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City-Supported Researchers Release Report on Increasing Use of Technology in Domestic Violence

August 1, 2019

I started working as an Advocate supporting survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking in 2007. In my first year of advocacy, I interacted with survivors whose abusers were using technology against them. This looked like sending intimate images to their workplaces, creating fake Craigslist ads with rape fantasies, or simply just repeated and unwanted contacts via many platforms. When I was approached by Dana Lockhart of SPD’s Victim Support Team in 2016 to start doing more work on this space in our community, not enough had changed. I felt I still wasn’t giving survivors sufficient solutions to what we now call Tech-Enabled Coercive Control (TECC). Dana began organizing the Tech-Enabled Coercive Control (TECC) Working Group; and we partnered with community-agencies, the University of Washington, and other City of Seattle departments to start digging into what we could do.

Filed Under: Safe CommunitiesTagged With:

Aging and Disability Services receives national achievement award

July 29, 2019

The Seattle Human Services Department announced today that its Aging and Disability Services division—which is designated by the State of Washington as the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County—and its Age Friendly Seattle team have been honored with a National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) 2019 Aging Achievement Award in recognition of their efforts to promote accessible events and meetings. Age Friendly Seattle Accessible Events & Meetings was among 48 local aging programs to receive honors at the n4a annual conference, held July 27–31 in New Orleans, and the only one to win in the Community Planning & Livable Communities category. Age Friendly Seattle produced a 40-page Community Guide to Accessible Events & Meetings (a free download) and has coordinated and presented trainings locally and at national conferences. The most recent was a public forum at Seattle City Hall on May 30 called “How to Plan An Accessible Event,” presented by individuals with disabilities (view on The Seattle Channel or YouTube).

Filed Under: Healthy Aging

HSD Announces Results of the 2019 Food and Nutrition Part I RFP

July 25, 2019

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Food and Nutrition Part I Request for Proposals (RFP) that closed on April 11. Applicants were invited to provide food and support the system of food delivery to low-income individuals and families in Seattle who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, hunger. The RFP guides the investment of more than $4 million of funding in Seattle’s Emergency Food System through two strategies – Food Security & Access and Food System Support. HSD received 33 eligible applications from organizations that were invited to apply to one or both strategies.

Filed Under: Affordability & Livability, Funding Opportunities

Public Hearing: Aging and Disability Services Area Plan

July 15, 2019

Aging and Disability Services—a division of the Seattle Human Services Department—is designated by the state as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for King County. On Thursday, July 18, director Cathy Knight and ADS Advisory Council vice-chair Dick Woo will share the agency’s draft objectives for 2020–2023 at an Age Friendly Seattle Coffee Hour in downtown Seattle. The draft objectives describe the agency’s response to emerging issues. Date:   Thursday, July 18, 2019 Time: 10–11 a.m. Place: Central Building 1st Floor Conference Room, 810 3rd Avenue, Seattle

Filed Under: Healthy Aging

HSD Releases 2018 Annual Report

July 3, 2019

2018 was a remarkable year! We elected a new mayor, prepared for changes in the HSD directorship with the departure of Catherine Lester, and experienced growth in our budget and staff as well as changes to some long-standing programs. Instead of letting it slow us down, we focused on the work and our department’s core values of racial equity, results, stewardship, innovation, and our collective experience as employees. Together, we saw many successes. You’ll see this work and its impact described in our just-released 2018 Annual Report.

Filed Under: Investment Areas

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

Free summer meal program for youth starts July 1st

June 7, 2019

Thousands of Seattle children ages 1 through 18 years will enjoy free breakfasts, lunches, and snacks this summer through the City of Seattle Human Services Department’s (HSD) Summer Food Service Program. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and was formerly known as “Summer Sack Lunch.” From July 1 through August 23, 2019, free meals will be served at approximately 125 programs across 115 sites around Seattle. The Summer Food Service Program will be open to children at designated Seattle Public Schools, community centers, Seattle Parks playgrounds, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and YWCAs, Seattle Public Library branches, and other sites throughout Seattle and parts of King County. For a complete list of sites and hours for the Summer Food Service Program, please call 206-386-1140 or visit www.seattle.gov/summerfood. To locate a site near you, text “Food” or “Comida” to 877-877

Filed Under: Affordability & Livability, Youth SuccessTagged With:

HSD Announces 2019 Farm to Preschool and OST RFQ Funding Opportunity — Extended Deadline!

May 21, 2019

The Youth and Family Empowerment (YFE) Division of the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications from agencies interested in supporting food procurement, food equity, and connections between Washington State farmers and Seattle public preschools and before and after school programs serving low-income children and families in Seattle. This Farm to Preschool and Out-of-School Time (OST) RFQ is focused on building an equitable food system between farmers and preschool and before- and after-school programs. This RFQ will fund a lead agency that will support farmers (producers) to sell, and preschool and before- and after-school programs (consumers) to buy affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate food and build long-term relationships. Approximately $233,612.00 is available through this RFQ. HSD intends to fund one (1) applicant. Initial awards will be made for the period of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

Filed Under: Affordability & Livability, Funding Opportunities, Youth Success

HSD Announces Results of the 2019 Food Access Opportunity Fund RFP

May 16, 2019

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Food Access Opportunity Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) that closed on March 6. Applicants were invited to improve healthy food access by investing in community-based projects designed and led by the people most impacted by race, social, health, and environmental injustices. The RFP guides the investment of $800,000 from the Food Access Opportunity Fund. This funding is provided by the City of Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT) — established by City Council (Ordinance 125324) — and aligns with the SBT Community Advisory Board’s (CAB) Operating Principles. The committee recommended 18 proposals receive funding, up to $50,000 each, to support a diverse range of organizations: • South Park Information and Resource Center • Indigenous Roots, LLC • Somali Family Safety Task Force • African Community Housing & Development • Black Dollar Days Task Force • East African Community Services • Puentes: Advocacy, Counseling & Education • Rainier Beach Action Coalition • Avole Coffee, LLC • Feest • Hip Hop is Green • First Tongan Seniors Association • Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle • Vietnamese Friendship Association • Hunger Intervention Program • Puget Sound Labor Agency • Temple Lifestyle • American Polynesian Organization

Filed Under: Affordability & Livability, Funding Opportunities