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Free summer meal program for youth starts July 1st

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Thousands of Seattle children ages 1 through 18 years will enjoy free breakfasts, lunches, and snacks this summer through the City of Seattle Human Services Department’s (HSD) Summer Food Service Program. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and was formerly known as “Summer Sack Lunch.”

From July 1 through August 23, 2019, free meals will be served at approximately 125 programs across 115 sites around Seattle. The Summer Food Service Program will be open to children at designated Seattle Public Schools, community centers, Seattle Parks playgrounds, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and YWCAs, Seattle Public Library branches, and other sites throughout Seattle and parts of King County.

“Children and youth need access to healthy, nutritious food year-round to help them learn, play, and grow including the summer when school year resources are not available.”

“Children and youth need access to healthy, nutritious food year-round to help them learn, play, and grow including the summer when school year resources are not available,” said Jason Johnson, Interim Director of HSD. “The Summer Food Service Program meets this critical need and allows us to partner with community organizations across Seattle in pursuing HSD’s mission to support Healthy Communities, Healthy Families.”

Meals open to public: About 100 of the sites will be open to the public and all children 18 and under can come to have a meal. Open sites serve all youth regardless of their household income, race, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, gender identity/presentation, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and all other protected classes.

Meals for children enrolled in programs: About 20 of the sites will serve children enrolled in specific activity programs, providing free meals to all children enrolled in the program. To qualify, 50 percent or more of the children enrolled in the program must be from families that are at or below the following income levels:

Household Size Yearly Income Monthly Income Twice Per Month Every Two Weeks Weekly Income
1 $23,107 $1,926 $963 $889 $445
2 31,284 2,607 1,304 1,204 602
3 39,461 3,289 1,645 1,518 759
4 47,638 3,970 1,985 1,833 917
5 55,815 4,652 2,326 2,147 1,074
6 63,992 5,333 2,667 2,462 1,231
7 72,169 6,015 3,008 2,776 1,388
8 80,346 6,696 3,348 3,091 1,546
Each additional family member: +8,177 +682 +341 +315 +158

For a complete list of sites and hours for the Summer Food Service Program, please call 206-386-1140 or visit www.seattle.gov/summerfood. To locate a site near you, text “Food” or “Comida” to 877-877

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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Funding for this program is provided in part by the City of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax.

HSD Announces 2019 Farm to Preschool and OST RFQ Funding Opportunity

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The Youth and Family Empowerment (YFE) Division of the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications from agencies interested in supporting food procurement, food equity, and connections between Washington State farmers and Seattle public preschools and before and after school programs serving low-income children and families in Seattle.

This Farm to Preschool and Out-of-School Time (OST) RFQ is focused on building an equitable food system between farmers and preschool and before- and after-school programs. This RFQ will fund a lead agency that will support farmers (producers) to sell, and preschool and before- and after-school programs (consumers) to buy affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate food and build long-term relationships. This lead agency will focus on two bodies of work:

  • Food Procurement: Assist participating preschools and OST programs in purchasing affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate food from local farmers, farmers of color, and immigrant and refugee farmers.
  • 2020 Program Design Process: The selected agency will convene and facilitate a group of stakeholders for the program’s 2020 Farm to Preschool and OST design process, in partnership with HSD YFE. With funding from Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT), the 2020 design process will gather community input from Farm to Preschool and OST participants to create a sustainable, community-centered, program model to implement in 2021 and beyond.

Approximately $233,612.00 is available through this RFQ. HSD intends to fund one (1) applicant. Initial awards will be made for the period of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. While it is the City’s intention to renew agreements resulting from this funding opportunity on an annual basis through the 2023 calendar year, future funding will be contingent upon performance and funding availability.

The City of Seattle Human Services Department seeks to contract with a lead agency to help ensure the result of HSD’s Farm to Preschool and Out-of-School Time investment results is that all people living in Seattle can meet their basic needs.

If you have any questions about the 2019 Farm to Preschool and OST RFQ please contact the RFQ Coordinator: Jules.Posadas@Seattle.gov or (206)684-5296. Click here to view more information and download application materials.

HSD Announces Results of the 2019 Food Access Opportunity Fund RFP

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The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Food Access Opportunity Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) that closed on March 6. Applicants were invited to improve healthy food access by investing in community-based projects designed and led by the people most impacted by race, social, health, and environmental injustices.

The RFP guides the investment of $800,000 from the Food Access Opportunity Fund. This funding is provided by the City of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT) — established by City Council (Ordinance 125324) — and aligns with the SBT Community Advisory Board’s (CAB) Operating Principles:

  • Priority populations – Projects and activities should focus on reaching communities of color, immigrants, refugees, people with low income, youth and young adults, and English language learners.
  • Place-based focus areas – Projects and activities should be located in areas where communities of color, immigrants, refugees, people with low income, and English language learners live, work, play, worship or go to school.
  • Community-driven – Projects and activities should be led by community-based organizations with continuous connections to the focus population or community.
  • Culturally-responsive – Projects and activities should be culturally responsive and delivered in ways that are accessible and comfortable for the focus population or community.
  • Prevention-oriented – Projects and activities should focus on health equity by preventing sugary drink consumption and educating people about the chronic conditions caused by sugary drinks.

HSD received 24 eligible applications that were reviewed by a committee whose members have experience with food systems and food equity, as well as working with communities of color, immigrant and refugee populations, and low-income communities. The panel was gender, age and ethnically diverse and included representatives from the African American, Latinx, Native American, Caucasian, and immigrant communities.

The committee recommended 18 proposals receive funding, up to $50,000 each, to support a diverse range of organizations:

  • South Park Information and Resource Center
  • Indigenous Roots, LLC
  • Somali Family Safety Task Force
  • African Community Housing & Development
  • Black Dollar Days Task Force
  • East African Community Services
  • Puentes: Advocacy, Counseling & Education
  • Rainier Beach Action Coalition
  • Avole Coffee, LLC
  • Feest
  • Hip Hop is Green
  • First Tongan Seniors Association
  • Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle
  • Vietnamese Friendship Association
  • Hunger Intervention Program
  • Puget Sound Labor Agency
  • Temple Lifestyle
  • American Polynesian Organization

“On behalf of the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board, we congratulate the first grantees of the new Food Access Opportunity Fund,” said Christina Wong, Advisory Board Co-Chair. “We are excited to see the Sweetened Beverage Tax revenue supporting grassroots, community-led efforts to improve healthy food access in communities most affected by racial and economic inequities. We look forward to learning from your innovative and tailored strategies.”

The funding will support a number of efforts such as urban farming and increased access to healthy foods, farm stands, strategies to reduce sugary drink consumption, and healthy food and nutrition education focused on youth to seniors and students to families from diverse communities across Seattle.

HSD Announces 2019 Safety RFP Funding Opportunity

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The Youth and Family Empowerment (YFE) Division of the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications from agencies interested in providing systems navigation and addressing trauma for 18 to 24-year-old people harmed by the criminal legal system in Seattle.

This Safety RFP is focused on people harmed by the criminal legal system in Seattle by investing in two strategies:

  • Systems Navigation – Individuals and families harmed by the criminal legal system get their basic needs met. This RFP defines a system as a structure that intersects with an individual’s or family’s ability to fully live their lives.  
  • Trauma Intervention – Individuals, families, and communities (of shared identity, culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and/or experience) address the harm caused by the criminal legal system. This RFP defines trauma as the result of an experienced event that has lasting, adverse effects on individual, familial, and community well-being.

Applicants must address both strategies. We will accept proposals submitted by one group or one agency. We will also accept collective proposals submitted by two or more groups and/or agencies. Collective proposals must identify a lead agency or group. If selected for funding, HSD will contract with the lead agency or group. All funded applicants will be required to participate in a data and learning cohort that will meet regularly.

Approximately $4,910,333 in HSD General Fund dollars is available through this RFP. HSD intends to fund a maximum of 25 proposals. Initial awards will be made for the period of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. While it is the City’s intention to renew agreements resulting from this funding opportunity on an annual basis through the 2023 calendar year, future funding will be contingent upon performance and funding availability. For more information, and all application materials click here.

HSD seeks to contract with a diverse group to help ensure the result of HSD’s Safety investment is that people harmed by the criminal legal system in Seattle live their lives fully without further harm and that all youth in Seattle successfully transition into adulthood. 

If you have any questions about this Safety RFP, please contact: Leslea Bowling at leslea.bowling@seattle.gov or (206) 684-0520. 

Next Thursday, 5/16: Coffee with the Department of Neighborhoods!

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Join us for coffee and conversation with Andrés Mantilla, Director, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Thursday, May 16 10:00–11:00 a.m. The Central Building 810 3rd Avenue 1st Floor Conference Room (between Columbia & Marion in downtown Seattle)
Click above to view the flier

Join us for coffee and conversation with Andrés Mantilla on Thursday, May 16, 10:00–11:00 a.m. at The Central Building, 810 3rd Avenue, 1st Floor Conference Room (between Columbia & Marion in downtown Seattle).

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods provides resources and opportunities for community members to build strong communities and improve their quality of life. Director Andrés Mantilla will address how the Department interacts with older adults and elevates their concerns to City decision making.

New for 2019! Subscribe to “Aging King County” on YouTube to view short video stories (“vlogs”) about each coffee hour: bit.ly/ADSonYouTube. Share them with anyone you think might be interested! For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, contact Lenny Orlov (206-386-1521 or agefriendly@seattle.gov) at least three days prior to the event.

Age Friendly Seattle Coffee Hours are held on the third Thursday of every month at the Central Building and on other dates in Seattle neighborhoods.

The events bring community elders closer to City officials to explore topics of interest. Presentations often include cutting edge information about healthy aging, legal and planning issues, and more.

Participants learn about City programs and services, and officials hear from their constituents. Coffee and refreshments are served. Visit the Age Friendly Seattle website to learn more — www.seattle.gov/agefriendly

HSD Announces Results of the Older Adult Community Transportation RFP

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The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Older Adult Community Transportation RFP that was issued on January 14. Applicants were invited to submit proposals providing health services transportation and/or food access transportation in King County. Health Services Transportation enables older people to access healthcare by providing trips to medical and dental appointments, health-related services, and other essential appointments. Food Access Transportation enables older adults to access healthy food in the setting of their choice.

The RFP guides the investment of $711,500 in Federal Older Americans Act Title III-B funding and Washington State Senior Citizens Services Act funding. Additionally, City of Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT) provides $150,048 to enhance and expand Food Access Transportation services for Seattle residents and allow full funding of the two top-ranked applications.

Three applications were received and reviewed by a diverse committee of subject matter experts and advocates for older adult services and community transportation. This included community members with extensive personal and professional experience with program activities, representation of or service to the focus populations, and understanding of participants’ needs, as well as representatives from the City’s human services, transportation, and legislative departments. In accordance with committee recommendations:

  • Sound Generations will receive $711,500 to support their Volunteer Transportation Service, Driver Companion, Nutrition Van Service, and Demand Response Service programs.
  • Catholic Community Services will receive $60,048 for their Volunteer Services Transportation program.
  • Northshore Senior Center will receive $90,000 for their Right Ride program.

“Transportation to and from community meal sites and health services is a service provided by many Area Agencies on Aging throughout the country,” said Cathy Knight, director of HSD’s Aging and Disability Services division, the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle and King County. “Each year, more than 2,000 people use these services to get the nutrition and health care they need for healthy aging.”  

The three funded agencies will engage in coordination activities and conduct client-level data reporting toward HSD goals of results-based accountability and racial equity.

We’re making progress, together…

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HSD’s expanded investments in effective homeless services and programs like enhanced shelter, prevention, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing have helped more than 4,000 households to move off the streets and into housing or to remain housed.

Jason Johnson, acting director of Seattle’s Human Services Department, said the progress is mirrored in what the city has been hearing from its contractors. “We’re serving more people than we ever have before,” Johnson said. “We’re also exiting more people through programs and into permanent housing.”

“We are grateful for our homeless services provider partners who are working hard to ensure that they are serving people more effectively. With their help we increased the number of households served by 7% over last year to more than 25,000 households in 2018. We wouldn’t be making progress without them.”

We are also looking more at the effectiveness of tiny house village programs and how to work more closely with the communities around them. Click to read more about this on our Homelessness Response blog.

All Home 2019 Count Us In Infographic
Click image to download the
2019 Count Us In Infographic

With the latest data released by All Home today, we are also cautiously optimistic. Count Us In, the annual Point in Time count for Seattle and King County, found a total of 11,199 people experiencing homelessness countywide, including 5,971 people (53%) sheltered and 5,228 people (47%) unsheltered. While we continue our work to serve more people, more effectively, these numbers represent the first reduction in homelessness since 2012 for Seattle/King County – an overall decrease of eight percent compared to 2018, and a decrease of seventeen percent among the unsheltered population. The full Count Us In report, estimated to be complete by the end of May, will include more detailed information on the results, including a sub-regional breakdown and a deeper analysis of the Count Us In survey responses.

“We’re serving more people than we ever have before,” Johnson said. “We’re also exiting more people through programs and into permanent housing.”

“Still it is not enough,” said Mayor Durkan. “This is a regional crisis that demands a regional response – none of us can do it alone to help the thousands in need of housing and services. Government, philanthropy, businesses, and human services providers must continue our work together to expand affordable housing, treatment services and effective programs like enhanced shelters.”

Work is on-going to establish a Regional Authority to manage homelessness response, expand access to diversion services which help people quickly find housing at the beginning of their experience with homelessness, and continued investments in enhanced shelters and safe spaces with enhanced services. We have covered some of those steps here in recent newsletters, and we will continue to do so. We’re making progress, together… and there is much more work to be done.

Celebrate Older Americans Month 2019: Connect, Create, Contribute!

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Happy May Day!

Older American Month Infographic
Click on the image above to download a PDF version.

This day holds a lot of meaning, from celebration of Spring through flowery Maypole dances to recognition of International Workers’ Day. For me, it’s also the first day of Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of older people in our communities nationwide.

Older Americans Month is an annual event that dates back to 1963, when President John F. Kennedy designated May as Senior Citizens Month. The current name and theme are sanctioned by the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This year’s theme is Connect, Create, Contribute.

Ensuring that people throughout King County can age in place with a focus on improved physical and mental health is a primary body of work for this department and a central result that the department is driving. Visit the Older Americans Month page on the Aging King County website. You’ll see links to logos and social media badges, plus a May calendar of events. Look for information in the May issue of AgeWise King County, too.

Ageism runs rampant in our community and most communities. Celebrating the older people in our midst and talking about their lives—past, present, and future—helps to fight ageism. We know that aging is about living. We know that everyone lives their best life when they stay active and involved with other people.

This month, whether you acknowledge Older Americans Month or not, please look for opportunities to celebrate older people who are connected, creative contributors to their families and communities. 

Making Progress: more people moved from homelessness to housing in 2018

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In 2018, more people were served, more moved from homelessness to housing and more people living with disabling conditions were stably housed, with the support of Seattle residents.

Enhanced shelters, tiny house villages, rapid rehousing, and other homeless services programs that receive funds from the Human Services Department (HSD) are working together to help thousands of people everyday.

As Seattle addresses the crisis of homelessness, we are focused on helping people move off the streets and into permanent housing. Last year, more people moved from homelessness to housing or were prevented from becoming homeless.

Permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs helped 1,899 households remain stably housed. PSH provides housing for people that have experienced chronic homelessness and are living with disabling physical or medical conditions. PSH helps clients, who are at high risk of experiencing homelessness again, remain housed with the necessary services.

We are working together to make progress in addressing homelessness in Seattle. The hard work of homeless services programs and the support of Seattle residents helped more people find and remain housed in 2018, than the previous year. Together, we will continue to make progress in 2019.

April is Fair Housing Month

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April is National Fair Housing Month. National Fair Housing Month increases efforts to end housing discrimination and raises awareness of fair housing rights. The month also remembers the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, of which fair and equitable access to housing was a key factor. The Fair Housing Act also celebrates its anniversary during April. In 2018, the Fair Housing Act celebrated its 50th anniversary. Designed to protect Americans from discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on color, race, national origin and religion, the act later extended to sex, disability and family status.

During 2018, the City of Seattle focused on the second year’s work to implement the 2017 City of Seattle and Seattle Housing Authority Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH). The development of the AFH required significant coordination, facilitation, research and production among 16 different city departments plus the Seattle Housing Authority during the period of 2015-2017. The AFH was adopted and accepted by HUD in July 2017. The 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan integrated the goals of the AFH work plan and as a result, the 2018 CAPER is the first time AFH accomplishments are included in our report. Please see the separate attachment that focuses on the commitments and progress toward AFH goals.

Below are some highlights for 2018 from that plan, though only a small portion of the work overlapped with the Assessment of Fair Housing:

  • The “Fair Chance Housing Ordinance” became effective on 2/19/2018 (SOCR)
  • SOCR worked in partnership with HSD to attend community listening sessions as part of a Racial Equity Toolkit to examine how City Council-designated funds should be distributed for tenant outreach (SOCR)
  • A campaign was launched to educate the public about the “Alternative Source of Income” and “Fair Chance Housing” ordinance (SOCR)
  • 8 free fair housing workshops for housing providers in an effort to make housing laws easier to access for the public (SOCR, SDCI)
  • 26 trainings were held with housing providers on how best to address bias when using criminal records in tenant screening (SOCR)
  • OPCD published its first “Comprehensive Plan Urban Village Monitoring Report” in June 2018. This report gauges the City’s progress in implementing Seattle’s recently updated Comprehensive Plan. The report tracks indicators related to housing and employment growth, housing affordability, and key aspects of livability including access to frequent transit, presence of sidewalks, and access to parks and open space. We’re measuring the indicators for the city as a whole and for individual centers and villages across the city (OPCD)
  • Affirmative marketing requirements for MFTE, MHA, and IZ performance units were published (OH)

I would like to acknowledge and offer my many thanks to the HSD Federal Grants Unit, in particular Debra Rhinehart, for the coordination this local effort requires. This body of work is racial equity in action, and I appreciate your leadership. #NationalFairHousingMonth