Friday, May 3, 2024

Housing The REACH Center

tacoma community house

For homeless youth, TCH partners with other providers like the Beacon Young Adult Shelter in Tacoma and also integrated the REACH Center into TCH after being one of the founding partners. REACH Center programs include education, employment, housing, counseling and advocacy for youth years of age to help them achieve success and reach their life goals. REACH’s 10 peer outreach specialists, all with lived experience, meet one-on-one with homeless youth (many BIPOC and LGBTQ2+) at encampments, shelters, and vehicles.

Employment

Share the afternoon with like-minded individuals as we enjoy lunch, learn about, and celebrate our transformative programs. Your contributions will be used to assist young people as they achieve success in life. Adjustment of status is the process that you can use to apply for lawful permanent resident status (also known as applying for a Green Card) when you are present in the United States. This means that you may get a Green Card without having to return to your home country to complete visa processing.

Make an Appointment

Our Immigration Specialists speak Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Japanese, but we serve individuals who come from different backgrounds and speak many languages. The local economy is robust, driven by technology, aerospace (thanks to Boeing), healthcare, and retail. This mixture of industries creates a dynamic job market but also contributes to a high cost of living, particularly regarding housing prices.

tacoma community house

Development and Communications

Our passion and motivation for change is only one thread to the story of hope – this story can only continue to be written together with YOU. For TCH’s family of dedicated and compassionate staff, "I want TCH to be the best place that they’ve ever worked at,” Khuu said. "We have incredible staff members who serve the community with so much love and care and I want to make sure we hold them up. Opening its doors in 1910, for 113 years Tacoma Community House has been a haven and source of support for immigrants of all backgrounds, and over the years evolved to embrace homeless youth as well. Now in a new chapter in its storied history, TCH has welcomed a new executive director following the departure of Lauren Walker Lee in 2021 after her three years of excellent leadership. For some, earning their GED® is a goal, while others want to increase their skills before entering a local community college. Many students who enroll in the program often go on to further their education or improve their employment standing.

What Immigration Means to Washington State

By 1913, two Methodist deaconesses — Miss Chayer and Miss Branning — worked full-time to offer songs, stories, crafts, and other activities for the neighborhood’s girls. When they outgrew the space and rented a larger house next door (1320 South M Street), they expanded their programming to include activities, clubs, and interest groups for girls and boys. Find helpful resources to help you get back on your feet and on the path to a sustained success.

Adult Basic Education Classes/GED Preparation

Pride events take on urgent meaning - Tacoma Weekly

Pride events take on urgent meaning.

Posted: Fri, 23 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

In 1923, the agency began offering English classes to newly-arrived Filipino immigrants and workshops for immigrants who needed to get their citizenship papers. TCH achieved many “firsts” during this prosperous time — from organizing Tacoma’s first baby clinic and kindergarten class, to hiring the city’s first African American teacher. Built as a Settlement House to serve Tacoma’s Italian and Scandinavian communities, it evolved with the neighborhood’s changing needs and became a prominent center for immigrants of all backgrounds.

Organization Data

An advocate of immigrant and human rights, Khuu serves on the board of directors for Southwest Youth & Family Services, an organization committed to providing resources for low-income families and youth. This grant is a further step toward the transition to clean energy at the Port of Seattle. The REACH Center serves Pierce County youth ages 12-24, through resource navigation related to employment, education, housing, advocacy, and counseling. Life in the United States is challenging for people who do not speak English.

Legal Permanent Residency (Green Cards)

"All of our departments are growing. Our education programs couldn’t be more full – English, adult basic education, GED programs, citizenship classes… Those are ongoing and continue to grow,” Khuu said. Today, TCH provides an array of equity-advancing programming focused on family reunification, economic stability, citizenship, education, safety, opportunity, and quality of life. Talk Time is a unique opportunity for adults in Tacoma Community House’s English Language Acquisition (ELA) Program to practice conversational English with volunteers in our community. Students are able to put their English skills into practice, while both conversation partners have the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences. Talk Time is often the only place where our students can engage in spontaneous conversations, which are important in building their language confidence and fluency.

tacoma community house

Employment Case Manager

We have classes all year-round, Monday through Thursday, at various times in order to accommodate students’ schedules. Citizenship Application Services – FREE ONLY to those who receive Public Assistance such as Food Assistance, TANF, SSI, and Medicaid. For those considering moving to Seattle, it’s important to be ready for its weather – the city is famous for its rainy and cloudy days, especially during fall and winter. Newcomers should also prepare for the high cost of living and potential traffic congestion. Despite these challenges, many find the quality of life, access to nature, and the community's progressive values well worth it. Politically, Seattle leans towards progressive and liberal ideologies, often at the forefront of environmental sustainability and social justice initiatives.

Tacoma Community House provides electronic access to our 990s for those who are interested in the financial strength of our organization.

Now that the pandemic has subsided and gatherings are happening again, TCH is anticipating upward of 500 guests for its annual luncheon coming April 28 at Hotel Murano. Tacoma Community House has a profile in the community for providing high-quality services to people in need. Our annual reports highlight the clients we serve and the successes we facilitate. Please explore these publications and learn more about how we make a difference in the lives of people every day. We help to make Pierce County a stronger community by following our “Housing First” model, which believes in the power of providing  the basic need of safe and stable housing. We connect our participants to education, employment, and like skill development resources to ensure a successful life after program graduation.

Tacoma Community House offers a range of language and literacy programs from adult basic education classes to GED preparation to English Language Acquisition. We have staff that speak Spanish, Thai, Khmer, Laotian, German, Ukrainian, Russian, Vietnamese, Japanese. We can provide services to any clients that speak any language through our translation service partnerships. We are a pathway to change leading to generations of self-sufficient people and a region welcoming of immigrants and refugees. A one-stop youth service center for young people seeking to advance their educational, career, and life goals. Tacoma Community House’s English classes help adults improve their English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

TCH provides English and citizenship classes, employment and legal services, and GED preparation. If you are experiencing housing instability or homelessness, The ACT Program is here to support you. We serve youth ages 12 to 24 in Pierce County with individualized case management support to achieve housing stability. At The REACH Center, our mission is to equip and embolden young people to achieve success in education and employment through a strong network of dedicated partners. The REACH Center promotes effective use of resources, and enhances collaboration with youth and community partners, and offers a unified voice in advocating for systemic change in how young adults participate in their economic future.

Since 1910, Tacoma Community House has promoted social justice and today offers equity-advancing programs through Immigration, Education, Employment, Advocacy, and Housing. This funding is in addition to the $850,000 Jayapal secured for the program in the 2024 federal budget. Jayapal also supporteda $12 million investment to support this project from the newly established Federal Zero-Emission Charging and Infrastructure Grant Program. In summary, Seattle provides a blend of opportunities and experiences, from its economic vitality and political activism to its natural beauty and recreational activities. While adjusting to the cost of living and weather may take time, many who move here find a welcoming and engaging community. Tacoma Community House (TCH) is a Department of Justice recognized organization that provides high quality, low-cost immigration assistance in the greater Puget Sound area.

If you are experiencing homelessness, The REACH Center is here to support you in finding a home and employment that will allow you to be self-sufficient. Through our ACT Program we provide individualized case management support for youth ages who are dealing with homelessness. What an exciting time to get involved in the ministries and mission of Tacoma Community House! I had the privilege of meeting with the new Executive Director, Aimee Khuu, recently. She comes to the organization with a wealth of administrative and organizational skills from the Providence Hospital system. Her father was an immigrant from Vietnam and she has lived int that country as an ESL teacher and volunteer.

Though the name suggests a very local ministry, their approach is to assist a wide variety of people and needs. About 70% of those participating in the language and citizenship classes are Ukrainian! They can also receive pro bono and low bono legal assistance when navigating the legal hurdles to citizenship. You could meet with a small group for about 10 minutes and engage in conversation with them. You would get a list of vocabulary words they are studying and talk to them about their culture, their struggles, how they are adapting to their new situation, and so on. What a personal way to experience the life of one of our newest residents!

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