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Human Interests

Seattle Human Services news and events

Winter shelters extended through summer

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On Thursday, June 13th, Mayor Mike McGinn announced that shelters providing beds for 115 individuals slated to close on June 15 will remain open through September 30, offering a safe place for men and women needing overnight emergency shelter. After September 30, the regularly scheduled operations of the winter shelters go into effect from October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014. Shelter extensions through September 30, 2013 include:

 

  • Seattle City Hall: Serving adult men and women, located on Fourth Avenue between James and Cherry streets. Shelter doors open at 7 p.m. Capacity is 75 people.
  • Angeline’s Center for Homeless Women: Serving women only, located at 2030 Third Avenue. Intake begins at 6 p.m. Capacity is 40 women.

For more information, please see this news release.

 

Winter homeless shelters extended to mid-June

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Seattle and King County winter shelters offering beds for 215 individuals originally slated to close on April 15 will remain open for two more months through June 15. The City will extend 75 emergency shelter beds at City Hall and the winter shelter beds at Angeline’s Women’s winter shelter through June 15. In partnership with the City, King County will extend its 100 winter shelter beds at the King County Administration Building through June 15.The shelter extensions are possible in part due to an additional $150,000 in funding allocated by the City Council. A planning group convened by the Seattle Human Services Department, including representatives from King County, the YWCA, Operation Night Watch, Salvation Army, WHEEL and the Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness, met to discuss shelter needs and make recommendations on shelter extensions. For more information, see this news release.

City, county receive $21M in federal homeless assistance

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Federal homeless assistance funds totaling more than $21.2 million have been awarded to the City of Seattle and King County for 2013-2014, making it possible to continue to provide a range of housing and supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the renewal grants on March 20, 2013, following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of $1.5 billion awarded nationwide. For more information see this news release.

 

Public can comment on plan for housing for people with AIDS

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The Seattle Human Services Department has released the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Investment Plan. The plan is based on the significant work of the HIV Housing Leadership Collaborative, which convened in Spring 2012 to find ways to expand the inventory of housing available to low-income people with HIV/AIDS, streamline the process for accessing and retaining housing, and increase the leverage and impact of HOPWA funds.

The plan provides a road map for 2013 through 2016 with a shift in investment priorities, principles, and outcomes while meeting the federal HOPWA goals of homelessness prevention and housing access and stability. The plan will inform two Request for Investment processes to implement the new priorities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the plan by February 21, 2013. For more information, please contact Kim von Henkle, Seattle Human Services Department, at kim.vonhenkle@seattle.gov or 206-615-1573.

$14 million for homeless services

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The Seattle Human Services Department has announced funding awards for the Communities Supporting Safe & Stable Housing (CSSSH) program, a total of $14.3 million for 2013.

In addition to many agencies funded previously, these awards will support populations of homeless people who have been underserved, including seniors, youth, immigrants and refugees, and Native Americans. At total of 25 community agencies and 64 programs were funded through two procurement processes:

  • A Request for Investments (RFI) process, open to agencies providing day center and placement as well as stabilization and support services for people who are homeless; and
  • A Letter of Intent (LOI) process for agencies that provide shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing services; LOI applicants were rated only on their responses to questions related to the investment principles (see below).

Among the organizations (and the people they serve) that were given contracts for the first time for homeless services:

  • Pike Market Senior Center serving senior citizens
  • Neighborhood House serving immigrants and refugees
  • Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets serving homeless youth
  • Seattle Indian Center serving Native Americans

In 2012, HSD released the CSSSH Investment Plan to improve the City’s ability to prevent and end homelessness, while maintaining its commitment to providing safe and available shelters and essential services for people who need them. The plan created a set of investment principles which set clear expectations and standards for all providers seeking HSD funds:

  1. Provide culturally relevant and linguistically competent services
  2. Maintain high-quality standards for facilities and program operations
  3. Commit to neighborhood health and safety standards
  4. Coordinate and integrate services with community networks and mainstream service systems
  5. Collect and submit high quality data using the Safe Harbors Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

Register for Section 8 housing wait list

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The Seattle Housing Authority is opening a new waiting list this spring for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) using a lottery system with registration available online only. The head of household must be 18 years or older (or an emancipated minor) at the time they receive a voucher, but there is no age requirement for lottery registration. The registration period is now open and will run through February 22. For more information, please see this Web site or call 206-239-1674.

City, community partner to feed homeless people

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The City of Seattle Human Services Department stands ready to partner with the community to explore how we can all work together to best serve people in need of food or shelter.

The Human Services Department met yesterday (Monday, January 21, 2013) with Bread of Life Mission to discuss the issue of feeding homeless people in city parks. Also in attendance were the Pioneer Square Alliance and OPERATION: Sack Lunch (which runs the Outdoor Meal Program, located at 6th and Cherry Street, under I-5), and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

We had a cordial and productive discussion and agreed to the following strategies:

  • The four agencies will work on a long-term strategy to coordinate feeding programs for homeless people, but in the interim, the Bread of Life Mission can resume its “Drive-by Feeding Services” for the homeless on the third Saturday of the month at City Hall Park.
  • The Seattle Human Services Department will explore options with agencies that serve homeless people to see if there’s an interest in partnering with community agencies to have their residents participate in meal services at their facilities.
  • As a long-term strategy, the agencies agreed to develop a coordinated system for faith-based organizations and other community groups to serve meals to homeless people – both in Seattle and in surrounding communities.

In 2012, the Seattle Human Services Department invested more than $3 million in the emergency food network for the city’s most vulnerable population, including nine meal programs ($428,000), 17 food banks ($984,000) and home delivery of food ($721,000).

Exhibit shows Asian American homelessness

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An exhibition exploring homelessness and the meaning of home among Asian Pacific Americans, on display at the Wing Luke Museum, December 7, 2012 – August 18, 2013. Opening Reception is on Thursday, December 6th 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. & 6–8 p.m.  Special Preview for Museum Members and invited guests: 3:30-4:30pm & 6-7pm. FREE admission, light refreshments nd a musical performance by Give It To Me Rusty.

Open to the public: 7-8 pm. FREE admission, no RSVP required. To RSVP to preview, contact mmartinez@wingluke.org or 206-623-5124 x107.