Housing Resources
From Pierce County's Housing Assistance and Programs Website
Pierce County’s Human Services offers a variety of services, programs, and resources to assist residents with their housing needs. They include a variety of grant and loan programs to assist renters, homebuyers, homeowners and affordable housing developers.
If you are experiencing homelessness, call 2-1-1 for on-demand help.
If you are homeless or fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking, see Pierce County’s Homeless Programs for information.
Housing Options for Renters
The Pierce County Rental Assistance Program has stopped accepting applications.
A new program will be launched in 2023, with new criteria and applications.
Resources
Program Structure
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) pays heating bills directly to utility companies for eligible applicants. Payments are based on eligible household’s fuel usage for the past 12 months and income.
Eligibility
Pierce County’s Low-Income residents outside of the City of Tacoma are eligible. See the Pierce County Energy assistance webpage for eligible income levels, which are updated annually. If you are in City of Tacoma, click here to find out more about the City of Tacoma program.
Next Steps
Federal law prohibits discrimination in the provision of housing or access to housing based on membership in certain protected classes of persons or personal status: race, color, national origin or ethnicity, sex, religion, familial status, mental and physical disability and use of a service animal or guide dog by a disabled person. These classes and statuses are ‘protected’ by federal law. Washington State law codifies the federal protections and adds protection to creed and marital status. Pierce County also legally protects residents based on age.
Resources
- Read more at Pierce County’s Fair Housing Resource Page
- File a complaint with Fair Housing Center of Washington
Housing Options for Homeowners
More information coming soon
Additional Resources
Program Structure
Mortgage assistance is given to current homeowners at risk of foreclosure due to COVID-19 related loss in employment or reduced wages. Eligible homeowners will receive foreclosure prevention counseling and up to 4 months of mortgage assistance ($6,000 cap) paid directly to the loan servicer, bank or mortgage company.
Eligibility
- Owners must own homes in the City of Tacoma or the Pierce County Consortium (see consortium members below).
- Homeowners must have experienced loss of employment or reduction in wages due to COVID-19
- and have an income at or below 80 percent Area Median Income for Pierce County.
Pierce County Consortium Members:
City of DuPont City of Buckley Unincorporated Pierce County
City of University Place Town of Carbonado City of Fife
Town of Eatonville City of Edgewood City of Milton
City of Fircrest City of Gig Harbor City of Roy
City of Orting City of Puyallup City of Sumner
Town of Ruston Town of South Prairie Town of Steilacoom
Town of Wilkeson
Homeowners that are outside the City of Tacoma or the Pierce County Consortium in need of support should contact the Washington State Foreclosure Prevention hotline at 1-877-894-4663.
Next Steps
Apply to the portal below. If you are an eligible homeowner in the City of Tacoma, apply to the City of Tacoma.
All others should be directed to the Pierce County Consortium.
City of Tacoma Mortgage Assistance Applications | Pierce County Consortium Mortgage Assistance Applications |
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Additional Resources
Program Structure
Pierce County Human Services provides two programs to assist households with health and safety repairs of their home.
- The Home Repair Program provides grants for no-cost emergency health and safety repairs.
- The Home Rehabilitation Loan Program, offered through a partnership with the Pierce County Community Development Corporation, provides 20-year low-interest loans for rehabilitation.
Eligibility
- Applicants must reside in Pierce County, outside the cities of Tacoma or Lakewood. If you are a Tacoma or Lakewood homeowner, please visit their webpages for information on repair.
- Applicants must be low income (Below 80% Area Median Income). If you are unsure about your income level, visit the websites below to find income limits based on family size.
- Participants must own their home
- Unit must be occupied by the owner for at least 1 year at the time of application
- [Home Rehab only] Owner must meet the Pierce County Community Development Corporation’s Loan Policy
Next Steps
Program Structure
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) pays heating bills directly to utility companies for eligible applicants. Payments are based on eligible household’s fuel usage for the past 12 months and income.
Eligibility
Pierce County’s Low-Income residents outside of the City of Tacoma are eligible. See the Pierce County Energy assistance webpage for eligible income levels, which are updated annually. If you are in City of Tacoma, click here to find out more about the City of Tacoma program.
Next Steps
Program Structure
The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to reduce their energy costs by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety. The Home Weatherization program functions as a grant to owner-occupiers and owners of rental units serving low-income families.
The County provides the following Weatherization measures:
- Home assessment
- Insulation (floor, attic, duct, and walls)
- Air sealing
- Heat loss reduction
- Test all gas appliances
- Furnace repairs
- Carbon Monoxide detectors
- Improve indoor air quality
- Energy conservation measures
Have you or someone in your family got Asthma, COPD or other respiratory issues? Weatherization has partnered with the Pierce County Health Department to assist households in a joint project called Weatherization Plus Health.
Eligibility
Pierce County Human Services provides weatherization services to qualifying low-income residents outside the city of Tacoma.
During the pandemic, we’ve seen a variety of households become eligible for services, so all interested parties are encouraged to apply.