The Department of Community Services consists of five service divisions:
Arts and Cultural Services
It is the mission of the Pierce County Arts & Cultural Services Division and the Pierce County Arts Commission to deliver programs and services to stimulate participation and growth in the Arts throughout Pierce County by:
- Increasing access to the Arts for all Pierce County residents;
- Developing the Arts industry as a viable and significant tool for community and economic development;
- Developing and implementing educational programs and activities in the Arts as an integral part of basic education, and;
- Celebrating the cultural diversity in Pierce County.
Community Action
Community Action provides support services to low-income residents of Pierce County. Services fall into three categories:
- Survival Services which support efforts to stabilitze families by meeting basic needs (food, clothing, medical, etc.);
- Self-Sufficiency Services which support efforts to move low-income persons toward permanent self-sufficiency; and
- Early Intervention Services which provide positive intervention at an early stage to assist individuals or families.
Community Development
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is the funding source for the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and the Emergency Shelter Grant Program(ESG).
Funding for the Youth Violence Prevention and the Tourism Promotion programs are provided through Pierce County.
Activities for which this division provides funding are:
- homeless housing;
- capital improvements;
- community facilities;
- social services needed to improve living conditions for economically disadvantaged individuals and communities;
- youth violence prevention programs, and;
- tourism promotion for unincorporated areas & small cities and towns.
WSU Pierce County Extension
WSU Pierce County Extension is a three-way partnership with the US Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, and Pierce County. County Extension Agents, as off-site faculty of WSU, provide information and training that helps people develop leadership skills and use research-based knowledge. With a base of over 1,700 volunteers, we reach thousands of Pierce County residents every year. Program areas include: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family Living, and Youth Development. Links to information about our educational programs and volunteer opportunites are listed alphabetically below.
Housing Programs
Pierce County offers a wide variety of services to low-income County residents through the Housing Programs. A combination of several types of financial assistance designed to meet the needs of the clients makes it possible to provide help in many ways. Programs include:
- The Minor Home Repair Program provides grants to eligible low-income homeowners to obtain emergency repair services and disabilty modifications to their homes;
- The Rehabilitation Loan Program provides forgiven, deferred and repayment loans for extensive repair work for owner occupied, single family homes;
- The CHDO Program develops a partnership between local government and the non-profit sector by combining the financial resources to develop affordable rental housing;
- The Downpayment Assistance and First Time Homebuyers Programs provide loans to eligible first time homebuyers for the purchase of their first home.
For a Public GIS MAP of Pierce County, click here.
