fAMILY Operated, community driven
About Us
Founded in 2008, The House of Matthew started from a kitchen table by family that saw an pressing urgent need to address the emerging homelessness crisis. The House of Matthew began underfunded solely operating from help of volunteers, truly operating as a grass roots organization. They quickly realized a two significant barriers homeless individuals faced to receiving services: their fear of leaving their camp space and not having a home to return to; and in other circumstances many went unserviced due to not meeting the eligibly criteria for assistance through other community programs. In 2009, the the House of Matthew developed a Crisis Team to walk the streets of a highly populated homeless areas - South Tacoma Way and Tacoma Avenue. The Crisis Team served homeless individuals on the slide walks, bringing services to them. Many were chronically homeless, however, much of their needs were easier to manage with proper introduction to medical evaluations, medications and advocacy, and connecting them with the right supportive services to address immediate needs. As an added level of commitment, they only had one criteria to accessing services through their organization - being homeless. Seeing their approach working, they decided to continue their mission adding case mangers, mental health services and eventually added housing.
The House of Matthew is knowledgeable in understanding how to properly service homeless individuals committed to a new beginning because they dedicate their time to sufficiently understanding how homelessness happened with each individual they serve.
In 2013, the House of Matthew developed a Life-Skills and Education program Homeward Bound creating a valuable partnership with the Downtown Tacoma Library focusing on homeless prevention.
Today,the House of Matthew Permanent & Supportive Housing while still providing access to much needed individual social services, Homeward Bound is now servicing the community at their 5,000sqft House of Matthew Headquarters located a few blocks away on South Broadway Street. They've expanded services to providing an in-house clothing and essential needs bank, and furniture bank to assist those in their transition toward sufficiency. The clothing bank is mostly used by individuals that are preparing for job interviews or simply the need for weather appropriate clothes for adults and children. The essential needs section is filled with diapers and wipes, some small appliances, home goods, and age appropriate toys for children. The furniture bank serves to establish a new home foundation with beds, dining room sets, and other items needed to be a well rounded home.
For Thanksgiving the House of Matthew host Thanksgiving Dinner providing a warm homestyle dinner and hair cuts for those experiencing homeless and may be away from family.
Every December, the House of Matthew hosts their huge Holiday Shopping Event to assist low-income individuals and families with gifts, clothing and other essential items for adults and children in need.
To add to servicing the community to aid in their mission to reducing barriers, The House of Matthew operates and owns various types of shared housing units throughout Pierce County.
The House of Matthew Permanent and Supportive Housing efforts are primarily funded by private donations, fundraisers, sponsors and partnerships - from people like you!
Individuals can submit a Request For Housing form to be contacted
* Our adult life-skills classes are open to the public( for men and women).
* Our young adult life-skill classes are open to the public
* Our young adult life-skill classes are open to the public