Get Involved

The Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness connects and mobilizes people to take action to end homelessness:

Ways to Connect

Join the Coalition Listserv

• The Coalition listserv is a simple and quick way to plug into the Coalition. Learn about events and meetings; make inquiries about needed resources and share important information with a broad network
• Through the listserv meetings are announced, inquiries and connections made, and questions asked of fellow listserv registrants. The Coalition uses a listserv to communicate about meetings and events and distribute information of interest.
• This listserv is open to all – there is no limitation on who can join or send to the listserv. Any content that is respectful and about preventing or addressing homelessness is allowed. The Listserv currently has about 750 members.
• Coalition committees and workgroups may also have specific listservs to which anyone may subscribe.
• Learn more and register for the Coalition email lists here: http://pchomeless.org/Home/Listserv

Attend Friday Coalition Meetings

• The Coalition hosts a weekly meeting open to all who are committed to ending homelessness in Pierce County. Agenda items include “on the street” reports about encampments and emerging issues, presentations by service and activist groups, government agency updates, advocacy invitations, and small group interaction.
• The meeting is currently held via Zoom from 9:00am to 11:00am each Friday. Register at http://pchomeless.org/

Become a member of the Coalition – join us regularly

• The Coalition is an open table for all who are committed to ending homelessness and engaging with respect. There is no membership requirement. “Members” are those who participate.
• As a network, we welcome and invite Coalition members to share relevant information learned at the meetings of alliances, government entities, task forces, workshops, conferences, consortiums, organizations, etc. Any Coalition members may share relevant learnings at a Friday Meeting, with the Steering Committee, or with another Coalition committee and workgroup.
• Help to guide the work of the Coalition by participating in weekly Steering Committee meetings, which are open to all who register at http://www.pchomeless.org

Take Action

Participate in Current Coalition Activities
As an all-volunteer organization, we count on the energy, time, and commitment of all to connect and mobilize people to act to end homelessness. We entrust the Steering Committee to guide our collaborations, and to promote activities that support the Coalition’s mission. Coalition members are currently engaged in the actions listed below (with contact persons for information).

Register for any meetings on the Coalition website home page: http://pchomeless.org/

• Enacting an emergency distribution network assisting those living homeless during extreme weather events.
  Safe Sites 4 All Committee. Contact Jan Runbeck janetrunbeck@gmail.com
• Building capacity for safe parking through collaboration with faith communities and governmental entities
  Safe Sites 4 All Committee. Contact Jan Runbeck janetrunbeck@gmail.com
• Researching and promoting housing solutions for extremely low-income residents (priority for those under 30% Area Median Income (AMI)
  Housing Committee. Contact Adam Reichenberger AReichenberger@tpchd.org
• Developing and disseminating accurate and timely information about homelessness and housing solutions.
  Media/Communications Workgroup. Contact Theresa Powers-Drutis tpdrutis@nctacoma.org or Laurie Davenport vls@tacomaprobono.org
• Identifying and creating posts for Coalition Facebook page
  Media/Communications Workgroup. Contact Dana Peregrine danaperegrine@hotmail.com
• Monitoring and responding to city and county plans and actions
  Attend Friday Coalition meetings. Register to attend at http://pchomeless.org/
• Planning Friday Coalition meetings
  Attend planning session at conclusion of Friday Coalition meetings, about 11:00am.
  Contact Rob Huff to learn more, rhuff@pchomeless.org
• Ensuring the Coalition functions as an anti-racist organization.
  Race and Equity Committee. Contact Rosemary Powers rpowers@eou.edu
• Attending to the operations of the Coalition.
  Governance Workgroup – Rosemary Powers rpowers@eou.edu
• For general questions email info@pchomeless.org

Advocate for housing justice at any level:

• Make sure your voice is heard.
• Write letters, add comments on relevant digital news articles and social media sites, join public protests and door-to-door conversations, sign on to legislative actions, testify in public meetings, talk personally with elected officials.
• Organize an advocacy workgroup and invite other Coalition participants to join you.
• Learn about and consider actions in support of state and national efforts to end homelessness: The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (https://www.wliha.org), The National Low Income Housing Coalition (https://nlihc.org), The National Homelessness Law Center (https://homelesslaw.org), National Health Care for the Homeless (https://nhchc.org), United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (https://www.usich.gov).
• Volunteer with Social Service and Activist Organizations

Non-profit service providers and activist organizations across Pierce County offer opportunities to join in their work as a volunteer. Many of these are ongoing participants in the Coalition.

View a list of organizations and agencies here: http://pchomeless.org/Agencies, and learn about specific opportunities through participation in the Coalition Friday meetings

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