Volunteerism
Watch the Episode
Original Air Date: 12/10/2009
Volunteerism
As Americans we take pride in being an altruistic people. In 2008, nearly 62 million people, roughly 26 percent of the adult population, contributed 8-billion hours of volunteer service.
Recession-battered budgets and high unemployment have made the need for volunteers even greater.
Over 12 percent of Pierce County residents live in poverty. In Tacoma that number is 18 percent. The Tacoma Rescue Mission must turn away 40 shelter seeking families daily.
The Puyallup School District recognizes over 300 children as homeless Tacoma Schools have 1,400. The actual numbers may be much higher.
According to a 2009 Pierce County survey homelessness increased by 19-percent over 2008. Today, the face of hunger and homelessness is often the face of a child.
As winter and the holidays turn our attention to the needs of others, what’s being done? And how can each one of us help solve the problem?
Guests
David Curry, CEO – Tacoma Rescue Mission
On top of overseeing the 12 programs that the Tacoma Rescue Mission facilitates around Pierce County, David is an outspoken advocate for the homeless in our area. He regularly participates in activities that raise awareness for those who are less fortunate, following the Mission's goal of helping "the least of these."
Visit the Tacoma Rescue Mission's website here.
Cindy Huff, Executive Director, Families Unlimited Network
Cindy oversees the work of the Families Unlimited Network, which provides a food bank, after school programs, and emergency assistance to families in need in Pierce County. The Families Unlimited Network seeks to help families undergoing crisis due to loss of employment, the stress of single parenting, or family dysfunction by building a community of support around them.
Visit the Families Unlimited Network's website here.
Lisa Heintz, Volunteer Coordinator – Helping Hand House
Lisa has been in social work for the past nine years and has been with the Helping Hand House for the past four. Before she was a volunteer coordinator, Lisa worked hands-on with families and individuals in the community, helping them find assistance and housing.
Visit the Helping Hand House's website here.
Stats and Facts
According to the 2009 Homeless Survey, there are 2,083 homeless men, women, and children in Pierce County. Homelessness increased by 19% overall from 2008, with the vast majority of the increase in those housed in transitional units. There was a 39% increase in the number of families compared to 2008. There were 21% more children in families compared to 2008.
One of the major barriers faced by families and individuals exiting emergency shelters and transitional housing is an insufficiency of available permanent housing that is affordable for low and very low-income households.
It is estimated that 102,300 people will face homelessness in the state of Washington in 2009. This accounts for 1.5% of the population of the state.
90% of low-income households in Pierce County rely on some form of food assistance.
The unemployment rate in Pierce County currently sits at 8.8%, down from its peak of 10.2% in March, but still notably higher than the 5.4% unemployment rate this time last year.
Pierce County's food banks are now serving more than 87,800 individuals a month.
According to The National Center on Family Homelessness, only 11 states have more homeless children than Washington.
Send your comments and questions to NorthwestNow@kbtc.org
