This week the City of Seattle Human Services Department provided $2 Million in funding to the Denise Louie Education Center (DLEC). The funding will allow DLEC to develop a child care center located in the Sand Point neighborhood. This project will be undertaken in conjunction with an affordable housing development to be spearheaded by Mercy Housing Northwest who will provide 148 units of affordable housing.

The project will open in June 2018 and will provide services for at least 85 children. The total cost of the new child care center’s development will be $8.5 Million. When complete, the facility will enable low income families and children to benefit from a custom-designed early childhood education center, as well as myriad opportunities and services available in Magnuson Park:  stable affordable housing, a health clinic, and the City community center across the street.

Since 1978, DLEC has provided multicultural early learning and family support services so that Seattle kids will be ready to succeed in school and life. Last year, they served more than 575 low-income and immigrant children and their families through our Early Head Start home visiting, Head Start preschool and Play & Learn socialization groups.

You can find out how to support DLEC’s work here.

The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net as it provides $89 million in funding to nearly 200 agencies that support Seattle’s most vulnerable residents each year. The department works closely with its community partners, including other public and nonprofit funders and service providers, to understand current and emerging human service needs, and to create and invest in a comprehensive and integrated regional human services system.

For more information about HSD Funding Opportunities and application materials, visit HSD’s Funding Opportunities webpage.