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Seattle Human Services news and events

HSD opens summer youth employment applications

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Seattle, WA – Today, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) announced that the application process for the 2015 Summer Youth Internship Program is now underway.  The summer internship program is open to youth and young adults, ages 14-24 who live in Seattle.

“Working together with business leaders, community partners and the City, we will be building the most vigorous youth employment program Seattle has seen in decades,” said Mayor Ed Murray.  “This program will help our most at-risk youth develop the skills necessary to compete in the 21st Century economy.”

“Youth summer employment has been shown to reduce poverty, increase school engagement, provide job experience, and reduce participation in risky behaviors and crime, said Catherine Lester, Acting HSD Director.  “By investing in the summer jobs, the City is not only investing in the individual participants, but also their families, communities and the city as a whole.”

This year, through the Mayor Ed Murray’s Summer Youth at Work Initiative, the program will employ 2,000 youth and young adults this year, double the number of jobs provided to youth last year.  Eligible youth and young adults will receive paid work experience in positions at various city departments and at private sector placements based on their career interest.

Seattle youth and young adults interested in applying for summer jobs can complete the Online Applicant Information Form or pick one up at SYEP office located at 810 Third Avenue, 4th Floor, Suite 420, Seattle, WA  98104 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  The SYEP Applicant Information Form must be completed and received online, mailed or dropped off by 5 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2015.

For students without computer access, computers are available at Seattle Public Libraries, Seattle Parks and Recreation community centers, Seattle public high schools, WorkSource Centers, and some community based organizations.

Private sector business and nonprofit organizations can participate in the Summer Youth at Work Initiative by providing a structured and supervised work environment for the summer. Interested businesses and organizations should contact Nancy Yamamoto at 206-684-8189 or Nancy.Yamamoto@seattle.gov for more information.

The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net as it provides $99 million in funding through 522 contracts 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 visit HSD’s Seattle Youth Employment Program webpage.

 

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Mayor Murray nominates Catherine Lester as Director of HSD

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Catherine Lester

Mayor Murray today nominated Catherine Lester as Director of the Seattle Human Services Department.

Lester, who has a long career working in human and social services is currently HSD’s Deputy Director, and will take over for John Okamoto, who Mayor Murray appointed as acting director in 2014.

“Catherine is a committed leader and innovative thinker, and we are lucky to have her,” Murray said. “Her leadership will be effective in getting our resources to the people who need them most in our community – those who are homeless, youth looking for summer jobs and survivors of domestic violence.”

“I am excited to serve as the leader of the Human Services Department.  I am humbled by the commitment and passion demonstrated day in and day out by both the staff in this department, and the network of local service providers,” Lester said.

“The question is not whether or not we can afford to invest in our most vulnerable neighbors and communities; it is whether we can afford not to.  I look forward to continuing to partner with staff and providers to make sure that everyone in Seattle can enjoy the quality of life we all desire,” she said.

“Catherine is the perfect choice to lead this Department. She has been the architect and driver of the Department’s efforts to be results and data-driven – getting the most out of our public investments focused on disparities,” said acting director John Okamoto.

“Catherine understands and knows our robust network of service providers.   She is nationally recognized for her work, and she has the confidence of the employees of the Department.  I am very pleased to hand over leadership to her,” Okamoto said.

Okamoto will remain at HSD as a special projects consultant, assisting with the transition and providing strategic guidance over several projects, including the homeless investment analysis.

Lester previously served as Acting Director of HSD from 2013-2014 during the transition between the Mayoral administrations, and was also Deputy Director of HSD between 2011-2013. Prior to coming to Seattle, she was Director of Cuyahoga Tapestry System of Care at Cuyahoga County’s Office of Health and Human Services in Ohio. Through her leadership in this role, child welfare recidivism improved and a new Continuous Quality Improvement process was implemented to maximize performance-based contracting for the county. Lester has a Master’s of Science degree in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Ryerson University. She is also a 2013-2014 Annie E. Casey Foundation Children and Families Fellow, a nationally-recognized leadership development program focused on systemic changes to improve the lives of children and families in the United States.

HSD’s mission is to provide assistance to some of the most vulnerable individuals living in the city so that children, youth, and families can thrive. HSD will invest nearly $37 million this year on services and programs to help prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless as well as to help people who are homeless find stability and permanent housing. This year’s One Night Count saw a 21% increase of unsheltered homeless people in Seattle compared to last year, and under Lester’s leadership, Mayor Murray has set expectations for HSD to focus on data-driven and outcomes-based efforts to better align the city’s homelessness investments with innovative principles such as housing first and rapid re-housing strategies.

“As Seattle continues its generous investment in our community, it is important that our dollars produce outcomes for the clients of our many government, religious and non-profit programs,” Murray said.

The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net, and provides $99 million in funding through 522 contracts to nearly 200 agencies that support Seattle’s most vulnerable residents each year.

HSD has an annual budget of $129 million and 320 full-time employees. Catherine will start effective Feb. 18, and her salary will be $151,000 per year.

[Read more…]

HSD announces $75,000 to fund birth doula services for low income women

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Seattle, WA – Today, the Seattle Human Services Department announced $75,000 in available funding to nonprofit agencies for birth doula services for low income women of color. The funding is available through request for qualifications (RFQ) process and is open to nonprofit, public, or private business models that have the capacity, certification, and experience to provide birth doula services.

Birth doulas will provide support to pregnant women before, during, and in the weeks following birth. Services include supportive home visits in the last trimester of pregnancy, attendance during labor and delivery, and postpartum home visits after babies are born. In working with vulnerable populations, Birth Doulas also serve as cultural and relational brokers with public health and other medical providers, social services, and government agencies.

The selected provider organization must have three years of experience providing birth doula services, be currently providing birth doula services at the time of application and must demonstrate capacity for immediate implementation of birth doula services upon contract award. Priority participants are low-income pregnant women of color, who may also be immigrant, refugee, homeless, or limited English speaking, and live in the City of Seattle.

The most qualified applicant will demonstrate experience providing culturally and linguistically relevant birth doula services that meet the needs of each family. Approximately $75,000 is available for Request for Qualification from HSD General Fund, with initial awards funded for the period of April 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. The application deadline is Monday, March 2, 2015 at 4 p.m.

HSD continues its effort to institute performance-based investments and uses data to steer the department’s resources to nonprofits who demonstrate their ability to serve the community’s most in need.   HSD seeks to ensure the city’s finite resources are being directed to programs that can best leverage the investments for maximum impact on reducing disparities.

The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net as it provides $99 million in funding through 522 contracts 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.

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HSD announces $620,000 in homeless assistance funding

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Seattle Human Services Department announces $620,000 in homeless assistance funding

Seattle, WA –City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) announced $620,000 of funding available to nonprofit agencies to provide Rapid Rehousing services for non-chronically homeless single adults to ensure that these instances of homelessness are rare, brief and occur only one time.

Eligible activities include short-term rental subsidy, housing navigation and placement, and employment navigation. Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations that serve city of Seattle residents and meet the following criteria:

  • Experience implementing a Rapid Rehousing, Housing First, or short-term rental assistance housing navigation and placement program for homeless populations and;
  • Experience implementing an Employment Navigation program (defined in Section VI Program Requirements) for homeless populations, or submit an application that demonstrates a partnership with an agency that has experience and;
  • Experience serving single, homeless adults without accompanied children and be able to demonstrate a level of competency in serving the following focus populations:
    • Individuals who have served in the US Armed Forces (male and female)
    • African American, Black, and Latino populations and;
  • Ability to participate in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

Agencies serving homeless domestic violence survivors, sexual assault and/or commercial sexual exploitation survivors are encouraged to apply for this funding. These agencies do not have to show experience serving the male Veterans, but should be able to show a proficiency in serving female Veterans, those who have served in the US Armed Forces, and African American, Black, and Latino populations, and must detail how they will comply with data and reporting requirements.

Approximately $620,000 is available for Request for Proposal (RFP) from HSD General Fund and the Seattle Housing Authority, with initial awards funded for the period of June 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. The application deadline is Monday, March 2, 2015 by 12 p.m.

HSD continues its effort to institute performance-based investments and uses data to steer the department’s resources to nonprofits who demonstrate their ability to serve the community’s most in need.   HSD seeks to ensure the City’s finite resources are being directed to programs that can best leverage the investments for maximum impact on reducing disparities.

The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net as it provides $99 million in funding through 522 contracts 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.

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Seattle /King County receives record $28 million in federal homeless assistance grants

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Award includes $3.6 million in new money for permanent supportive housing and increased homeless housing and services renewal funds

SEATTLE – A record $28 million in federal homeless assistance funds was awarded jointly to the City of Seattle and King County, including over $3.6 million to create new housing opportunities for over 200 people across the region, in addition to renewing critical funding for new and existing homeless housing and services countywide for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the award today, following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of $1.8 billion awarded nationwide.

“Seattle is working to address our current crisis in homelessness and these resources will help fund our response as we move people from emergency shelters into housing,” said Mayor Ed Murray, co-chair of the Committee to End Homelessness Governing Board. “This also grant helps us leverage additional federal funds to invest in best practices to serve homeless individuals and families.”

“The recent One Night Count highlights the need not only to create more safe shelter and affordable housing, but to keep people from falling into homelessness and to rapidly re-house those who find themselves without a home,” said Executive Constantine. “Thanks to this extraordinary federal support, we can act quickly to move more individuals and families from homelessness to housing.”

The funding awards and new bonus funding come just days after nearly one thousand volunteers across King County counted 3,772 unsheltered people across the County. The annual One Night Count conducted on Jan. 23 found a 21 percent increase over the number counted last year.

New for this federal funding round was approximately $40 million nationally specifically to create housing for chronically homeless persons. In a very competitive process, Seattle-King County was successful in applying for a $3.6 million bonus award, the second largest in the country, to transition over 200 chronically homeless individuals to permanent supportive housing by providing long-term rental assistance and services. The project will focus on people who have histories of the longest shelter use and who are also disabled by one or more significant vulnerabilities. This project is a partnership of Plymouth Housing Group, Catholic Housing Services and DESC – all of whom excel in serving chronically homeless people.

“We are ecstatic to receive funding to house more chronically homeless individuals with permanent supportive housing, an evidence-based approach to ending homelessness,” said Mark Putnam, director of the Committee to End Homelessness. “Our nonprofit providers’ experience with this model is second to none in the country.”

The federal grant also provides support for a new Regional Rapid Re-Housing Project that will assist 50 homeless families countywide to transition from homelessness to permanent housing. The program will offer quick, light-touch services to help families achieve stability, including assistance in finding housing, help with move-in expenses and case management. The program will focus on families who are homeless, either in shelter or on the streets.

The balance of funding awarded to the Seattle/King County Continuum of Care supports 77 community-based projects for a total of 2,176 units of housing: 1,457 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and 721 units of transitional housing. The total includes funding for two Safe Haven facilities that offer supportive housing for homeless adults with severe mental illness. Also renewed is funding for Continuum of Care planning and the Safe Harbors Homeless Management Information System, which collects data on services provided to homeless people in programs throughout King County.

For more information on the programs and projects funded by the McKinney Continuum of Care grant funds, please call Eileen Denham, City of Seattle McKinney Programs Coordinator, 206-684-0915 or Kate Speltz, King County Housing and Community Development Program, 206-263-9084.

The full list of organizations receiving funds the consolidated application is provided in the following list:

 

Seattle/King County Continuum of Care

Homeless Assistance Awards for 2015-2016

This information reflects the award for the 2014 Seattle-King County Consolidated application for McKinney funding.

Project Sponsor / Project Name Award ($) # Units** FundingTerm
Archdiocesan Housing Authority – Dorothy Day House 25,422 17 1 year
Archdiocesan Housing Authority – Noel at Bakhita 150,518 20 1 year
Archdiocesan Housing Authority – Ozanam House 297,454 27 1 year
Archdiocesan Housing Authority – Ozanam 2 27,395 29 1 year
Archdiocesan Housing Authority – Patrick Place 136,392 30 1 year
Archdiocesan Housing Authority – Rose of Lima House 106,814 13 1 year
Archdiocesan Housing Authority – St.Martins on Westlake 197,739 53 1 year
Auburn Youth Resources – Severson House  (Auburn) 123,286 7 1 year
Catholic Community Services – Aloha Inn 201,576 66 1 year
Childcare Resources Homeless Child Care  (Regional) 479,095 Services 1 year
Compass Housing – Cascade Women’s 80,012 32 1 year
Compass Housing Homelessness Project 57,278 12 1 year
Compass Housing Nyer Urness House 479,324 57 1 year
Compass Housing – Rosa Parks / Mary Witt 26,284 10 1 year
Compass Housing Scattered Sites 116,397 22 1 year
Compass Housing- Transitions 81,370 12 1 year
Consejo – Mi Casa 74,613 4 1 year
Community Psychiatric Clinic – Cedar House 168,153 8 1 year
Community Psychiatric Clinic – El Rey 75,171 16 1 year
Community Psychiatric Clinic – Harbor House 348,156 20 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center – 1811 Eastlake 607,261 50 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center – Aurora House 500,216 57 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center – Canaday House 345,401 83 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center – Cottage Grove Commons 622,324 66 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center – Evans House 197,823 26 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center – Kerner Scott 443,471 25 1 year

 

Project Sponsor / Project Name Award # Units** FundingTerm
Downtown Emergency Service Center – Lyon Building 402,635 40 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center – Rainier 498,492 50 1 year
Downtown Emergency Service Center Scattered Site Leasing Program 557,569 53 1 year
El Centro de la Raza – ECR Transitional Housing 17,603 2 1 year
Friends of Youth – New Ground (Bothell) 123,062 14 1 year
Hopelink Family Transitional Housing  (Redmond) 121,939 20 1 year
King County Rapid Re-Housing Program (Regional) 410,919 50 1 year
King County Shelter Plus Care  (Regional) 7,089,285 494 1 year
King County Scattered Sites Supportive Housing 3,652,915 50 1 year
Kent Youth and Family Services – Watson Manor  (Kent) 38,134 8 1 year
LifeWire – My Friend’s Place  (Bellevue) 251,744 10 1 year
Low Income Housing Institute – Columbia Court 36,141 13 1 year
Low Income Housing Institute – Martin Court 105,000 41 1 year
Multi Service Center Transitional Family Housing  (Kent) 26,724 3 1 year
New Beginnings – New Beginnings Transitional 326,054 17 1 year
Plymouth Housing Group – Coming Home 492,048 150 1 year
Plymouth Housing Group – Williams Apartments 498,714 61 1 year
Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC) Medical Case Management / Kids Plus  (Regional) 414,005 Services 1 year
PHSKC Medical Respite (Regional) 696,732 Services 1 year
Salvation Army – Hickman House 77,838 10 1 year
Salvation Army – William Booth Center 253,988 43 1 year
City of Seattle – Homeless Youth Coordination  (Regional) 738,688 Services 1 year
City of Seattle Regional Rapid Rehousing for Families 486,431 50 1 year
Seattle Housing Authority – The Beacon 9,896 6 1 year
Solid Ground – Broadview 158,620 20 1 year
Solid Ground – Journey Home Rapid Re Housing Program (Regional) 510,086 50 1 year
Solid Ground – PG Kenney Place 115,946 13 1 year
Solid Ground Sandpoint Families 294,978 30 1 year
Transitional Resources – Avalon Place 32,335 5 1 year
United Indians of All Tribes – United Indians Youth Home 343,565 25 1 year

 

Project Sponsor / Project Name Award # Units** FundingTerm
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation – Valley Cities Landing (Kent) 150,986 24 1 year
Vietnam Veterans Leadership Project  – Bennett House 23,579 6 1 year
Vietnam Veterans Leadership Project  – Burien House  (Burien) 63,258 6 1 year
Workforce Development Council Homeless Intervention Program 927,121 Services 1 year
Youth and Outreach Services – Dove House 121,545 5 1 year
Youthcare – Home of Hope 181,306 10 1 year
Youthcare – Ravenna House 151,856 12 1 year
Youthcare – Sandpoint Youth 548,598 19 1 year
Youthcare – Straley House 105,602 12 1 year
YWCA – Anita Vista  (Renton) 57,319 14 1 year
YWCA Auburn Transitional   (Auburn) 42,540 8 1 year
YWCA – Family Village  (Redmond) 78,878 20 1 year
YWCA Multi- Agency Demonstration  (Federal Way) 85,614 10 1 year
YWCA – Opportunity Place 114,450 29 1 year
YWCA – Windermere 29,683 4 1 year
Safe Harbors(Homeless Management Information System –  HMIS) $403,714 HMIS 1 year
Continuum of Care Planning 250,000 Planning 1 year
Total 28, 087,080

 

** Units can be houses, apartments, rooms or beds

 

 

HSD announces $4 Million of available funding to support Seattle’s senior and disabled populations

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Seattle, WA – Today, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) announced two separate request for proposals, totaling $3,997,091available to nonprofit services providers that serve the region’s most vulnerable senior and disabled populations through its Community Living Connection – Aging & Disability Resource Network (CLC-ADRN) and Family Caregiver Support programs.

Approximately $2,344,929 is available to nonprofit agencies interested in providing services through the CLC-ADRN in King County. The CLC-ADRN connects older adults and people with disabilities to needed services and supports, and includes the following culturally and linguistically appropriate service components: outreach; information and assistance/referral; person-centered options counseling; and care coordination.

HSD’s CLC-ADRN program is funded by sources, Senior Citizens Service Act (SCSA) and Older American’s Act Title III-B (OAA III-B), Title XIX and HSD General Fund. This Request for Proposal (RFP) is open to nonprofit agencies. HSD intends to fund a maximum of fifteen proposals.

The second RFP announced today represents approximately $1,652,162 for nonprofit agencies experienced in providing Family Caregiver Support services for unpaid caregivers for older adults and adults 18+ with a disability living in King County. The Family Caregiver Support Program provides culturally and linguistically appropriate support and services for unpaid caregivers including information and assistance, counseling, support groups, training/consultation, emergency respite coordination, and an evidence-based assessment and referral tool called Tailored Care and Referral or TCARE®. The Family Caregiver Support Program supports and services reduce physical and emotional stress experienced by caregivers so their loved one is able to live in the community.

HSD’s Family Caregiver Support Program is funded by the State Family Caregiver and Older American’s Act Title III-E. This RFP is open to non-profit agencies. HSD intends to fund a maximum of twelve proposals.

HSD continues its effort to institute performance-based investments and uses data to steer the department’s resources to nonprofits who demonstrate their ability to serve the community’s most in need.   HSD seeks to ensure the City’s finite resources are being directed to programs that can best leverage the investments for maximum impact on reducing disparities.

The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net as it provides $99 million in funding through 522 contracts 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.

 

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The Aging and Disability Services division of HSD promotes quality of life, independence and choice for older people and adults with disabilities. As the state-designated local Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County the division is co-sponsored by the City of Seattle Human Services Department, United Way of King County and King County.

 

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Notice of public hearing and public comment period for a substantial amendment to the City of Seattle’s Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development

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The City of Seattle is proposing to revise the 2010 Annual Action Plan to the 2009 – 2012 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development and the 2014 Annual Action Plan to the 2014 – 2017 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development. Documents related to the proposed changes are available to the public on the Human Services Department website or by contacting the City’s CDBG Administrator at the address or phone number shown below. The Consolidated Plan affects how the City uses four federal funds sources to assist low- and moderate-income persons: 1) the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), 2) Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), 3) Home Investment Partnership (HOME), and 4) Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).

The proposed substantial amendment moves HOME funds from homeowner activities to affordable rental housing preservation and development activities. The reason for this move, fundamentally, is the high cost of ownership housing in Seattle and the expenditure limits imposed by HOME regulations on ownership housing projects. A total of $810,113 is proposed to move from homeownership activities to affordable rental housing activities. The electronic version of the proposed Substantial Amendment can be found here.

The Public is invited to attend a public hearing and meeting held to be held on Thursday, January 15, 9am, at a meeting of the Housing Affordability, Human Services, and Economic Resiliency Committee of the Seattle City Council. Public comment will be taken at that time on these proposed changes. The meeting will be held in the City of Seattle Council Chambers, located in the Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue. The Council’s Chambers are on the 2nd floor.

Interested persons are invited to find out more about the Substantial Amendment by contacting:

Michael Look
CDBG Administrator
700 5th Ave, 58th Floor (5th & Columbia)
P.O. Box 34215
Seattle, WA 98124-4215
Phone: 206-615-1717 E-mail: Michael.Look@seattle.gov

Written comments and suggestions regarding the Substantial Amendment may also be submitted to Mr. Look by January 20, 2015 by e-mail or postal mail.

For those who wish to testify at the January 15 public hearing, a sign-up sheet will be available outside the Council Chamber one-half hour before the public hearing. The City Council Chamber is ADA accessible. Print and communication access is provided on prior request. Please contact the Council Offices at 206-684-8888 or TDD 206-233-0025 as soon as possible to request accommodations for a disability.

HSD releases 2015 funding opportunities

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Today, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) released its 2015 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) which provides an overview of HSD’s impending funding opportunities for 2015.   These funding opportunities represent over $5.1 million in City investments to nonprofit services providers that serve Seattle’s most vulnerable populations.

The competitive funding processes announced include, the Community Living Connections (CLC) program, Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP), Doula Services, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention, Sexual Assault Advocacy, Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Advocacy and Housing Services and Adult Day Services, long Term Stayers, and Rapid Re-Housing for Single Homeless Adults. Once finalized, HSD will issue individual, detailed funding opportunities for each investment area.

HSD continues its effort to institute performance-based investments and uses data steer the department’s resources to nonprofits who demonstrate their ability to serve the community’s most in need.   HSD seeks to ensure the City’s finite resources are being directed to programs that can best leverage the investments for maximum impact on reducing disparities.

The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net as it provides $99 million in funding through 522 contracts 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 and a PDF of the 2015 NOFA, visit HSD’s Funding Opportunities webpage.

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The Human Services Department funds and operates programs and services that meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our community – families and individuals with low incomes, children, domestic violence and sexual assault victims, homeless people, seniors, and persons with disabilities. We invest in programs that help people gain independence and success.

 

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HSD’s Financial Empowerment Center Selected to Provide Financial Coaching to Disabled

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Today, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) announced its Financial Empowerment Center program has been selected as a demonstration site for Bridges to Financial Security by the National Disability Institute (NDI).  Bridges to Financial Security (“Bridges”) represents a large investment through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to NDI and its subcontractors to provide financial education services to individuals with disabilities who are transitioning into the workforce to increase their financial literacy and help them proactively take control of their finances at crucial moments in their lives.

“I am proud that we are able to leverage the successes of the Financial Empowerment Center into greater investments that will expand financial literacy training to disabled populations,” said John Okamoto, HSD Interim Director. “Addressing financial literacy and stability of vulnerable populations is critical to building and sustaining healthy communities and is consistent with consistent with Mayor Murray’s bold affordability agenda for increasing the overall livability of our city.”

This designation will allow the Financial Empowerment Center, a collaboration between the City of Seattle, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and Neighborhood House, and the Washington Access Fund, to provide financial coaching for people with disabilities.

The Financial Empowerment Center is a unique public-private partnership seeks to alleviate poverty in the region by helping vulnerable Seattleites gain fundamental financial skills.  The center provides free, professional, one-on-one financial education, counseling, and coaching to help people to become financially stable.  The Financial Empowerment Center also connects clients with other services such as, tax preparation, enrollment into health insurance, legal advice for financial problems, housing, and foreclosures.

Residents of Seattle and surrounding areas are encouraged to participate and there are no income or other eligibility criteria. However, many clients are referrals from housing, homeless-serving, employment and training, education, family centers, immigrant and refugee, citizenship, domestic violence, public health, and other human and social services programs.

Financial Counselors are bilingual and speak Vietnamese, Spanish, Hindi, Nepalese and Somali.

To learn more about the HSD’s Financial Empowerment Center visit the Neighborhood House website.

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The Human Services Department funds and operates programs and services that meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our community – families and individuals with low incomes, children, domestic violence and sexual assault victims, homeless people, seniors, and persons with disabilities. We invest in programs that help people gain independence and success.

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Unsheltered homelessness task force seeks immediate solutions

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Mayor Murray today announced the members of his Emergency Task Force on Unsheltered Homelessness. Murray has tasked the group, chaired by Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim, with making recommendations by Dec. 15 to help the growing number of people who are living on the streets to find shelter during the coming winter.

“We remain very concerned about vulnerable people who don’t have a warm bed to sleep in at night,” said Kim. “We must review all the options for increasing the number of available beds before winter weather sets in. Exposure to the elements can be deadly, especially for those struggling with chronic health issues.”

The emergency task force’s membership reflects diverse perspectives from those who serve and advocate for homeless people, provide program funding, represent diverse communities of faith, neighborhoods, and businesses, as well as individuals who themselves have experienced homelessness.

Seattle makes an annual investment of around $9 million for 2,390 shelter beds, but the homeless population in Seattle continues to outpace space available in shelters.

During last January’s count of unsheltered homeless people, Seattle’s One Night Count, more than 2,300 individuals were found sleeping in cars or on the streets. Since 2010, the unsheltered homeless population in Seattle has increased by 30 percent.

The mayor has charged the group with advancing the conversation on how the City of Seattle and other jurisdictions in the region can work together, alongside private non-profit organizations and communities of faith, to reduce homelessness and serve the needs of homeless families and individuals.

The emergency task force will also review the City’s current policy on authorized homeless encampments. The review will include where encampments are located, how new sites for legal encampments are identified and how neighborhoods are consulted.

The emergency task force will hold its first meeting on Oct. 23rd in a private work session. Public meetings will be held Nov. 6 and Nov. 18 (locations to be announced later), followed by a private work session on Dec. 8.

Emergency Task Force on Unsheltered Homelessness

Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim,

Chair Lamar Campbell, Mockingbird Society Youth Network

Mary Ann DeVry, West Seattle Interfaith Network

Dee Dunbar, Friends of Lewis Park

Alison Eisinger, Seattle/King County Coalition On Homelessness

Anitra Freeman, SHARE/WHEEL

Kathy Gerard, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Melinda Giovengo, YouthCare

Bill Hallerman, Catholic Community Services

Tim Harris, Real Change

Rex Hohlbein, Facing Homelessness

Sharon Lee, Low Income Housing Institute

Louise Little, University District Partnership

Nicole Macri, Downtown Emergency Services Center

Pastor Robert Manaway, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church

Vince Matulionis, United Way

Katy Miller, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

Melanie Neufeld, Seattle Mennonite Church

Quynh Pham, Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority

Mark Putnam, Committee to End Homelessness

Michael Ramos, Greater Church Council

Jon Scholes, Downtown Seattle Association

Leslie Smith, Pioneer Square Alliance

Trai Williams, Mockingbird Society Youth Network

Member of the Board of Parks Commissioners