Community Health & Wellness

Gig Harbor-area Community Resource Guide

Posted on November 21st, 2025 By:

Welcome to Gig Harbor Now’s

Community Resource Guide for the Gig Harbor-area

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering who to call, where to start, or how to get help locally, this guide is for you. The Gig Harbor area has many organizations that help keep local families supported, fed, informed, and connected. But sometimes the trickiest part of getting help is knowing what’s available. Whether you’re facing a difficult situation or are concerned about someone you know, you’ll find clear contacts and quick descriptions of local resources below.

911: Life-Threatening Emergencies

For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. 

Emergency calls in our region are handled by two primary call centers:

Text-to-911

The above call centers both accept Text-to-911 messages. In fact, as of June 2023, all 911 call centers statewide can receive Text-to-911 messages, according to the Washington State Department of Emergency Management (WMD). The agency provides these texting tips: 

  • Text 911 if you have medical emergencies that prevent speaking; are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities; are in situations like home invasions or domestic violence when calling could be unsafe. If you’re trying not to be heard, remember to silence your phone.
  • “Call if you can, text if you can’t,” is the public service message state officials use to communicate that voice calls are faster, but texting may be safer in some situations.
  • Photos, videos, or emojis won’t go through.
  • Callers still need to text their location, it’s not automatic.
  • Callers need to keep their phones with them after making contact.
  • Don’t send a “test” message.

How to use Text-to-911

  1. Open your phone’s text messaging app.
  2. Enter 911 in the “To” field.
  3. Text your exact location (including city) and the nature of the emergency.
  4. Press “Send” and be prepared to respond to follow-up questions.

– Washington State Department of Emergency Management

South Sound 911’s texting tips page

Kitsap 911’s texting tips page

 

Immediate Help & Referral Services

South Sound 211

There are seven regions within WA 211, the statewide information and referral system Gig Harbor is part of the South Sound 211 region that supports Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis counties. It operates as a free, confidential, one-stop phone call/texting referral service and online directory anyone can use. The service links those in need with up-to-date local resources. It serves students, parents, older adults, and folks just trying to get through a tough moment.

When using the service, trained specialists listen to what’s going on and then match callers with local programs providing assistance in areas such as:

  • Utility bill payments
  • Finding free or affordable food, housing and healthcare
  • Locating childcare and after-school programs
  • Entrance to warming or cooling centers
  • Elder care
  • Crisis support

See the 211 Services Flyer and this video for more info. To get help at South Sound 211:

  • Dial the three digit number 2-1-1 on your cell phone or home phone. The South Sound 211 Call Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 24-hour voicemail.
  • Browse the online resource database; the database is statewide so make sure to tap “Add my location” under the directory’s search bar and enter your zip code so the results filter to local places in your region.
  • Text “211WAOD” to the number 898211
  • Email [email protected]

Kitsap Community Resources

KCR.org is a nonprofit social services agency for low-income Kitsap County residents that offers online guides to a variety of places those in need can find local aid. Guides examples include the:

The Washington Recovery Helpline

This confidential program provides referral services in crisis intervention for Washington State residents. Professionally trained volunteers and staff are available to provide emotional support 24 hours a day, and offer local treatment resources for substance abuse, problem-gambling and mental health.

Washington Connection

This service markets itself as a fast and easy way to apply for a variety of public aid in the following categories. Click the “See If I Qualify” button to get started.

  • Food
  • Cash
  • Childcare
  • Long-Term care
  • Medicare savings programs
  • Medical assistance (For those age 65 or older, blind, or disabled

Homelessness & Emergency Shelters

Harbor Hope Center

This Gig Harbor youth shelter offers emergency housing for young people in need at 3781 Rosedale St. NW in Gig Harbor. Here’s a closer look at what’s offered there:

  • Housing for youth ages 18 to 24 only
  • Shelter and food
  • Mentoring and referrals to other aid
  • Transportation

Homeless Safe Parking Program

The nonprofit group Family Promise of Puget Sound offers a safe place to park for folks living in vehicles at Gig Harbor’s St. John’s Episcopal Church. The service is available to cars (but no RVs or tents) from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily in a limited number of spots and requires a pre-screening process at signup. A case manager also helps with future housing and employment placement. Visit the Consultation page online to fill out the intake form. Family Promise of Puget Sound was previously called Family Promise of Pierce County.

Pierce County’s Shelter Bed Availability Database

Check for open spots at Pierce County shelters online.

  • Openings are updated on weekdays by 10 a.m.

KCR.org’s Housing Solutions Centers for Kitsap County

These centers are a first-stop option for matching folks with emergency shelters, rental and deposit assistance, and landlord referrals. The centers are managed by KCR with coordinated partners across Kitsap County.

Each center offers help with:

  • Finding open spots at local emergency shelters
  • Housing rental and deposit assistance
  • Landlord referrals and subsidized housing
  • Transportation to shelters

Center locations:

  • Port Orchard, 3200 SE Rainshadow Ct. | (360) 473-2146
  • Bremerton, 1201 Park Ave. | (360) 473-2035
  • Bremerton’s Coffee Oasis for ages 13–25 only, 837 4th St. | (360) 377-5560

Tacoma Rescue Mission

425 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma
(253) 383-4493

The mission offers separate men’s and women’s overnight shelters, free food and aid:

  • Breakfast daily from 7:30–8:30 a.m.
  • Dinner daily from 5–6 p.m.
  • Case management
  • Recovery programs
  • Mail and laundry services
  • Clothing room on Wednesdays from 1–3 p.m.
  • Free legal clinic and employment help.

SNAP Benefit Help (Tacoma-Pierce Public Health Dept.)

Seasonal Warming/Cooling Shelters (Tacoma-Pierce Public Health Dept.)

These indoor areas provide somewhere to go during extreme cold, snow, rain or heat, depending on the season. Pierce County made a map of locations countywide.

  • For regional resources outside of Pierce County to the north, Call 360-373-3000 before 7 p.m. for free transportation to the nearest warming shelter available in Port Orchard, Silverdale, Kingston, and Bremerton.
  • The warming stations are offered 24 hours a day, everyday, from November to March each year.

YMCA Shower Access Program

YMCA locations offer showers to those in need with no membership required. The shower program launched in spring 2020 in response to COVID-19 restrictions, leaving many without homes and a place to shower every day. The details are:

  • Free 30-minute access from 6 to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Tom Taylor Family YMCA, 10550 Harbor Hill Drive, Gig Harbor.
  • All centers will stop accepting shower guests after 7:30 p.m.
  • Aside from Gig Harbor, other nearby locations include:

Bremerton Family YMCA | Monday-Friday | 6-8 a.m.
2261 Homer Jones Dr, Bremerton

Haselwood Family YMCA | Monday-Friday | 6-8 a.m.
3909 NW Randall Way, Silverdale

Food Assistance

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank

4303 Burnham Dr., Gig Harbor | (253) 858-6179 | [email protected] | ghpfish.org

With community support and donations, the Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank provides food and other assistance to greater Gig Harbor, Fox Island and the Key Peninsula. FISH is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays; and is closed Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. For more info., call FISH at 253-858-6179 or check out the following links:

Food Backpacks 4 Kids

9127 154th Ave Ct NW, Lakebay | (253) 857-7401 | [email protected]

Food Backpacks 4 Kids is on the Key Peninsula and helps students throughout the Peninsula School District, as well as other needing help. The program offers food and assistance to youth and families with various programs that are always free and confidential:

  1. Food Backpacks Program: Nearly 5,000 backpacks filled with child-friendly food were provided last school year to students at 14 schools within Peninsula School District. The program is open to any Peninsula School District student; and more schools can be added by request.
  2. Family Resource Center: Available to anyone in need of assistance beyond food. Free diapers and wipes, diaper cream, feminine hygiene products, dish soap, laundry soap, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, and more. Trained staff can help people navigate local resources during times of difficulty.
  3. Care Cupboard: Allows children to choose foods they need for themselves and their families to take home; kids can discreetly pack their own backpacks. Last school year, we provided over 19,000 pounds of snacks and easy meal items for kids to access at school.
  4. Family Pantry: The pantry is available to anyone in need of food. Just walk in. Registration isn’t required prior to your first visit. Pantry hours are 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Key Peninsula Community Services

17015 9th St Ct NW Lakebay | 253-884-4440 | [email protected]

This program offers help to those in need on the Key Peninsula and surrounding communities. Located in the former Lakebay Elementary school house, the program offers food baskets, commodities, a bread closet, senior home-delivered and sit-down meals and an active senior center. Other programs include:

  • Homeless Housing Program Street Outreach connects people experiencing homelessness with the resources and support they identify as most helpful. The street team meets people where they are— whether in the woods, in vehicles, on the street, or at KPCS —to offer basic needs assistance in food, water, hygiene supplies, clothing, tents, and propane; laundry services; housing and case management assistance in completing entry forms, locating shelters, or working toward stable housing; and other services such as securing identification, healthcare, employment, benefits, and other support.
  • Food Bank/Food Baskets info.

Pierce County Human Services

Various countywide services for eligible households that meet certain low-income criteria:

  • Eviction Prevention: Assists eligible households with past due rent in unincorporated Pierce County.
  • Energy Assistance & Weatherization: Low-income households (outside City of Tacoma) may qualify for energy bill assistance and home weatherization improvements (insulation, sealing, furnace repair).
  • Home Repair Program: For eligible homeowners outside Tacoma and Lakewood who need health and safety‐related repairs to their homes.
  • Fair Housing Resources: Assistance with discrimination in housing, rights, and referrals.
  • Housing & Quality Standards, Affordable Housing Development & Financing: Offers funding and incentives to build and maintain affordable housing to developers and owners.

Help for Families & Children

Region 5 Helpline for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families

This state program serves Region 5 for Kitsap and Pierce counties by providing a helpline for at-risk youth by calling 888-713-6115 to:

  • Report child abuse or neglect
  • Get support and information
  • State help publications are available by calling 1-800-723-4831 or emailing [email protected]

Care Net of Puget Sound

carenetps.org | Care Net mobile clinic locations offer family-planning medical services. The program is free and doesn’t bill insurance. Care Net partners with other agencies for safe, accessible parking for the mobile clinic’s various regional locations, including the Gig Harbor location at 2727 Hollycroft St., Suite #130 (call 253-858-5585). Check out the scheduling page for the following services:

Youth helpline – HelpIsAClickAway.org

Help for children and teens who have run away from home or are being abused. When youths contact the helpline, they talk about their unique circumstance with an experienced professional and receive information on resources available to find help. Concerned friends and family members may also use this service to find resources and learn how best to care for at-risk youth.

The KP Partnership

  • Identifies hunger, transportation, childcare, and health and wellness as primary issues that affect well-being on the Key Peninsula
  • Support for kids and families

The YMCA Giving Tree Program (Seasonal)

Families within Peninsula School District with children age 18 and younger can apply to receive gifts to open on Christmas morning through the YMCA Giving Tree Program. Applications are due Dec. 1, 2025 and ask for family contact info, household size, the child’s name, age and clothing size. Also include the child’s wishlist plus a short statement of overall need. Approval notifications go out by Dec. 5, 2025. Contact Sarah at [email protected] or call 253-534-7859 with questions or for those who need help completing the form.

Senior Services

Gig Harbor Senior Center

Gig Harbor Senior Center located at Peninsula Lutheran Church, 6509 38th Ave NW, Gig Harbor. Check out the eligibility terms or call 253-474-1300. The center offers community programs, activities, and meals for Gig Harbor residents age 60 and older. Formerly called the “Active Senior Club,” the center is a program of the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation.

  • Center hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • There’s a weekly lunch program Monday and Wednesday at noon.

Catholic Community Services Senior Nutrition Program

  • The CCS Lunch program offers a hot meal for those ages 60 and older, accepting a suggested $3.50 donation.
  • For those age 59 and younger: meals cost $6 and served on Monday and Wednesday.
  • Home-Delivered Meals, often referred to as “Meals-On-Wheels” and “Senior Lunch Sites,” offer frozen meals for older adults unable to leave home (menu). Open to Pierce County seniors.

Senior Citizen Utility Discount, City of Gig Harbor

  • Discount rate on utilities for low-income senior citizens age 62 and older who have a City of Gig Harbor utility bill in their name. Service is provided to those who are permanent, year-round residents in the City of Gig Harbor’s service area.
  • Call (253) 851-6157; or visit the city online at gigharborwa.gov/313/Utilities-Division

Mustard Seed Project

This group promotes independent living and quality of life for seniors residing on the Key Peninsula by providing services and programs in transportation, information and referral, health and wellness, senior housing options, community education, and nutrition. It also has coordinated senior rides for:

  • Medical visits
  • Shopping
  • Activities
  • Key Peninsula Senior Resource Guide – As a program of The Mustard Seed Project, the guides offer regularly updated info sheets to local resources.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans

  • 1-877-4AID-VET (424-3838) offering housing and supportive VA services available.

Veteran Help

The Veterans Housing Options Group (VHOG)

This group launched in 2022 to support veterans experiencing homelessness by providing them with information about local housing resources, coordinated entry assessments, and connections to other veteran housing programs in Pierce County. Following each session, participants can meet with representatives from service organizations to make a plan. Pierce County Human Services and WorkSource Pierce are partners in a project to expand services.

Pierce County’s Veterans Resource Center

Pierce County Human Services operates the resource center for veterans and their families to better provide services to all veterans living in Pierce County.

  • The resource center partners with federal, state, non-profit and local agencies to support veterans and their families to apply for veterans benefits, housing, employment, financial security, and behavioral health.
  • For more information, call (253) 798-7449 or toll free at 1 (800) 992-2456.

Rides & Transportation

Key Peninsula Community Services

[email protected]

(253) 884-4440

  • Offering meal delivery
  • Rides to activities (once a month)
  • Shopping Trips (One Monday per month)

Disabled/Medical Transportation:

Envoy America

(888) 375-5558

Around the Sound

(253) 858-7088

Power Outages

Tacoma-Pierce County Department of Health

To avoid critical medical equipment-related emergencies when there’s a loss of power, the department of health has the following tips:

  • Have battery backups for medical devices
  • Buy a generator, but never use it indoors
  • Stock manual alternatives such as suction pumps
  • Practice emergency drills with caregivers

The American Lung Association has these additional tips and more at lung.org/blog/power-outage-preparation:

  • Supplemental oxygen – Talk with your healthcare provider and your oxygen supply company about getting stand-alone oxygen tanks that do not require electricity.
  • Make sure nebulizers, CPAP & BiPAP machines have a battery backup or car adapter 
  • Keep distilled water available for any device that uses a humidifier.
  • Set up a cooler with ice packs for medication that needs to be refridgerated.
  • Talk with your healthcare provider about alternative medications or treatments if a power outage lasts beyond your battery capacity.
  • Keep a handheld resuscitation bag as a manual backup for ventilators
  • Invest in external batteries and test/maintain them regularly. If your remaining battery power becomes too low, relocate immediately to a hospital or a shelter with reliable electricity.

Puget Sound Energy’s “Life Support Status”

Apply for “Life Support Status” with Puget Sound Energy by calling 1-888-225-5773. When a customer account is approved for Life Support status, a seal is placed on the electric meter to ensure that field personnel know that critical medical equipment is in use at the residence.

  • Life Support status customers also receive advanced notice for scheduled outages, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs, when possible, and 48 hours’ notice before disconnection of service due to failure to pay.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather Warnings, Etc.

The Pierce County Alert Program

This free local emergency notification system offers time-sensitive messages via recorded phone calls, email, and text message about local emergencies related to severe weather, flooding, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuation areas and more. Receive alerts on up to 10 different devices.

IPAWS National Alerts

The Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) is a national system managed by FEMA that allows federal, state, and local authorities to issue emergency alerts and warnings to the public by cell phone, radio and television.

National Helplines For Mental Health

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

  • 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Text 988 any time for immediate help

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

  • Call 988 for the suicide and crisis lifeline.

 

 

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