Seattle, WA (December 7, 2016) – Today, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) released its 2017 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), an overview of the Department’s upcoming funding opportunities for 2017. These funding opportunities represent over $40 million in social safety net investments serving Seattle’s most vulnerable populations.
Among the funding announced today is the first Pathways Home Request for Proposal which will total over $35M and constitute a major step in the city’s initiative to transform the response to homelessness. In addition, funding next year will include support for family caregivers, community transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, and senior nutrition.
“Our 2017 funding will prioritize partnerships between small and large organizations, as well as partnerships between mainstream and cultural-specific organizations,” said Human Services Department Director Catherine Lester. “This focus will build community capacity to reduce racial disparities. The services and programs we will fund continue our Department’s work to serve Seattle’s most vulnerable residents.”
The 2017 competitive funding processes announced today include:
- Kinship Caregiver Support: $155,000 (January 2017)
- Community Shuttles for Seniors and People with Disabilities: $1.5M (March 2017)
- Senior Nutrition Program: $3.2M (April 2017)
- Pathways Home: approximately $35M (Summer 2017)
- Dementia Adult Day Services: $336,000 (Summer 2017)
Once finalized, HSD will issue individual, detailed funding requests for proposals for each investment area. Other funding opportunities may appear throughout the year on the Human Services Department funding opportunities website.
In 2017 as in past years, HSD will focus on engaging communities traditionally marginalized, such as low-income individuals and families, limited English speakers, persons with disabilities, communities of color, and seniors. In addition, applications demonstrating partnership between large organizations and smaller community providers will be given priority,
HSD is committed to funding performance-based investments and uses data steer the department’s resources to nonprofits who demonstrate their ability to serve the communities most in need. HSD works to ensure the City’s resources are being directed to programs that see maximum impact reducing disparities.
###
The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net. HSD provides $89 million in funding through 400 contracts to nearly 200 agencies supporting 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.
