Would you like to own a home?

NEED HELP BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME?

We can help! Our housing counselors offer pre-purchase homeownership counseling and homebuyer education seminars.

Contact us if you are thinking about buying a house in the next couple of years.

We can help you plan for homeownership, improve credit, develop spending plans, and learn about down payment assistance programs.

UPCOMING HOMEBUYER EDUCATION SEMINARS

DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS

Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs: http://www.wshfc.org/buyers/downpayment.htm
Learn about funds for first-time homebuyers, people with disabilities, veterans, and school employees.

City of Tacoma Down Payment Assistance: www.cityoftacoma.org

Pierce County Down Payment Assistance: www.co.pierce.wa.us

Homeownership Center of Tacoma: www.hct-homes.org
Homeownership options and down payment assistance for specific properties.

PC2 Homeownership Program: www.pc2online.org
Down payment assistance for households that include a person with a documented developmental disability.

Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity: www.tpc-habitat.org
Homeownership program for very low-income households.

OTHER RESOURCES

Homeownership Center of Washington: http://www.homeownership-wa.org/

Washington State Housing Finance Commission: www.wshfc.org

Fair Housing Center of Washington: http://www.fhcwashington.org/

South Sound Outreach | How Can We Help?

Donations make our services possible. Photo courtesy of FISH Food Banks

Life’s Unexpected Turns

Sometimes a life takes an unexpected turn and all the plans, hopes and dreams vanish.  When you are an independent, goal oriented, person accustomed to hard work proud of your problem solving skills directing others in navigating the many pitfalls and dramas that present themselves to other persons’ lives. How could this woman allow my own life to change so dramatically and stand by and become paralyzed – totally unable to dig myself out of that quicksand pit that had a consuming hold on me?    Four months ago my grandchild convinced me to go to the Food Bank and promised to go with me.  This young adult (15 yrs old) who stood beside me and has been a major support for my struggle at getting a grip on the life that seemed so shattered.  Three years of negative occurrences can destroy one’s self confidence.  You question every move you try to make, over-think every statement you might say, learn to stay in your room, read multiple books to escape into any other world.  Somehow I am even uncomfortable leaving my own home.  I am broke and am selling personal items to make ends meet.

The Turning Point – the Trip to the Food Bank

Consulting the computer we locate the closest FISH Food Bank on 85^th and Portland Ave.  The line was ever so long.  Everyone was helpful and ushered me to the front of the line (I used a walker for balance issues at this time).  I was given a little heart token with a number on it and directed to the front counter to sign up.  As I stumbled over my name, address, etc I felt a warm arm surround my shoulder and a soft kind voice say, “Let me take her to my office.  I think this lady needs my help.”  I was so near tears and felt so out of my element. I hate to ask anyone for help.  I’m used to doing for myself and being the one helping others.  But Oh my gosh!   Stella the wonder worker did her magic!  She signed me up for the food stamp program, asked about how I was managing to heat my home – which was pretty darn cold, made me an appointment for the following day at the 11^th Street South Sound Outreach Services office and for the first time in years I felt like there was hope.  I had enough food to fix that grandchild a nutritious after school snack  (he lives with me 50 % of the time) and many enjoyable meals thru the week. Can you even guess what else Stella helped me with?  Please stay tuned for the remainder of my story.

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Stella Brumley has worked with South Sound Outreach Services for a little over a year.  Her primary focus is ensuring that people are treated with dignity as they seek assistance.  She is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Washington – Tacoma.