Find Posts By Topic

Posts categorized under Homelessness Archives - Page 8 of 8 - Human Interests

What we’re reading: System that apportions homeless housing is limiting access for people of color

October 10, 2019

Building Changes is calling on communities across the country to reconsider use of the VI-SPDAT, a widely used Coordinated Entry standardized assessment tool that helps determine who gets prioritized for housing referrals. A new study, funded by Building Changes, finds that use of the VI-SPDAT unfairly favors white people over people of color, thereby perpetuating racial inequities within the homeless system. Building Changes believes strongly that communities have an obligation to address inequities that negatively impact the efforts of people of color to transition successfully out of homelessness and into stable housing, including any barriers that restrict their access to services.

Filed Under: Homelessness

On the Homelessness Response Blog: HSD Releases Performance Data for First Six Months of 2019

September 17, 2019

Did you know that the City of Seattle has a blog dedicated just to the city’s homelessness response?

Filed Under: Homelessness

ICYMI: Data shows Navigation Team successful in connecting more people to shelter, services while increasing clean-up capacity

August 5, 2019

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) released Quarter 2 (Q2) performance metrics for the City of Seattle’s Navigation Team, which is comprised outreach workers, field coordinators, and police officers that work to connect people living unsheltered to shelter and support services. The Q2 data shows the team working at a higher capacity, connecting more people to shelter when compared to the first quarter of 2019, and increasing operational capacity to better address unmanaged encampments posing public access, health, and safety concerns. When compared to Quarter 1 (Q1), the Navigation Team saw the following increases in Q2: • 16 percent increase in unique individuals engaged by the Navigation Team; • 10 percent increase in unique individuals referred to shelters; • 47 Navigation Team reserved beds available daily, rising from 17 beds available in Q1 o More beds available in basic shelters, tiny house villages, and enhanced shelters; and • 79 more referrals to enhanced shelter and tiny house villages than in Q1.

Filed Under: Homelessness

HSD Launches Mayor Durkan’s Safe Parking Pilot by Supporting Full Utilization of Existing Program and Seeking Faith Community Partners to Expand Services

July 2, 2019

The Human Services Department (HSD) has moved forward with a partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Urban League) and Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Ballard to support an existing program that helps people who are living in their cars connect to case management services and stable permanent housing. In her budget, which was approved by City Council, Mayor Durkan proposed a Safe Parking Pilot to help more people move into housing from vehicles. In addition, HSD will work with other faith community leaders across the City to fully implement the pilot to serve up to 30 households living in their cars.

Filed Under: Homelessness

The Human Services Department Announces Plan to Reduce LGBTQ Discrimination in the Homeless Response System

June 27, 2019

A plan to reduce discrimination and bias The Human Services Department (HSD) is excited to announce a plan to reduce bias and discrimination in the homeless response system toward LGBTQ-identified people experiencing homelessness. The plan, created in partnership in with the Ingersoll Gender Center and the Pride Foundation, identifies thirteen… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Homelessness

We’re making progress, together…

May 2, 2019

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… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Homelessness

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

April 16, 2019

We’re making progress, together As the City addresses the crisis of homelessness, we are focused on helping people move off the streets and into permanent housing. More people served – 25,420 households served in 2018. An increase of 7% over 2017.

Filed Under: Homelessness

HSD Announces Results of the Homeless Outreach RFQ

April 15, 2019

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Homeless Strategy and Investment Outreach RFQ, also known as the 2019 Outreach RFQ. HSD is investing $244,400 of General Fund to support up to three full-time outreach workers to serve First Hill, Capitol Hill, and/or Chinatown-International District neighborhoods. In addition to outreach directly to people who are homeless, the staff person will serve as the point of contact for neighbors, including businesses, who are interested in maintaining or creating safe and vibrant communities and generating solutions to homelessness. Initial awards will be made from April 2019 through December 31, 2019, with renewal through 2020 contingent upon performance and funding availability. The committee recommended one agency and program for the entire amount of funding available for outreach services. The members selected Evergreen Treatment Center’s REACH program, citing some of the following reasons: • How they engage with and assist unsheltered populations and how they can successfully refer people to other services; • How they have worked with the Ballard Business Improvement Association in the past, and have a willingness to tailor outreach work in the three identified neighborhoods in this RFQ; and • Expertise in outreach to an array of people who are homeless in Seattle, including, but not limited to, people with ongoing mental health and substance use needs.

Filed Under: Funding Opportunities, Homelessness

City Keeps Emergency Shelters Open For People Living Unsheltered

February 19, 2019

In the wake of severe and historic winter weather, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) is extending its emergency shelter availability for people experiencing homelessness in collaboration with service providers and King County. As part of the City’s response to the most snow and accompanying freezing temperatures in… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Homelessness