For DV Awareness Month, the Seattle Great Wheel, Columbia Center Tower, and Lumen Field will go purple on Thursday, October 21, 2021 for #PugetSoundPurpleThursday. Please join us in raising awareness of domestic violence by wearing purple NEXT THURSDAY, and share your photo on social media with the hashtag. Include in your photo a sign stating why you are wearing purple on this day.
Each year, the City of Seattle’s Office of Labor Standards (OLS) and Human Services Department (HSD) mark the month of October as a time to remember victims and survivors of abuse and exploitation; to raise awareness about violence and its effect on families and communities; and acknowledge and highlight those working to end gender-based violence. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in domestic violence reports with deep impacts on survivors,” said Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. “We can still be a lifeline during this unprecedented time, remember to check in on your neighbors who may be suffering abuse in silence. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we help those who may be suffering by raising our voices and awareness.” Mayor Durkan proclaimed the month of October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in Seattle to help raise public awareness and support for victims and survivors of gender-based violence. The City also takes seriously its responsibility to its own employees and to serving as a role model for other large organizations. In addition to sick leave, Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinance provides workers with paid leave for absences that result from critical safety issues arising from domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. PSST COVID-19 amendments also require employers with employees in Seattle to provide paid leave when their family member’s school or place of care has been closed.
Sunday, Sept. 12, is National Grandparents Day—honoring the roles that grandparents play in nurturing and stabilizing families. In 1978, Congress passed legislation that earmarked the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. The day recognizes that, throughout history, grandparents have played significant roles in families. It is a day to recognize, educate, and celebrate the important contributions grandparents have made throughout history. This year marks the third annual local Grandparents Day celebration hosted by the Mayor’s Council on African American Elders and Northwest African American Museum (NAAM). Co-sponsors include AARP Seattle, Age Friendly Seattle, Aging and Disability Services, Seattle Human Services Department (HSD), Nu Black Arts West Theatre, and The Evergreen State College/Tacoma. “Grandparents: Love, Culture & History” will be offered virtually (online) from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and feature a short program and entertainment. Everyone is welcome, free of charge. To receive the event link, register at SurveyMonkey.com/r/GrandparentsDay2021.
The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the Asian and Pacific Islander Resiliency RFP which closed July 26, 2021. In response to the racism and intolerance toward the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seattle City Council passed Ordinance… [ Keep reading ]
Age Friendly Seattle has constantly innovated their events to accommodate guests. Prior to the pandemic, they hosted monthly Civic Coffee Hours at downtown locations, including the Seattle Library’s Central Branch. The events educated people of all ages on current happenings and programs serving different needs and emphasized inclusivity. In early 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to orient themselves virtually—something they, and many users, had never done before.
2021 has been unlike any other. As we are over a year into a worldwide pandemic, the Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) had to adapt to a hybrid environment as Seattle began to open back up again. Interns, ranging from 16 to 24 years old, gained experience through a variety… [ Keep reading ]
Yesterday, the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) submitted its 2021 Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) report to Seattle City Council providing Quarter 1 (Q1) and Quarter 2 (Q2) data outcomes for the city’s homeless outreach coordination team. The results show that in Q2 (April – June) of this year, the HOPE Team referred the most individuals to shelter and had the most confirmed enrollments into shelter ever recorded by City efforts.
The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Seattle and surrounding areas due to forecasted high temperatures above 90 degrees. The warming trend will begin Wednesday and continue through Saturday. The City of Seattle is working together with our regional partners to prepare for these extreme temperatures including monitoring critical infrastructure like power systems, water systems, roadways, and bridges. In addition, the City of Seattle is monitoring the potential for moderate to unhealthy air quality levels on Wednesday to Saturday. A press release sent yesterday by the Mayor’s Office highlighted cooling centers and pools available across the city, and outreach teams are on the ground working with our most vulnerable residents to prevent heat illness in these extreme conditions. You can find a map of locations here.
Today, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) provided an update to City Council’s Select Committee on Homelessness Strategies and Investments on three tiny house village projects that were previously anticipated to open this summer, as well as on hundreds of other shelter spaces in the pipeline for 2021. The three tiny house projects combined are now expected to provide 120 tiny houses and provide shelter for up to 145 individuals with expected openings in September or October. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) will operate all three villages, providing wraparound onsite services that will help a person end their experience with homelessness.
Aging and Disability Services (ADS), a division of the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) that serves as the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle and King County, received two awards from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) at a virtual awards program on July 20—one of them the top Innovation Award winner for 2021. ADS’ Community Living Connections Collaborative Funding Process initially received one of 15 n4a Aging Innovations Awards. The Aging Innovations Award is n4a’s highest award category. During the conference general session that followed, HSD/ADS was announced as the top Innovation Award winner for 2021 and the recipient of a $2,500 prize. Age Friendly Live—live and online events coordinated by the Age Friendly Seattle team at ADS—received one of 21 n4a Aging Achievement Awards announced at the conference.
