Crisis Services

Crisis services are the last resort for many families in Pierce County. Emergency rent and utility assistance, emergency shelters, food banks, and public assistance programs often make the difference between whether or not families are able to maintain housing stability, go hungry, or have enough money to heat their homes. A significant percentage of the population in our community receives public assistance, keeping them from outright homelessness or even greater hunger.

Included in the Pierce County Community Wellness Indicators for Crisis Services are the percentage of Pierce County residents accessing public assistance programs such as TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Basic Food and GAU (General Assistance for the Unemployable), requests for program referrals, and emergency payment services that help with rent and utilities.

	Pierce County DSHS Case Loads (1q2010)
1a	Total Number and Percent of Residents Accessing DSHS	1f	Households Using Food Bank Services
1b	Total Number and Percent of Residents Accessing DSHS Basic Needs Programs	1g	Annual Homeless Count
1c	Total Number and Percent of Seniors Accessing DSHS Services by Age Cohort	1h	Emergency Beds Available, Emergency Bed Usage, and Shelter Turn-Aways
1d	Total Number and Percent of Residents Accessing DSHS Services by Age Cohort	1i	2-1-1 Calls Related to Emergency Services
1e	Households Accessing Emergency Payment Services	1j	Homeless Families Counted