Housing

With over 1500 children and adults homeless at any point in time, there is a critical need for affordable housing in our community. MDC is one of the leading property developers creating housing for low-income and homeless families. We own or manage nearly 350 units of low-income housing in Pierce County offering families the stability they need to make positive and enduring life changes. It takes a great deal more than a roof to recover from homelessness. Case management support is available to housing clients at MDC, which provides many specialized services to help with this difficult transition.

MDC provides clients with housing placement and services that best meet their needs. Apartments, duplexes, shared housing and single family dwellings comprise the nearly 350 units of housing available at MDC. Four nationally recognized housing models are offered.

Housing First This is permanent supportive housing that places chronically homeless adults into safe, stable housing first. Required weekly health and safety checks are intended to promote a relationship with case management staff. As residents feel safe and ready, services are introduced. Healthcare services are available to Housing First residents for their first year in housing. All other services are available as requested and as appropriate.

Transitional Housing This is short-term housing for homeless families. They receive housing and case management for up to 24 months. Eligible families are homeless with an income of less than 50% of median income. Families are required to pay 30% of their income in rent, and may choose to “transition in place” as they become stable.

Permanent Supportive Housing Housing is available for individuals who may be chemically dependent or have mental or physical disabilities. Housing units may be single room occupancy (SRO) or shared housing. Services are provided to meet each client’s individual needs.

Affordable Housing Offers affordable, well maintained rental housing to those earning less than 60% of the Area median income.

Case Management

Service is offered first as a housing advocate with placement in housing appropriate to client needs, then with continued support helping families and individuals build upon their strengths and overcome barriers and challenges. As a resource throughout a client’s stay in housing, case managers connect clients with other MDC programs or community services that will help them become self-sufficient.

Homeless prevention services  MDC offers other housing services to help families, particularly seniors, stay in their homes.

Energy Assistance is provided to low-income families qualifying for assistance with heating their homes.

Weatherization helps households conserve energy and reduce costs through conservation education, insulation services and furnace repair for the economically disadvantaged in Tacoma.

Emergency Minor Home Repair extends home ownership for seniors and disabled homeowners on a fixed income needing assistance to make minor, but critically necessary, repairs to their home.

Child Care in licensed daycare facilities is provided to homeless parents seeking housing, employment, medical treatment and counseling assistance.

Community Voice mail gives families a way to receive important messages about employment, medical care, and education. MDC works with community agencies to provide free voice mail for their clients.

Whom We Serve

Nearly 900 individuals from Pierce County are housed every year in housing units located in Tacoma, Lakewood, Spanaway, Parkland, and Puyallup. All are low-income with households earning between zero and 60% of median income. Many are homeless or at risk of homelessness, living in shelters, or unstable/unsafe living conditions. Some have developmental disabilities, AIDS/HIV, mental illness, or chemical dependency. While all ethnicities experience homelessness within our community, statistics show there is a higher percentage African American or Blacks are that are homeless within our community when compared to their overall percentage of the population. For example: 8% of the population in Tacoma is identified as African American or Black, while 26% of the homeless population is identified as African American or Black. Twenty percent of housing clients served are African American or Black.

Outcomes