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Hot Policy Topics

Affecting North King County Human Services

Spring 2010

Local City Human Service Funding

North King County Cities have shown a commitment to providing human service funding for programs in their communities. In 2010 the five cities will accept applications for two-year funding from community nonprofits.

NUHSA will continue to encourage cities to sustain funding at or above current levels, especially in these tough economic times. Local dollars, while modest in amount, leverage private and regional funds for a great multiplier effect and help create a sustainable network of services in communities across North King County.

County Funding Stabilization

Faced with growing budget shortfalls, King County is eliminating nearly all County general fund dollars for community human services in the 2010 budget. This funding included support for essential services like senior centers and adult day health, emergency food distribution, homeless shelters, and programs for youth at risk. In addition to serving our communities when they need it most, these preventative programs save the County money by reducing the need for emergency medical services and jails, and efficiently leveraging private donations and bringing in corporate support.

NUHSA Position: We urge the County Council to implement a new source of revenue and restore County funding to critical community human services.

10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

Started in King County in July 2005, this comprehensive and innovative plan puts housing first and aims to end homelessness in the county by 2015. All five north King County cities have signed on to the plan.

One of the original founders of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, NUHSA is working with the Housing Development Consortium i North King County to find innovative and effective options for housing those in need and will continue to advocate for funding and other opportunities for engagement.

Human Services Infrastructure

The cities in North King County are planning for redevelopment and growth, and many are in the process of shaping the center of their cities for years to come.

NUHSA advocates that human services are part of a healthy community and will encourage NOrth King County cities to incorporate space for human services and centralized service centers into their redevelopment plans. NUHSA encourages the City of Bothell to take action to include these services into their final downtown design an development, an we encourage the City of Shoreline to consider vital services as a core piece of the city center.

Municipal Revenues

All five North King County cities support human services with general funds. The recession and tax limitation measures have the effect of reducing these cities' ability to continue this support. In 2010 several of these cities are considering placing revenue items on the ballot in order to maintain services.

NUHSA supports ballot propositions that cities place before the voters to raise local revenue that will allow them to sustain and or enhance funding to address the human needs of their residents. Support for these human services agencies is critical to enable them to function as quality of life partners with their local city.

For more information on these topics, on NUHSA's advocacy around these issues, and on how you ca get involved, please contact NUHSA's Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Rob Beem (rbeem@shorelinewa.gov  or 206-801-2251) and Kelsey Beck (KelseyB@fll.org or 206-545-6600).

 

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                                      Hot Policy Topics

       Affecting North King County Human Services in 2009

  • Initiative 1033

Initiative 1033 will lock in place an historically low and inadequate funding level for government services. If passed, it will result in permanent cuts to the fabric of human services.

NUSHA opposes this ballot measure and encourages its members to vote, “No,” on Initiative 1033.

 

   • County Funding Stabilization

Washington’s Counties have few revenue tools and many of these tools have restrictions and gaps. In 2009 King County has a deficit of over $90 million, and funding for many human services and criminal justice programs is set to be eliminated in June 2009 if new funding sources are not created. The state legislature has the authority to give Counties additional funding tools and to increase flexibility in the use of existing taxing authorities. NUHSA is advocating for the state legislature to pass a package of options that will give counties greater flexibility and authority to use existing taxing authority revenues to meet human service needs, while preserving the integrity and intention of using the mental health sales tax funding for mental health and drug dependency programs. NUHSA will also urge King County to extend the six month human service funding contracts to full year contracts as funding becomes available.

   • 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

Started in King County in July 2005, this comprehensive and innovative plan puts housing first and aims to end homelessness in the county by 2015. All five north King County cities have signed on to the plan. One of the original founders of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, NUHSA is working with the religious community in North King County to find innovative and effective options for sheltering those in need and will continue to advocate for funding and other opportunities for engagement as the plan moves forward.

   • Public Health Funding

Since 2006, funding each year for the two Public Health Clinics in serving North King County has been in jeopardy. The clinics have been funded through 2009, but a stable source of long-term funding is needed. During the 2007 state legislative session, Washington legislators approved an additional $20 million in funding for public health, but this did not solve the funding crisis. NUHSA has issued letters of support for additional state and continued county funding for public health to ensure that our communities stay healthy and safe. We will continue to be a voice for a strong public health system for those in need.

   • Healthy Families and Communities (HFC) Task Force

Created by King County Executive Ron Sims and composed of community leaders and public officials in King County, the HFC Task Force released recommendations in 2006 for how to fill the $83.1 million gap in funding for regional human services. Funding sources supported by the Task Force include the Veterans and Human Services Levy and a Mental Health and Substance Sales Tax. NUHSA is supportive of the HFC Task Force recommendations and is currently advocating for the recommended funding streams and activities.

   • Local City Human Service Funding

North King County Cities have shown a commitment to providing human service funding for programs in their communities. In 2009 the five cities will invest more than $1.1 million on human services or $8.43 per capita. NUHSA will continue to encourage cities to retain this critical funding especially in tough economic times. Local dollars, while modest in amount, leverage private and regional funds for a great multiplier effect and significantly fund local services such as emergency food and financial assistance.

   • Human Services Infrastructure

Cities in North King County, including Bothell, Kenmore and Shoreline are in various stages of planning for major redevelopments of their downtowns, or in the case of Shoreline, the surplus property on the Fircrest Campus. NUHSA advocates that human services are part of a healthy community and will encourage North King County cities to incorporate space for human services and centralized human service centers in their redevelopment plans.

For more detail on NUHSA’s description of a health community, see our complete policy statement: Human Services: Part of a Healthy Community at www.nuhsa.org, under” Taking Action”.

For more information on these topics, on NUHSA’s advocacy around these issues, and on how you can get involved, please contact NUHSA’s Policy Committee Co-Chairs:

Rob Been (rbeem@shorelinewa.gov or 206-801-2251)                                                   Kelsey Beck (KelseyB@fll.org  or 206-545-6600, ext. 263)

 

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Hot Policy Topics Affecting North King County 2008


  • Healthy Families and Communities (HFC) Task Force

Created by King County Executive Ron Sims and composed of community leaders and public officials in King County, the HFC Task Force released recommendations in 2006 for how to fill the $83.1 million gap in funding for regional human services. Funding sources supported by the Task Force include the Veterans and Human Services Levy and a Mental Health and Substance Sales Tax.

NUHSA is supportive of the HFC Task Force recommendations and is currently advocating for the recommended funding streams and activities.

  • 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

Started in King County in July 2005, this comprehensive and innovative plan puts housing first and aims to end homelessness in the county by 2015. All five North King County cities have signed on to the plan.

One of the original founders of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, NUHSA encouraged the north King County cities to sign on to the plan and will continue to advocate for funding and other opportunities for engagement as the plan moves forward.

  • Public Health Funding

Since 2006, funding each year for the two Public Health Clinics in North King County has been in jeopardy. The clinics have been funded through 2008, but a stable source of long-term funding is needed. Public Health, Seattle and King County is in the midst of a two-year process to create an Operational Master Plan which will establish broad policies on the provision of public health services and make recommendations regarding operational implementation and funding.
During the 2007 state legislative session, Washington legislators approved an additional $20 million in funding for public health.

NUHSA has issued letters of support for additional state and county funding for public health to ensure that our communities stay healthy and safe. We will continue to be a voice for a strong public health system for those in need.


  • Regional Human Services Funding

King County has recently passed Regional Human Services funding measures, including the Mental Health Sales Tax and the Veterans and Human Services Levy.
NUHSA will continue to follow the implementation and distribution of this funding, with the goal of ensuring that “equitable geographic distribution of funds” becomes a metric in determining project results.

  • Human Services and City Planning

Cities in North King County, including downtown Bothell and areas of Shoreline, have begun planning and discussing plans for redevelopment.

NUHSA will advocate on the need to incorporate space for human services and centralized human service centers in North End cities.

 arrow-right.gifDownload this document: May, 2008: Hot Policy Topics Affecting North King County


For more information on these topics, on NUHSA’s advocacy around these issues, and on how you can get involved, please contact NUHSA’s Policy Committee Co-Chairs:

Rob Beem    rbeem@ci.shoreline.wa.us or 206-546-1933
Kelsey Beck  KelseyB@fll.org or 206-545-6600, ext. 263


 

 
 
© 2008 NUHSA North Urban Human Services Alliance