drastically changes to cold and wet conditions.
The Pierce County Medical Respite Steering committee, led by Elevate Health, have announced the application for NOFA funds for anyone interested in being the owner or operator of a Medical Respite non-congregate shelter:
Application and required attachments are due by 4:30 pm on November 18, 2022. All materials can be found on the Pierce County Human Services website at: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/2779/Solicitations-and-Competitive-B.
Additional solutions are being looked at outside our state.
Brett Feldman, a Los Angeles practitioner, and his wife are making a difference in the provision of healthcare for homeless populations. Please review the following if interested in creative ways for sustainable solutions & pay attention to the degree of compassion that our unsheltered neighbors have for others as well in Brett's example that he provides in the following article:
https://invisiblepeople.tv/street-medicine-bringing-healthcare-to-the-homeless-community/.
Brett articulates much of what we all know intuitively is happening within our society as we struggle to meet the medical needs of this population.
Thank you for continued prayers and work towards solutions. Data is continuing to be collected on individuals & situations related to medical needs within our unsheltered community in an effort to advocate for those who frequently don't have a voice.
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