Human Interests » Asset Building http://humaninterests.seattle.gov Seattle Human Services news and events Mon, 20 May 2013 23:14:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Free tax prep for qualified households http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2013/01/02/free-tax-prep-for-qualified-households/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2013/01/02/free-tax-prep-for-qualified-households/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:31:33 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=1038 United Way of King County has announced its annual Free Tax Preparation service. From now through early April, any household making $51,000 or less can have its taxes prepared for free.

Hundreds of IRS-trained and certified United Way volunteers help people file their tax returns. The service is easy, gets clients’ refunds quickly, and is absolutely free. Along with tax preparation, volunteers help clients with additional services such as savings bonds purchasing, assistance applying for public benefits, and pulling credit reports. A new feature this year—you can text TAX and a five-digit ZIP code (for example, “TAX 98104″) to 313131 to learn which site is nearest to you.  This Web link provides additional information about this service.

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2013/01/02/free-tax-prep-for-qualified-households/feed/ 0 Medicare Open Enrollment for Dummies! http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/10/12/medicare-open-enrollment-for-dummies/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/10/12/medicare-open-enrollment-for-dummies/#comments Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:20:16 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=990 Is Medicare Open Enrollment an impenetrable mystery to you? Come hear Andrew Tartella (Center for Medicare and Medicaid) explain the process in plain English at HSD/Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens’ Senior Coffee Hour, Thursday, October 18th, 10 to 11 a.m., Central Building, 810 3rd Ave., 4th floor.

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/10/12/medicare-open-enrollment-for-dummies/feed/ 0 Free financial advice at Oct. 13 event http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/10/09/free-financial-advice-at-oct-13-event/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/10/09/free-financial-advice-at-oct-13-event/#comments Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:08:41 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=987 Come for FREE financial advice from local experts at Financial Planning Day, Saturday, October 13th, 10am to 2pm, at Garfield Community Center. For details, please see this event flier.

 

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/10/09/free-financial-advice-at-oct-13-event/feed/ 0 Financial education classes for DV victims http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/08/29/financial-education-classes-for-dv-victims/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/08/29/financial-education-classes-for-dv-victims/#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:59:41 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=960 The YWCA is sponsoring free 10-week classes of English and Spanish-language financial education classes for victims of domestic violence from September 5th through November 7th 2012 in a confidential location in South King County.  Both classes will be every Wednesday afternoon from 12:00-3:00 p.m. For more information, please call 206-250-9956 or see this flier in English, or this flier in Spanish.

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2012/08/29/financial-education-classes-for-dv-victims/feed/ 0 Examining the impact of the recession on local families http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/12/21/examining-the-impact-of-the-recession-on-local-families/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/12/21/examining-the-impact-of-the-recession-on-local-families/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:20:38 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=708 After more than 10 years as a social services counselor, Diane found herself in an almost unimaginable role reversal. With her 3-year-old son and teenage daughter, Diane moved to a family emergency shelter – one of the same shelters to which she referred her clients. How is the recession affecting the lives of economically vulnerable families raising young children in King County? To find out, Communities Count (a partnerhsip of City, County and other community partners)  interviewed a diverse group of low- to middle-income parents.1 In this post, Communities Count explores the economic borderland that few middle-class parents ever imagine they will inhabit. From the perspective of this unfamiliar world, the essential role of social service benefits is examined in helping families work their way to self-sufficiency.

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/12/21/examining-the-impact-of-the-recession-on-local-families/feed/ 0 New report on Youth Violence Prevention Initiative http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/11/23/new-report-on-youth-violence-prevention-initiative/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/11/23/new-report-on-youth-violence-prevention-initiative/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:02:12 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=675 The City of Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative has published its first progress report to the community. The report is a comprehensive document covering the Initiative’s first two years of implementation. Included in the report is a description of the multiple strategies employed to prevent and reduce youth violence, stories of young people impacted by the Initiative, and the documented trends in the measures used to assess its progress. Initial results show juvenile court referrals for violent offenses and violence-related school disciplinary actions in select middle schools on a sharper downward trend than areas not being addressed by the Initiative.

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/11/23/new-report-on-youth-violence-prevention-initiative/feed/ 0 As poverty rises, safety net needed more than ever http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/10/06/as-poverty-rises-safety-net-needed-more-than-ever/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/10/06/as-poverty-rises-safety-net-needed-more-than-ever/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:47:19 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=606 With the release of new data showing poverty on the rise in Seattle and throughout the nation, government services are needed more than ever to help children, families and individuals from falling even deeper into poverty. This is the view of Desmond Brown in his recent article in New American Media.

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/10/06/as-poverty-rises-safety-net-needed-more-than-ever/feed/ 0 Oct. 12 anti-poverty lecture http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/09/28/oct-12-anti-poverty-lecture/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/09/28/oct-12-anti-poverty-lecture/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:19:22 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=591 Join award-winning anti-poverty scholar, teacher and organizer, Dr. Donna Beegle, Ed.D. for her presentation “From Isolation to Access: Communication that Expands Our Community’s Capacity to Care.” Dr. Beegle will speak on Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the downtown Seattle Public Library.  For details, please visit this Web site. ]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/09/28/oct-12-anti-poverty-lecture/feed/ 0 Free tax preparation available now! http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/03/02/free-tax-preparation-available-now/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/03/02/free-tax-preparation-available-now/#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:15:23 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=448 United Way of King County is currently offering free tax preparation assistance at 18 locations throughout King County.  Taxes are prepared by IRS-certified volunteers and e-filed for quick refunds.  Tax sites can also prepare tax returns for up to three prior years, and help clients apply for Individual Taxpayer ID Numbers.  Services are available in many languages.  This service is provided in partnership with the City of Seattle and is for households making less than $50,000 in 2010. 

For a list of times and locations visit this Web site.

]]> http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/03/02/free-tax-preparation-available-now/feed/ 0 HSD to reorganize to better meet needs of community http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/02/01/hsd-to-reorganize-to-better-meets-needs-of-community/ http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/2011/02/01/hsd-to-reorganize-to-better-meets-needs-of-community/#comments Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:08:15 +0000 davidt http://humaninterests.seattle.gov/?p=427 Beginning on March 1, 2011, the Seattle Human Services Department will realign its operations to better meet the needs of constituents and the community. The work of former divisions including Youth Development & Achievement, Early Learning & Family Support, and Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Prevention will be restructured to become two divisions: the Community Support & Self-Sufficiency Division and Youth & Family Empowerment Division. The Community Support & Self-Sufficiency Division will encompass all of HSD’s programs that assist individuals and families as they work toward self-sufficiency. The Youth & Family Empowerment Division will take a more holistic approach to providing services from early childhood to young adulthood, including paths to post-secondary training – college, vocational training, apprenticeships into skilled trades, or other employment. For more details about these and other changes please read this special edition of Life Lines newsletter.

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