TACOMA, WA – The City Council approved the execution of a loan agreement with the Hope Center for Multicultural Children and Families. The agreement includes $1.5 million in funding from the Urban Development Action Grant Fund to support the development and construction of a new facility. The new facility will help the Hope Center consolidate operations, expand services, and increase capacity and efficiency in service delivery. The Hope Center is a non-profit humanitarian and early learning center that has operated in Tacoma for more than 30 years. Its mission is to provide culturally appropriate support services that educate, empower and uplift Tacoma children, parents and communities.
“The services provided by the Multicultural Child & Family Hope Center help countless families in need each year,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “This new facility will help the Hope Center expand those services and continue to serve our community for the next 30 years and more.”
“We are excited to support and invest in the Hope Center’s new facility,” said City Council Member Kiara Daniels. “Child care facilities play a vital role in the well-being of Tacoma families and our local economy. Too many parents leave their jobs or schools and training programs because of child care issues. Workforce turnover is costly, so parents who want to work need to have the opportunity to do so. This investment in the Hope Center’s new facility will benefit everyone in Tacoma and brighten the city’s future.”
“Child care is one of the biggest obstacles for families,” said Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh. “Pierce County lacks enough affordable child care to meet the needs of our community. The Multicultural Child & Family Hope Center provides more than just child care; it provides family-focused services. They have done so much to support children and their families, and I appreciate the importance of supporting this new building so they can serve even more children and families. We need investments like this in Tacoma and the surrounding areas.”
The new facility is 32,000 square feet and includes a 3,700 square foot gym and 19 classrooms. This will double Hope Center’s current capacity and address a critical shortage in the community. Hope Center offers a variety of child care services, including before and after school programs, support for children in foster care, and free early learning programs. Services for parents include programs aimed at developing parenting skills, improving parental self-care to reduce the risk of child neglect and abuse, and helping fathers navigate the child welfare system. Hope Center also works to prevent homelessness, providing free groceries and diapers to families in need.
