City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 04/28/2020 06:55 PM PDT
What's Going On?
City of Tacoma Launches Rental Assistance Program
The City of Tacoma is providing $1.2 million in funding from the Housing Trust Fund to assist households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with rent payment. 45 percent of the funding will be set aside for people of color.
To qualify, households must live in the city limits of Tacoma and have experienced loss of employment or reduction at an income level at or below 50 percent Area Median Income for Pierce County.
Qualifying households are eligible to receive a one-time award of up to $1,000 per household, which is paid directly to the landlord. The application will be accepted through May 6, 2020, and will be included in an award lottery.
To apply for the City’s rental assistance program, you can submit an online application here.
Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center Accepting Yard Waste from City of Tacoma Residents
From April 20 through May 3, the Tacoma Recovery and Transfer Center will be open to self-haul yard waste from City of Tacoma solid waste residential customers only. You can read more about this phased approach to resuming services at TRTC here.
Community Spotlight
Thank You Essential Workers
Image from Wilddhearts.com
Many thanks to our essential workers who are working to keep things going during this difficult time. I encourage everyone to be courteous and patient with one another during COVID-19 and beyond.
District 3's Top 3
Disaster Distress Helpline
If you are feeling distressed because of the pandemic, there is a Disaster Distress Helpline that may help. To receive free counseling, please call (800) 985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746 for assistance.
100+ Restaurants Still Serving Take-out and Delivery in Tacoma and Pierce County
Dine Pierce County has compiled a list of local restaurants that allow you to enjoy great food via take-out and delivery. Support our incredible local businesses. Click here to view the list.
The Peace Bus Breakfast Fund
The Peace Bus is an organization dedicated to the promotion of peace and giving to communities in need. It's founder, Kwabi Amoah-Forson, wants to ensure no child goes without breakfast in Tacoma. Since March 23, 2020, the Peace Bus has distributed breakfast cereal to dozens of families in Tacoma who may not be able to supply breakfast at this time due to COVID-19 and school closures. Families in need of this service are encouraged to text their name and the location they'd like to meet with Kwabi to receive the cereal to this number: (253) 204-7227.
Other Updates
Virtual Town Hall - April 30
The City of Tacoma has launched T-Town Hall, a new virtual community event series of four weekly conversations on issues of current importance to the community. The April 30 event will be hosted by Council Member Walker and I, take place from 6 – 7:30 p.m. and focus on the City’s rental assistance program.
By now, you should have received information from the U.S. Census Bureau about the 2020 Census in the mail. The federal government uses Census data to make decisions on how $675 billion will be spent across the country. This funding supports education, public health, transportation, and other programs and grants that the City of Tacoma relies on to serve the community. The data is also used as a basis for the boundaries of state legislative and congressional districts. The Census is only conducted every 10 years, so this is your chance to be counted.
You can respond to the Census at 2020census.gov, by filling out the form you received in the mail, or over the phone by calling (844) 330-2020. Please note that the Census survey does not ask about a person's citizenship status.
COVID-19 Resources
Make It Tacoma - https://makeittacoma.com/
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department - https://www.tpchd.org/
TPU Bill Assistance - https://www.mytpu.org/payment-billing/payment-information/payment-assistance/
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee COVID-19 Response - https://coronavirus.wa.gov/
