Human service agencies and local governments will be impacted by the Governor’s recently ordered 6.3% budget cuts. The Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) has a description of the cuts by program area. Agencies having clients receiving Medicaid services will find that all State-Only programs are targeted for significant reductions or elimination. Members are encouraged to consult the OFM website for further details as some cuts begin January 1, others March 1. http://www.ofm.wa.gov/reductions/default.asp

The Forum also gave participants a preview of what the future holds for transportation in North King County. In 2013 Bus Rapid Transit will begin on Aurora. This service will operate like a subway with passengers prepaying for service and rapid exit and entry through large sliding doors onto level platforms. By 2023 Sound Transit is proposing to expand the light rail system from the University District to Shoreline and Lynnwood.

Advocacy works!

Remember- advocacy works!

We all know that times are tough.  We have seen it in heart breaking ways.  More people we care for need help and there is less funding to do the job. 

We have a choice to make:  we can give up and let this defeat us OR we can let this injustice MOTIVATE us to action.

If we act, and act together, strategically, we can make a difference.  We don’t just believe this, we know it, because we’ve seen it happen.  We’ve done it before.

Let’s do it again! 

This tool kit has been created for participants in the King County Alliance for Human Services, and allies, to help us communicate with our neighbors, program participants, boards of directors, volunteers, community and business leaders, as well as elected officials, about how communities across the county benefit by all of us working together to help our neighbors meet their basic human needs, particularly in challenging economic times.

Printable Tool Kit: 2010 Alliance EDU Kit.docx

Put the King County budget forums on your calendar.  Prepare board members, program participants and volunteers to speak and make plans to be there!

· Wednesday, September 29 – King County Courthouse, County Council Chambers, 10th Flr, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle

· Tuesday, October 5 - Bellevue City Council Chambers, 450 110th Ave. NE, Bellevue 

· Tuesday, October 12 – Mt. Si High School, Wildcat Court, 8651 Meadowbrook Way SE, Snoqualmie

· Tuesday, October 19 - Maleng Regional Justice Center, Jury Assembly Room 2E, 401 4th Avenue North, Kent

All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. 

Cheryl Markman, Program Manager for King County Housing & Community Development Program has sent the Fall 2010 King County Combined Funders Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Homeless Housing. It is released and is attached to this e-mail.

2010 Combined NOFA - final version.pdf

As you’ve probably heard, earlier this week the King County Council voted on a proposal to put a .2% Public Safety Sales Tax on the August ballot for voter consideration The final vote of 5 yeas did not meet the required 6 yes votes needed to pass the proposal at this late date. In addition to funding existing criminal justice programs, the proposal would likely have helped fund a small portion of critical human services that support criminal justice efforts, such as domestic violence and sexual assault support resources and some youth services.

The following day Council also voted on, but did not pass, a property tax measure for the August ballot that would have funded similar programs and services.  The last opportunity for a ballot measure this year is for the November election. 

What does this mean for human services?

Because of the timing of the 2011 budget process the County Executive will be forced to submit an all cuts budget; it is unlikely that there will be any general fund dollars for Human Services in that budget .

Even if a revenue initiative is put on the November ballot and approved by the voters, that measure will not go into effect until April and will not provide the level of funding needed for human services.

Now we need to come together again and focus on a long term solution for dedicated, adequate funding for regional community health and human services.  We’ll start talking with the Executive and Council members again about their solutions, and gather the data and stories to deliver effective messages both about the needs, and the benefits in building strong, healthy communities.

As  Alliance members, our work through the upcoming budget process, even though it is not likely to result in any significant amount of funding in the 2011 budget and certainly no long term funding, will be to advocate  strongly and effectively for long term, adequate, dedicated funding for community health and human services

We’ll need to begin this work right away so that we lay the foundation that we will need to be successful. 

The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is pleased to announce the release of an RFP for its Outreach to Minority and Women Veterans Project.  DCHS is accepting proposals from agencies to provide outreach services to connect minority and women veterans to veterans’ benefits, services and other resources in a culturally appropriate manner.  The purpose of this project will be to locate, identify, engage and refer minority and women veterans and their families, to veterans benefits, services and resources, and other regional housing, health and human services available to them, providing advocacy and follow-up as needed.  Agencies will be expected to develop or expand their knowledge of issues facing veterans and their families; to retain and report performance measures; and to follow-up with clients once a referral has been made. Collaborative, inter-agency proposals will be accepted.

Request for Proposals application packet is attached and also available on the Levy’s website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/DCHS/Services/Levy/LevyRFPs.aspx on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.  You may also receive an application packet by contacting: Marcy Kubbs at marcy.kubbs@kingcounty.gov or calling (206) 263-9102 during business hours.  (King County offices will be closed on December 24 for a furlough day and December 25 for a holiday.) 

A pre-proposal conference will be held January 20, 2010 from 9:30 am - noon at 401 Fifth Avenue, Room 115, Seattle, WA 98104.  All applications need to be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2010.

Document link:  Outreach RFP Dec 23 09.doc

Seattle Mennonite Church is looking for volunteer help to staff the Lake City Emergency Severe Weather Shelter. The nights are divided into two shifts; individuals or groups can volunteer to set up/break down and monitor the shelter. Orientation is provided for volunteers. 

 Lake City Emergency Severe Weather Shelter

Please recruit for emergency shelter as weather turns cold (see schedule below). If you want to coordinate a group for an evening - that's great! Jonathan Neufeld will orient new people and confirm evenings that emergency shelter will open. Please include contact information! See guidelines below - thanks!

Volunteer Guidelines for Emergency Cold Weather Shelter

□       Volunteers can put belongings in lounge area

□       Turn on the heat. Thermostat is on the south wall by the door, press the ‘Sun’ button. Press the ‘moon’ button when leaving in the morning.

□       Sign people in

□       Bring out cots for people to set up – they are stored in closet. Keep cots 3 feet from heaters. Wipe down the cots before putting them back in the morning. Instructions and cleaning supplies are in a bucket in the closet.

□       Feel free to access food in the kitchen if people are hungry. Encourage the guests to help in preparation.

□       Partial lights out by 10:30 pm, with an encouragement for people to settle down.

□       Complete lights out by 11 pm. If someone cannot settle, or is being a disturbance to others, they can be asked to leave. Leave the hall way light on.

□       Evening and Night Volunteers should overlap, and have a brief check-in, information sharing time of about 10 minutes to update the new volunteers of areas of concern or gratitude.

□       Feel free to redirect conversation that is inappropriate. Encourage respect for the people who need to rest.

□       The kitchen is closed after lights out.

□       Guests should be waking by 6 am, so they can be on their way by 7 am. Feel free to access the food cupboard for breakfast.

□       When you leave – please have the kitchen cleaned and ready for another group to use it. Unplug the coffee maker. Wipe down and put away cots. Sweep. Check bathrooms. Make sure all the lights are turned off. Be sure to lock the ASR door, if you don’t have a key – you can lock the door from the inside and then exit through the church office entrance. To lock door, pull up on handle, turn the lock, and release the handle.

□       If you have any problems, you can call:

o       Jonathan or Melanie Neufeld – 206-417-9736

o       Marvin Miller – 206-364-0637

o       Weldon Nisly – 206-368-7529

□       CALL 911 – in the event of ANY threat or disturbance that is beyond your capabilities.  Address: 3120 NE 125^th St.

Melanie Neufeld

--
Community Minister Seattle Mennonite Church 3120 NE 125th St.
(206)361-4630 ext. 7 http://seattle.wa.us.mennonite.net/

Please join the Low Income Housing Institute

As we celebrate the grand opening of

McDermott Place

75 Units for Homeless Veterans & Other Individuals

Named in Honor of U.S.

Rep. Jim McDermott

The grand opening celebration for McDermott Place, in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood, is scheduled for Saturday December 12 at 10:00 am. The event will take place at McDermott Place, located at 12740 33^rd Ave NE, across the street from the Lake City Fred Meyer store.

The celebration will feature a tour of this “green” building and comments from Congressman Jim McDermott, King County Council member Larry Gossett, Jon Fine President & CEO of United Way of King County, Lisa Vatske of Dept. of Commerce, State Director of Veterans Affairs John Lee, Randy Robinson of KeyBank, North Helpline Executive Director Amy Besunder, and LIHI Board Member Alan Castle. Mayor-elect Mike McGinn and King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine have been invited.

McDermott Place will provide 75 permanent affordable housing units for homeless individuals, with 38 of the units designated specifically for veterans. North Helpline, a non-profit organization based in Lake City, will own a portion of the building at which they will operate the Lake City/Northgate Food Bank and the RotaCare Medical Clinic. LIHI is partnering with Sound Mental Health to provide supportive services, including employment & job training.

The building has been named in honor of Congressman Jim McDermott, who has served constituents in Washington state since 1970 in both the State and Federal Legislatures.  “McDermott Place is all about dignity, self-respect, and self-worth. These 75 affordable housing units will stand in affirmation to the principal and values that matter to us as a community, especially our determination to honor and care for our soldiers,” said McDermott.

When: Saturday December 12. 10:00 am until noon.

Where: McDermott Place

12740 33^rd Ave NE

Seattle, WA 98125

For more information: please contact Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director, (206) 571-5730 or SharonL@lihi.org

Transportation Plan for People with Special Needs

Transportation is a major problem for low income families, the elderly, disabled, youth and others in North King County. The King County Coordinated Special Needs Transportation Steering Committee is working to improve transportation options for special needs groups in King County. Representing North and East King County on the Committee is Alex O’Reilly, Human Services Planner, City of Bellevue and Co-Chair of the group. George Smith, President of NUHSA, is the alternate representative from North and East King County. The Committee just completed an update of the Transportation Plan for 2010. The 2010 update goes on to the Puget Sound Regional Council for adoption as part of the official regional transportation plan.

Please take a few minutes to review the existing transportation programs. Did you know, for example, there are 16 volunteer ride programs in King County and that Shoreline/Lake Forest Park and North shore Senior Centers both operate shuttle buses to transport people to the senior centers and to essential local services. Another innovative program Bus Buddies, provides personalized one-on-one travel orientation for seniors, people who speak limited English, those with low income, people with special needs and youth. The Needs Assessment provides a good summary of the issues and goals and the strategies section outlines what is planned to improve transportation. If you have comments or suggestions for the Steering Committee, or if you see opportunities for North King County to improve services, please contact George Smith, gsmith@shorelinewa.gov with your ideas.

Please click on the link below to review the existing transportation programs:

2010 King County Plan Update.doc