Tumwater partners anew with TOGETHER! for rental housing assistance

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In response to the rising number of families struggling with homelessness, the Tumwater City Council entered anew into a service provider agreement with TOGETHER! to provide rental assistance to families who are at risk of losing housing.

During a meeting yesterday Tues., Feb. 1, the council agreed that Tumwater would provide a total of $55,000 funding to the organization. The $5,000 will come from excess funds from 2021; the additional $50,000 will come from the city’s General Fund.

TOGETHER! is a Tumwater-based non-profit organization that aims to advance the health and well-being of young people.  

TOGETHER! Program Director Sierra Abrams said their project’s goal is to provide funding for rental assistance and address barriers as to why families are facing housing instability. “We always look at the barriers as to why the families are facing housing instability. Is it because of employment issues, transportation, or something else?” Abrams said. “The staff works on addressing these root causes, in addition getting people housed.”

In 2021, the project provided rental assistance to 40 families and one adult. This year, the group aims to prevent at least 50 families from being homeless.

“It was not just the housing support; it was also food and access to counseling and other resources like clothing, hygiene supplies, and other basic needs,” Abrams said. 

Community schools coordinators and counselors will identify the beneficiaries who will receive up to $1,500 rental assistance per year. 

Low-income families with children who are students of Tumwater School District and families escaping domestic violence are eligible to apply for the program. 

“This program exemplifies the effect of a thousand dollars, that a $1,000 could help a family stay in their homes, and it’s wonderful that we could be a part of it,” said Council Member Eileen Swarthout.

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