November 23rd the King County 2010 Budget was adopted.

"These were ugly, ugly, ugly decisions. It's sort of like saying, 'Do you want to feed your oldest, your middle or your next child?' " said Kathy Lambert, a member of the council's budget leadership team. More here

Advocates for meeting basic human needs throughout King County: 

King County Council passed their 2010 King County budget yesterday afternoon with severe cuts in urgently needed services. 

There was some good news amongst the bad.  The Executive’s proposed budget included cuts of 64% in community service contracts for human services, and the budget that Council passed yesterday restored some of those services for a lower total of 46% cuts from 2009 funding levels.

Using “impact on public safety” as their guide, Council restored $1.4 million in domestic violence and sexual assault services.  This was very difficult to do when they had to make $6.4 million in cuts from the budget the Exec sent over before they could even begin to add anything.  Everyone who advocated for keeping community health and human services at the 2009 funding levels influenced this decision.  Good work, all!

We commend the Council for the services they restored; however, we are painfully aware that they left unfunded over $3 million in services previously funded in 2009 that are urgently needed throughout King County including emergency food distribution, information and referral services, senior centers and adult day health, as well as shelter for people without homes including all emergency shelter funding for youth living on the streets of King County.

What happens now?

Coming out of this budget, for the first time we have a diverse majority of County Council and the new Executive (as of 4pm this afternoon) all agreeing that we need new revenue sources to repair the structural deficit in King County budget.  Now, we must gather our energies and use this growing momentum to insist that a long term funding solution for community health and human services be identified and implemented to restore funding to an acceptable base level.

United Way of King County is recruiting people of color for the 2010 session of Project LEAD (Leadership, Effectiveness and Diversity) and we need your help to get the word out.  The application deadline is Friday, December 11th, 2009.  More information on Project LEAD, including the class schedule and application is available at http://www.uwkc.org/volunteer/lead/default.asp. 

Please forward this message to anyone who you think might be interested. Below is additional information on the program that you can include when you send this to potential applicants.

SPECIAL NOTE:  If you know of an organization that needs board or committee members, please encourage them to register or update those opportunities on our website at http://www.volunteersolutions.org/uwkc/agency/.  Potential board members (including Project LEAD graduates) utilize this site to identify ways to serve.

Thanks for your help! 

Louis Mendoza - Volunteer Initiatives Manager

United Way of King County

ph # 206-461-3777   fax # 206-461-8495

Email: lmendoza@uwkc.org

Keiko Chu-Yamada
Team Assistant, Community Services
Phone: (206) 461-6906/ Fax: (206) 461-8495
Email: kcyamada@uwkc.org

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Project LEAD is an in-depth leadership program that focuses on recruiting, training and connecting people of color to boards and committees of local non-profit organizations.  The program provides a fast track for highly qualified individuals to develop the knowledge base they need to become key volunteers at local nonprofits.  Participants examine the governance of non-profit organizations and the legal and financial responsibilities of board members. Project LEAD then provides tools, information and introductions to help participants select a board to serve.

Over the past 17 years, over 760 leaders have graduated from the program. In a survey of Project LEAD graduates 90% felt more prepared to fill key leadership roles on their board, and 94% said they acquired skills that translated directly back to their professional lives. In addition, non-profit and civic organizations in this area benefit tremendously from the experience that Project LEAD graduates bring to their boards. 

Details of the program and the application can be found at http://www.uwkc.org/volunteer/lead/default.asp.  Please submit completed applications by Friday, December 11, 2009.  To receive an application in the mail or if you have questions, please contact the Volunteer Center at 206.461.6906 or projectlead@uwkc.org.

The King County Alliance for Human Services has created 4 public service announcements to highlight human services needs across the county and the impact current proposed cuts will have in 2010 and beyond.  Visit www.kingcountyalliance.com to view these powerful messages and take action:

• Contact County Council and urge them to maintain current funding levels for human services through 2010 while a long term solution is found.
• Share the PSA's on your facebook and twitter or other social networking sites
• Send an email or forward this one to your agency staff, board members and stakeholders directing them to our site
• Post these videos to your agency's website- forward this email to your webmaster and ask them- they know how!

Thank you

The Regional Special Needs Transportation Plan is up for revision. Find links to the current plan, a draft update of the transportation inventory for King County and a flyer on a November 19^th Community Conversation about how to improve transportation options for special needs groups including seniors, youth, low income and people with disabilities in North and East King County. A panel composed of resource people from METRO, Sound Transit, Senior Services, Hopelink and others will present followed by an opportunity to share ideas and network about solutions.” If you can’t attend the meeting, options for submitting written comments, suggestions and ideas are included.

KCSNTC Inventory.doc     Update from Oct 27 Meeting.doc        Nov 19 Flyer.doc

People who care about meeting basic human needs across King County:

Executive Triplett presented his proposed budget to County Council this afternoon and said he is eliminating all general fund support for human services: some of this is being replaced by funds supplanted from MIDD and other sources, but it looks like a cut of at least $6.7 million, maybe more.  For example, everything that was in the lifeboat in 2009 has been cut.  From what we can tell so far, there is about 50% cut from the level of human services funded in the general fund in 2009.

Several Alliance leaders are scheduled to meet with DCHS director Jackie McLean tomorrow to find out the details.  We will spread the word as soon as we find out.  Here a link to the proposed budget. http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/Budget/2010ExecutiveProposed.aspx

We were able to get the message out to the media about the devastating effect this will have on King County residents immediately following the presentation.  Look for coverage in KIRO radio and TV, KUOW radio, KOMO TV, and the PI with more, including a KING TV interview tomorrow.  News release below.

Get the budget hearings on your calendar:

October 7                  7 pm  Bellevue City Chambers 

October 13                 7 pm  Regional Justice Center

October 22                 7 pm  Redmond City Chambers

October 29                 7 pm  King County Courthouse, downtown Seattle

King County Executive Triplett’s Proposed 2010 Decimates Services Essential to King County Residents

Service providers unite in call for King County Council to provide sufficient funding in the 2010 budget until a long-term dedicated funding can be found next year

Proposed cuts would impact families, domestic violence and sexual assault victims, elderly and

food banks among other community resources

SEATTLE – September 28, 2009 –  King County Executive Kurt Triplett has proposed a budget today that cuts more than 50% of county funding for community health and human services. 

This includes all services in the 2009 budget “lifeboat”, as well as other essential services for King County residents, such as domestic violence shelter, sexual assault victims services,  emergency food distribution, shelter for youth living on our streets, senior centers and adult day health, youth and family services, and jobs initiatives.

“This proposal compounds losses of urgently needed services over the past three years, at a time when families in our county are facing the worst economy since the Great Depression,” said King County Alliance for Human Services co-chair Mike Heinisch, Executive Director of Kent Youth and Family Services. 

“King County Council must respond by preserving these essential services at least at 2009 levels.  In addition, the council must immediately begin working with us to create a new funding source, outside of the General Fund, that will ensure long term stability for the health and human services needed for strong, healthy communities,” added King County Alliance for Human Services co-chair Merril Cousin, Executive Director of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

“King County residents need leaders who will step forward with solutions, not just reduce critical services, in times of need,” she added.

About the King County Alliance for Human Services

The King County Alliance for Human Services is a group of leaders representing more than 250 non-profit, private and government agencies that help residents throughout King County meet their basic human needs.  The Alliance understands that we must both raise awareness of unmet needs in our communities and demonstrate the effectiveness of publicly funded human services in order to meet this goal.

Advocates for meeting basic human needs:
 
Congratulations!  Your action changed the political will for the discussion on King County human services funding.
 
The Councilmembers present at the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee of the King County Council voted unanimously yesterday afternoon to send a recommendation to the Budget Committee “to dedicate at least 1%” of the county’s General Fund to human services in 2010.
 
While this isn’t all we hoped (3.2%) or all the community needs, the glass half-full view is that this recommendation is a foot in the door in the upcoming budget process and is the very first time that any amount of the general fund has been recommended to be dedicated to human services and so is a step in the right direction.
 
Another plus is that the move had strong bi-partisan support.  Councilmembers Lambert and Dunn (Republicans) voted in favor of it as well as Patterson and Gossett (Democrats). 
 
They all also noted that YOUR ACTION made this decision possible. They said that as of one week before the vote the political will to support dedicating even a small portion of funds did not exist, but that hearing from over a hundred and fifty members of the community turned the tide.  GREAT JOB!
 
Now, what do we do from here?
 
1% of the projected 2010 General Fund amounts to $5.74 million. Compared to the 2006 allocation of $26 million, this would be a 78% cut in the past four years, during which time we are facing the deepest economic recession of our times, dramatically increasing needs for services.
 
Clearly 1% is not adequate even as a temporary, stop-gap measure.
 
We need to move our elected leaders on the potential of that “at least” 1%, into a larger amount that we can make-do with while finding a long-term solution.
 
Now this decision goes to the Council’s Budget Committee, becoming part of the overall 2010 budget process.  The budget must be finalized by the end of November.  There will be committee meetings, public hearings, and decision points along the way that have yet to be mapped out.
 
If we as a community, if YOU, want our leaders to fund community health and human services at adequate levels, we will all need to keep acting to affect the political will.
 
What we can do right now is thank these four Councilmembers so that they know we noticed their taking this first step:
 
We appreciate your vote recognizing the need to dedicate “at least 1%” of the County’s General Fund to help residents of King County meet their basic human needs in 2010. This is a step in the right direction.  We will work with you in the upcoming budget process to move closer to the 3.2% level that is needed and to work with you for long-term solutions.  Thank you.
 
Kathy Lambert            206 296-1003              Kathy.Lambert@kingcounty.gov
Larry Gossett              206 296-1002              Larry.Gossett@kingcounty.gov
Julia Patterson            206 296-1005              Julia.Patterson@kingcounty.gov
Reagan Dunn              206 296-1009              Reagan.Dunn@kingcounty.gov
 
 
Stay tuned for developments.  Be ready to activate your networks and make your calls.
We’re all in this together!    Advocacy works! 
 

Deadline:  August 18.  On Saturday, November 7, volunteers from the Master Builders Association will provide interior painting to a nonprofit organization serving homeless either King or Snohomish County.  Application is attached or for more information email mbcare@mbaks.com or call (425) 451-7920

PBT Application 2009.doc

URGENT: King County is considering eliminating ALL County general funds for human services in 2010 in order to balance their budget.

**Please forward this message to ALL concerned with human services in King County**

If your agency utilizes any county money or any of your program participants utilize any services provided with county support- speak up NOW!

What can be done?  The King County Council Law, Justice, health and Human Services Committee is holding a hearing next Wednesday, July 29^th, at 1:30pm in County Council Chambers. 

Consider this the first budget hearing for 2010.  This committee will be sending a recommendation to the Budget Committee about human services funding and they are actively considering a recommendation to dedicate a portion of the General Fund to human services. 

But this will not happen unless we show up, in strong numbers, with compelling stories.

MESSAGES from Alliance participants to King County Council and Executive:              

………………………………………………………………………………………….

We commend the members of the Law, Justice, Health, and Human Services Committee for exploring options for maintaining critical services.

In order to continue providing these services, which are urgently needed by King County residents, the King County Executive and Council must dedicate a temporary 3.2% of the General Fund to community health and human services until a long-term solution is in place, starting with the 2010 budget.

This action is vital at this time because:

1.      Dedicating 3.2% of General Funds will preserve services to help residents of King County meet their basic human needs, while we work together to find a long-term solution.

These services are especially critical in times of severe economic stress, like our communities are currently struggling with.

EXAMPLE: Describe the needs and successes of services you are familiar with, as well as what will happen if they are not available.

2.      Dedicating 3.2% of General Funds will keep the human services infrastructure in place and operating, while we work together to find a long-term solution.

In addition to reducing the human misery, maintaining the infrastructure is also more cost effective.  It is much more expensive to rebuild this foundation than to maintain it, and will take years to bring back to current levels if it is dismantled.

For example:  In dental services, when funding is lost, we not only lose the specific dental “chairs”, we also lose the building, and the human infrastructure- including dentists, volunteer dentists, and other specially trained staff and volunteers. 

EXAMPLE: Give examples from different service areas.

3.      Dedicating 3.2% of General Funds will align the county’s budget policies with the county’s human services policies, while we work together to find a long-term solution.

The King County Human Services Policy Framework states: “In concert with federal, state, and local governments, service providers, non-profit organizations, foundations, faith communities, businesses, schools, the criminal justice system and others, King County will seek to build and sustain a coordinated regional human services system to provide services, supports, safety and opportunity to those most in need.”

4.      We agree with Councilmember Lambert’s comments on July 22^nd that the County has already been prioritizing in these times of economic duress.  Our recommendation of a 3.2% set aside will allow for the re-establishment of services at the 2008 levels.  This would leave in place $7.5 million in cuts made since the 2006 level of $26 million.

Dedicating 3.2% of the General Fund will not solve the problem of adequate, stable funding for urgently needed community health and human services in the long-term.  Our elected leaders must continue working, unabated, to implement long-term solutions so that services are available when King County residents find themselves in need.   And at least until those solutions are in place, this temporary set aside is a critical measure to ensure the strength of our communities. 

The members of the King County Alliance for Human Services pledge to work with you toward that end. We are in difficult times.  We need you to stand up for vulnerable King County residents. We need leaders who are heroes and champions.  Thank you.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

FYI- Why 3.2%?  This would hold us at 2008 levels of service and funding.

Detail: The current estimates for 2010 King County General Fund stand at about $580 million.  3.2% of that would yield $18.5 million.  The 2008 General Fund allocated $17,533,000 for human services in 2008, and $925,000 to community health clinics through public health.  This totals $18,458,000 for community health and human services.  This is still a cut from the 2006 levels, which were over $27 million.

If we are to have any chance to maintain county funding for human services we have to pack Council Chambers. Chambers are on the 10^th Floor of the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle, filling the block between 3^rd and 4^th, to the south of James. 

Will you, and your board, and your program participants, and community allies be there on Wednesday?

Merril Cousin, Executive Director, King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and KCAHS Co-Chair; and

Mike Heinisch, Executive Director of Kent Youth and Family Services and KCAHS Co-Chair

Recruitment time is here again at the Shoreline Goodwill.  Shoreline Goodwill's current course offerings for classes  begin on August 10^th.  There have been a few alterations to the schedule for summer. Please see attachment below:

Goodwill Session2.2009.doc