Social Work Resources at Tacoma Public Library
A Social Worker at the Library
Tacoma Public Library added a staff social worker in January 2024. Library patrons can meet with our social worker at a library to receive counsel and get connected to services in the community. TPL’s social worker is knowledgeable about community organizations that can help patrons with mental health, shelter or housing, and much more.
Ways to Reach the TPL Social Worker
Stop by a library to connect with Tacoma Public Library's social worker. Social Worker Samie Iverson, MSW, can listen and assist patrons with resource navigation for a variety of needs related to housing, shelter, domestic violence, VA, employment, behavioral health, McKinney Vento or student support, and more. See all upcoming dates at times to visit with Samie on our events calendar.
You can also email Samie at siverson@tacomalibrary.org.
Community Groups
The Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness is a network of individuals, non-profit organizations, government agencies, faith communities, and community businesses working together to end homelessness. Their work is focused on connecting and mobilizing people to take action to end homelessness.
Common Good Tacoma is a multiracial organizing hub that works in anti-racist coalition with neighbors and organizations that support and promote the dignity of impacted populations.
Basic Needs
DSHS is a hub for mainstream state services that include a variety of programs related to housing, food, medical, and other support services.
- Services offered: Services We Offer | DSHS (wa.gov)
- Food, Cash, Medical Eligibility: Food, Cash, Medical | DSHS (wa.gov)
- How to apply for benefits: How to apply for services | DSHS (wa.gov)
Outreach
St. Vincent DePaul is a trusted community partner for the Library Social Worker role and meeting the needs of our unhoused patrons. Patrons often access housing services by visiting their Community Resource Center.
- St. Vincent DePaul’s Resource website: Get Help — SVDP Tacoma-Pierce
Rescue Mission’s Outreach Teams have been helpful with serving patrons in need of connections to emergency shelter for unhoused individuals and families.
Comprehensive Life Resources provides behavioral health services for children, young adults, adults, and families and TPL has collaborated with their outreach team serving our unhoused community.
Survivors of Violence
YWCA Pierce County is an organization serving survivors of domestic violence that we’ve advertised in our branches, mainly highlighting their 24-Hour Crisis Line that can be accessed by calling 253-383-2593 or emailing crisis@ywcapiercecounty.org.
Crystal Judson Family Center helps survivors of domestic violence a variety of services and has a Domestic Violence Hotline 253-798-4166.
- Crystal Judson’s Resource Website: Resources | Pierce County Family Justice Center, WA
Rebuilding Hope offers various supports, a 24-hour hotline that can be reached at 855-757-7273, and a live chat online from 8am-8pm for survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
Housing Resources
Catholic Community Services Pierce County offers a wide variety of services related to housing, shelter, behavior health, and family services.
Associated Ministries’ “is an organization that works with interfaith partners who are deeply engaged in transforming our communities. We work together toward lasting solutions to homelessness.”
Metropolitan Development Council provides services related to housing, education, behavior health, recovery, and energy assistance and weatherization.
Legal Supports
Northwest Justice Project ”provides free legal assistance to address fundamental human needs such as housing, family safety, income security, health care, education, and more.”
Pierce County Center for Dialog and Resolution provides mediation services, conflict resolution trainings, and facilitation to meet the varying needs of Pierce County residents.
Tacoma Probono is a vital partner that offers free legal aid in branches across our TPL system. Patrons can engage services by going in-person during their tabling hours. Their work “changes lives, fights systemic racism and works against chronic poverty by providing access to timely, effective, professional civil legal aid services for low-income clients.”
- Legal Aid Pop Up Schedule: Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers Legal Aid Pop-Up Events Calendar
Community Specific Supports
Tacoma Community House, opens a new window offers immigration services, education services, employment services, victim advocacy, and houses the REACH Center focused on helping young people access housing, education, and employment.
MiCentro, opens a new window provides support for Latino and Indigenous native families who may benefit from educational programs, crisis intervention, family outreach services, arts and cultural programming, and advocacy efforts.
Tacoma Public Schools – McKinney Vento, opens a new window’s district appointed liaisons can help students and families navigate housing instability to ensure barrier-free access to enrollment, provide transportation support, and explore other community resources.
OASIS Youth Center , opens a new windowis an organization offering various programs and showing up for the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ queer youth in Pierce and surrounding counties.
Health Resources
Tacoma Needle Exchange has partnered with TPL to provide harm reduction services and provide a wide array of resources (including our Naloxone vending machine and newspaper boxes) for library patrons at the Moore and South Tacoma branches.
TPL Social Worker FAQs
Social Worker FAQs
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Samie can meet with patrons during scheduled tabling hours in branches on a walk-in basis. If a patron arrives before tabling hours, they can request a meeting at the desk. If for any reason the tabling hours offered are insufficient, a meeting can be scheduled over phone or email between the patron and Samie on an as-needed basis.
CONTACT INFO
Samie can be reached by email at siverson@tacomalibrary.org or in person while tabling in TPL’s branches. LIBRARY SOCIAL WORKER TABLING SCHEDULE
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No, the library does not distribute resources, but our social worker can connect you with organizations that do.
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Public libraries in urban centers have been adding social workers to their staff over the past decade, starting with San Francisco Public Library. Library social work has become a promising practice in bringing support to library workers and embedding needed supports for library patrons. For Tacoma, the library social worker is available in branch to connect, listen to a patron’s situation, help with resource navigation, and work through presenting needs on a case-by-case basis. The social worker connects with TPL staff, supports internal TPL efforts and opportunities for staff as needed, and builds relationships with key community partners.