Author: Chelsea Kellogg

Human Services Department Announces $144k in Health Funding for Older Adults

The Seattle Human Services Department announced today that three organizations will be funded to provide evidence-based health promotion programs for low-income older adults in Seattle-King County, focusing on older adults of color who experience the highest health disparity. Funding awards total over $144,000, and provide support to help people prevent and manage chronic conditions and will be a key strategy in delaying more expensive long-term care services. This grant opportunity requested proposals from providers who promote health and well-being of older adults by the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate evidence-based programs in the community.

Kin On Community Health Care was awarded $50,000 to implement a Chronic Disease Self-Management Education workshop series that provides older adults with education and tools to effectively manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, and depression. Additionally Kin On will offer an evidence-based exercise program developed by the University of Washington to enable older adults at all fitness levels to become more active, energized, and able to maintain their independence.

African Americans Reach and Teach Health (AARTH) was awarded $50,000 to implement a Chronic Disease Self Management Education Program to improve the health of low-income older adults of color, 60+ with a focus on African Americans living with chronic conditions in Seattle-King County.

Sound Generations was awarded $44,374 to continue their Enhance Fitness group exercise class that meets three times per week for one hour and is designed specifically for older adults or people of any age with limited mobility. They will also continue their Enhance Wellness program, which is a participant-centered motivational behavior-change intervention.

The awards for these three programs will be made for the period of January 1, 2017- December 31, 2017. While it is the City’s intention to renew agreements on an annual basis through the 2020 program year, future funding will be contingent upon performance and funding availability.

The Human Services Department invests more than $32.8M to in healthy aging. To learn more about HSD’s work to ensure that all Seattle is great place to grow up and grow old, please visit our website. The awards announced today are funded by the City of Seattle General Fund, title 3D, Title 3B and SCSA.

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The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net. HSD provides $89 million in funding through 400 contracts to nearly 200 agencies supporting 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.

 

Federal grants create housing opportunities for homeless adults and families

Seattle and King County have been awarded over $34 million in federal funding that make possible new permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing units to move 164 households from homelessness, and renewal funding for housing and services to support hundreds of vulnerable individuals and families countywide.

Federal funding announced today will support new and ongoing regional efforts to provide housing and services for homeless individuals and families across King County. The $34,457,083 award includes funding to create 164 new units of homeless housing for the region. A total of 63 permanent supportive housing units for chronically homeless single adults will be available through two projects, one located in Seattle and one with scattered sites countywide, in addition to 101 units of rapid re-housing that will be provided through two projects, one for single adults and one for households experiencing domestic violence.

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced the award following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcements of a record $1.95 billion in total grants awarded nationwide for Continuum of Care homeless assistance programs.

The funding awarded to the Seattle/King County Continuum of Care supports the continuation of 55 community-based projects for a total of 2,410 units of housing: 1,910 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and 500 units of transitional housing. The total includes funding for two Safe Haven facilities that offer supportive housing for homeless adults with severe mental illnesses.

Also renewed is funding for Coordinated Entry, a standardized assessment process for all homeless persons designed to match the right level of housing and services for every person or family facing a housing crisis, and funding for the Homeless Management Information System, which collects data on services provided to homeless people in programs throughout King County. The award also supports Continuum of Care planning.

Seattle and King County jointly apply for the federal Continuum of Care grants each year. The funding from HUD was provided to the highest performing local programs proven effective in meeting the needs of persons experiencing homelessness in their communities.

City opens severe weather shelter at City Hall

SEATTLE (December 16, 2016) – As the region’s cold weather continues, the Seattle Human Services Department will open an emergency co-ed adult shelter at Seattle City Hall (601 5th Ave) from tonight, Friday, December 16, through Sunday night, December 18. This co-ed shelter will be open from 7 PM to 7 AM and has room for 100 people. Pets will be allowed and no referral is necessary to access the emergency shelter.

The emergency shelter at City Hall is opening as an alternative to the Seattle Center emergency shelter, which is unavailable this weekend. Individuals looking for shelter from freezing temperatures are encouraged to come to City Hall and enter from the 4th Avenue entrance. The severe weather shelter will serve individuals 18 and older and will be operated out of the Bertha Knight Landes room. It will be operated by the Salvation Army.

The forecast currently calls for below freezing temperatures, creating extremely cold conditions in Seattle. For the most current forecast, please visit the National Weather Service website. For more information on how to prepare for winter weather, please visit Take Winter By Storm. Additionally, for up-to-date information pertaining to impacts in the City of Seattle please sign up for AlertSeattle at Alert.Seattle.gov

 

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Seattle Human Services Department announces $1.3M in Bridging the Gap funding

New grants will increase shelter capacity and fund the storage of belongings for those experiencing homelessness

Seattle, WA (December 15, 2016) – This week, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for over $1.3M to fund increased shelter access for those experiencing homelessness and storage for their belongings. Approximately $1.1M will be devoted to adding 100 new, low barrier shelter options. In addition, $200,000 will be devoted to increasing storage opportunities for safekeeping the belongings of those currently living unsheltered.

 

This week’s announcement of funding is part of the Bridging the Gap plan, announced in October, a set of interim steps the City will take to assist those experience homelessness while the City implements Pathways Home. Pathways Home is Seattle’s plan to transform our homeless services system by focusing our investments on the goal of getting people into stable housing.

 

“We must continue to creatively expand shelter options that address the unique needs of each individual living unsheltered,” said Human Services Department Director Catherine Lester. “Expanding low-barrier shelter and ensuring that people have access to safe storage for their belongings are immediate steps we can take to improve the lives of those experiencing homelessness.”

 

The 100 new shelter beds will be dedicated to individuals referred from city-funded outreach teams, which are conducting outreach to those living unsheltered and working to connect them with resources. Eligible shelter costs could be staff and operating costs, expansion of existing shelter to add beds or capital/facility repair and improvements.

 

This is one time funding for the period of March 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, though projects will be eligible to apply for ongoing funding through HSD’s Pathways Home RFP for 2018 contracts. The $1.3M for Bridging the Gap Shelter and Storage is funded by City of Seattle General Fund.

 

The City of Seattle will also send out a Letter of Interest (LOI) to the business, corporate, faith, and nonprofit communities to call for innovative solutions for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. This LOI is asking for donated or rate-reduced space and resources.  Responses from the LOI will provide additional resources for the services proposed in the Bridging the Gap Shelter and Storage RFP. Learn more about the LOI on the Human Services Department’s Bridging the Gap Shelter and Storage RFP page.

 

The application deadline for proposals is Friday, January 20, 2017 at 12:00pm (noon). Those with questions are encouraged to attend an information session Wednesday, December 21, 2016 from 9:00am to 11:00am:

 

The 2100 Building
2100 24th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98144

 

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The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net. HSD provides $89 million in funding through 400 contracts to nearly 200 agencies supporting 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.

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City of Seattle announces over $40M in available human services funding for 2017

Seattle, WA (December 7, 2016) – Today, the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) released its 2017 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), an overview of the Department’s upcoming funding opportunities for 2017.  These funding opportunities represent over $40 million in social safety net investments serving Seattle’s most vulnerable populations.

Among the funding announced today is the first Pathways Home Request for Proposal which will total over $35M and constitute a major step in the city’s initiative to transform the response to homelessness. In addition, funding next year will include support for family caregivers, community transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, and senior nutrition.

“Our 2017 funding will prioritize partnerships between small and large organizations, as well as partnerships between mainstream and cultural-specific organizations,” said Human Services Department Director Catherine Lester. “This focus will build community capacity to reduce racial disparities. The services and programs we will fund continue our Department’s work to serve Seattle’s most vulnerable residents.”

The 2017 competitive funding processes announced today include:

  • Kinship Caregiver Support: $155,000 (January 2017)
  • Community Shuttles for Seniors and People with Disabilities: $1.5M (March 2017)
  • Senior Nutrition Program: $3.2M (April 2017)
  • Pathways Home: approximately $35M (Summer 2017)
  • Dementia Adult Day Services: $336,000 (Summer 2017)

Once finalized, HSD will issue individual, detailed funding requests for proposals for each investment area.  Other funding opportunities may appear throughout the year on the Human Services Department funding opportunities website.

In 2017 as in past years, HSD will focus on engaging communities traditionally marginalized, such as low-income individuals and families, limited English speakers, persons with disabilities, communities of color, and seniors. In addition, applications demonstrating partnership between large organizations and smaller community providers will be given priority,

HSD is committed to funding performance-based investments and uses data steer the department’s resources to nonprofits who demonstrate their ability to serve the communities most in need. HSD works to ensure the City’s resources are being directed to programs that see maximum impact reducing disparities.

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The Seattle Human Services Department is one of the largest contributors to Seattle’s safety net. HSD provides $89 million in funding through 400 contracts to nearly 200 agencies supporting 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.

Like us on Facebook.   Follow us on Twitter.