Human Services

The City designates 1% of its general fund to support human services in the Lakewood community. It does this through its biennial Human Services Grant cycle. Area social, health, and human services organizations are encouraged to apply to the City for funding.

Shannon Bennett
Human Services Coordinator
(253) 983-7774
Email: SBennett
To email Shannon Bennett add her email handle before @cityoflakewood.us

Rental Housing Safety Program
Phone: (253) 983-7850
Email: [email protected]

Domestic ViolenceHousing Programs
Shelter and Homeless ServicesRental-Housing Safety Program
TacomaprobonoHuman Services Grants
Community Collaboration
Job and Career Training
Community Resources

About

The City’s Human Services Program offers three major services:

  • Uses money awarded by the Lakewood City Council to support community-based organizations that provide critical services. Use of money is based on recommendations from the Community Services Advisory Board
  • Leads the Lakewood Community Collaboration. This brings local organizations and community members together at Lakewood City Hall every month. They aim to identify and tackle issues related to our children, youth and families.
  • Partner with the Lakewood’s Promise Advisory Board to meet the needs of children, youth and families. Specifically, they focus on living wage jobs and youth mental health.
Cover page for the Community Needs Summary
Community Needs Summary (PDF)
Cover page for the 2020 Strategy document.
2020 Strategy (PDF)
Cover page for the affordable housing and homelessness document.
Affordable Housing and Homelessness (PDF)
Click on the links to see Human Services statistics and strategies.

Lakewood Community Collaboration

The Lakewood Community Collaboration is a group of organizations and city members that work to make Lakewood better. The Collaboration meets monthly during  September through June and is open to everyone interested in working together for a healthy, thriving community.

Meetings are normally held the second Wednesday of the month from 9 – 10:30 a.m. and may be attended in person or virtually.  The meeting site fluctuates between off-site locations and the City Council Chambers at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St. SW.   Detailed meeting invites are issued to Community Collaboration members at least one week in advance of each meeting. 

Email Human Services Coordinator Shannon Bennett to be added to monthly meeting email announcements and community updates.

To email Shannon Bennett combine the first letter of her first name with her full last name and add @cityoflakewood.us

Join our meeting via Microsoft Teams with this link
Meeting ID: 295 327 203 318
Passcode: rZHW4u

Workforce Development and Career Training

These career fields are in high demand, and local training programs are available to get you started.

  • Non-Destructive Testing
  • Electrician/Low-Voltage
    • Everyone on the block has been installing doorbell cameras and security devices lately – that’s the role of low-voltage electricians. You’ll tinker and program new and innovative technologies and build a great career doing it.
    • Career Information
    • Training Program
  • HVAC
    • Hot summer days, cold winter nights – HVAC professionals are needed to restore the balance, keeping residents and workers cool and comfortable during extremes.
    • Career Information
    • Training Program
  • Surgical Technology
    • Modern medicine is a marvel, and this career path will put you on the cutting edge. Master innovative technology and be involved in life-saving work through a career in surgical tech.
    • Career Information
    • Training Program
  • Cybersecurity
    • Professionals in this field are sorely needed; more than you know. Leaks, ransomware, outages – cybersecurity is a hot topic these days as the stakes for failure keep getting higher in a digital world.
    • Career Information
    • Training Program
  • Computer Programming
    • We stare at devices all day long nowadays – someone is behind the scenes programming every function we perform. Whether you pursue game development, user interface design, or mobile app development, you’ll find yourself in a rewarding and fruitful career lane.
    • Career Information
    • Training Program
  • Graphic Technologies
    • Good design wins in business. Good design makes services more engaging. Good design makes tasks easier. Good design is uncommon. You are needed – go out there, be creative, and affect positive change through good design.
    • Career Information
    • Training Program

Community Resources

Looking for community resources or assistance?  Here is a list of agencies within Pierce County that assist people in need:

Community Resource List:

Download this list of available community resources (PDF)