Showing posts with label social services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social services. Show all posts

NUHSA meeting Wednesday with guest speaker Theresa LaCroix from the Senior Center

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Join us at our NUHSA Member and Community meeting, Wednesday, July 22nd at 9am, to hear from special guest speaker Theresa LaCroix, Director of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center.

We will also have time for community and agency updates, along with work group information around affordable housing, emergency shelter and human services advocacy. See you there!

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.



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Wonderland volunteers deliver baby supplies to their clients

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Story and photo from Wonderland

Even though our client visits are still virtual, our staff found a way to help the most vulnerable families with supplies they need to care for their babies and toddlers. 

Every week, our volunteers pick up diapers, formula, and wipes from Eastside Baby Corner and deliver directly to their clients' homes!

Three months ago, when we started these essentials-only deliveries, we had no idea it would continue this long! 

This service means so much to the families and is something tangible Wonderland can do to support our clients through the pandemic. A huge thank you to our staff who volunteer in support of our EBC efforts - your time is VERY appreciated!

Mandy, family support manager and delivery coordinator extraordinaire, was told by EBC staff that "Wonderland has the most thorough sanitizing and COVID protection process” they have seen! Woohoo!

Wonderland Child and Family Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit multi-program agency headquartered in Shoreline, serving children with developmental delays, disabilities, and prenatal substance exposure.



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Message of solidarity threatened at Center for Human Services

Thursday, July 2, 2020


By Beratta Gomillion, Executive Director of Center for Human Services

Last week a Center for Human Services (CHS) staff member was confronted by a man who was attempting to put a note on our front door at 17018 15th Ave NE Shoreline

Our staff member experienced this person as rude, angry, and aggressive. He was reacting to the posting we put up on our sign outside of that office. It says: “Black Lives Matter.”

This man said to our employee, “You should research it before you put something like that up.” He left his note with our employee; it said “"Take your race baiting black lives matter propaganda sings (sp – meaning “signs”) down or I will!!! All lives matter BLM is a HATE group!" 
In a separate incident, which may or may not be related to the first incident, our sign was changed to read “Al Lives Matter,” and the letters that were taken down were no longer there (I think that is theft).

While we did not put the message on the sign to offend anyone or to insight rage, apparently, it did so. 

I will not apologize for this. We will not be intimidated by bullies or people grounded in ignorance and intolerance. We have done our research and we are appalled at the normalization of racism and intolerance. 

Yes, all lives do matter, but as a result of recent brutality and murders of black people, now is a logical time to emphasize and elevate black lives. Even if the recent tragedies had not occurred, we must accept the fact that black people have systematically been targeted for demise since the beginning of our nation, as if their existence did not matter. This must change. 

CHS wants to be a part of a society that does not accept violence, dismantles the school-to-prison pipeline, and treats everyone with dignity and respect – a society where peace and justice prevail.

CHS is trying to build our capacity to understand and confront racism, starting with our own agency. We have changed our sign back to “Black Lives Matter” and hope that people who disagree will do so in a non-destructive manner. Some issues are just worth speaking out about.



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United Way of King County and Food Lifeline are now offering home delivery of emergency food boxes

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

United Way of King County and Food Lifeline are now offering home delivery of emergency food boxes across Seattle, North King County, and East King County during COVID-19. This resource is available to anyone who: 
  • Lives in Seattle, North King County, or East King County
  • Is unable to access their local food bank in person
  • Is unable to afford groceries
This resource is intended for and may be the only food solution for many of our most vulnerable community members who have food needs and cannot leave their homes during COVID-19.

We are encouraging folks to visit their local food banks if they are able. In addition to on-site food distributions, many local food banks also operate home delivery programs, and may be able to provide a more customized food selection to clients. Find a nearby food bank HERE.


To order a food box from United Way, fill out this online form, or call us Toll-Free at 833-540-0800, Mondays to Fridays from 11am-4pm. 

Ordering is now open, and we are making deliveries Monday through Friday during the day. We hope to deliver boxes 2 to 3 days after the request is received, and requests received on Thursday or Friday will be delivered the following week. 

Right now, we have capacity to provide 300 deliveries per day. If requests exceed this, we may adjust the delivery timeframe, eligibility requirements, or frequency of orders.

Some additional information about this service:
  • What’s in a food box? This offers preset 15-25 lb variety cases of shelf-stable foods from Food Lifeline. These may include canned meals, canned fruit, canned veggies, pasta, and other miscellaneous items. One box is estimated to feed a family of four for approximately 2-4 days. We are currently unable to meet individual allergy and dietary needs.
  • Households can reorder as often as they need. At this time, households can order up to three food boxes per delivery.
  • The phone line to order includes a language line for interpretation, and our online ordering form is available in the following languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Chinese (simplified), Somali, Amharic, and Russian.
  • Right now, we are only able to deliver within the City of Seattle, North King County, and East King County. This is due to how the state has structured allocation of these food boxes from Food Lifeline. We are working to expand to South King County, and will update you as we are able to do so. If you have questions about a particular zip code, let us know and we can confirm eligibility.

If you are interested in distributing larger quantities of food boxes to your clients at a central drop site, please reach out to Claire Brown at clairebrown@uwkc.org.


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City of Shoreline establishes $500,000 Small Business Support Program and $300,000 fund for Human Services

Shoreline City Council
On June 8, 2020 the Shoreline City Council approved establishing a Small Business Support Program (SBSP) to support Shoreline small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
 
Funding for the $500,000 grant fund comes from State allocated Federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds ($410,000) and funds allocated by the King County Council for local business support ($90,000).

Many Shoreline businesses have been unable to access initial CARES Act or other funds before programs were closed due to high demand. Others have found the impacts to their businesses from the COVID-19 emergency is much larger than the relief funding made available so far. To help address this shortfall, the City has developed the SBSP to support Shoreline small businesses.

Grant funds will be for small businesses, which will be defined as businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Businesses meeting all of the eligibility criteria may receive up to $20,000 in grant funding. 

Applications open on Friday, June 12, apply by 5:00pm on Monday, June 22.

For more information, visit the Small Business Support Grant Program webpage. Grant application page information and application will be HERE


City also establishes a Human Services Support Program

In addition to the Small Business Support Program, the City is also establishing a $300,000 Human Services Support Program.

Over the past few months, the City has been working closely with community partners to create a robust and comprehensive system for ensuring that everyone in Shoreline has access to food throughout this crisis.

The City is allocating $185,000 of the Human Services funding to support access to food for Shoreline families.

This includes money for Shoreline School District’s Summer Sack Lunch and Breakfast Program; a Food Gift Card Program; and the Senior Center Meal Delivery Program.

The City will also be allocating $115,000 to provide reimbursement to our human services agency partners for unplanned expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 related cleaning supplies and activities. 

Covering all or a portion of those costs for the agencies will provide them with needed flexibility to use other funds to cover additional direct service or other unexpected and unplanned expenses.



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Back to School event: Help and be helped

Friday, May 29, 2020


The Shoreline Back to School Consortium is excited to hold its 19th annual Back To School (BTS) Event to support a successful start to the school year for our K-12 students.

Each year the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park (LFP) community comes together by donating backpacks, school supplies, clothes, and hygiene products for this event and plans to serve over 1,000 students!

Please Note: This year’s event will be different due to COVID-19. To ensure the health and safety of BTS event attendees and volunteers, changes are being made to follow state and district level guidelines. Please make note of the changes included below.

Event Information:

Where: (NEW LOCATION) Meridian Park Elementary, 17077 Meridian Ave N

When: Saturday, August 22 from 12:30pm - 4:00pm

Who: Students who attend Shoreline School District schools and students that live in the Shoreline School District boundaries.

IMPORTANT: This year, parents and guardians are requested to send only one representative per family; please leave children at home.

What will be provided: One family representative will be able to pick up a backpack, school supplies, hygiene items, socks, and underwear for each student in Pre-K - 12th grade.

This year, we are sorry that we will not be able to hold the resource fair (including lunch) or provide haircuts.

To Register for the BTS Event: To attend the August 22nd event and receive supplies, visit the BTS website, or call The WORKS information line at 206-393-4916 and leave a message. School Family Advocates can assist with registration, too. 

Each backpack is filled with grade appropriate school supplies


To Support the BTS Event: There are many ways to support this event and our students:

  • Donate Critical Items: This year’s most needed school supplies are: Large backpacks, composition notebooks, earbuds, pointed and blunt tip scissors, fine line color markers, and scientific calculators. A full list of items can be found HERE In July, drop off donated items:
  • Volunteer: Opportunities to volunteer prior to or on the day of the event will be posted on the Back to School Consortium website: http://www.btsconsortium.org/ or feel free to leave a message on The WORKS information line, 206-393-4916.For more information or if you have questions, visit the BTS website

THANK YOU to our Back to School Consortium Members:
  • The Center for Human Services;
  • City of Shoreline;
  • Dale Turner Family YMCA;
  • Hopelink;
  • Ronald United Methodist Church;
  • The Salvation Army;
  • Shoreline Community Care;
  • Shoreline School District;
  • Rotary of Lake Forest Park;
  • The WORKS of Shoreline PTA Council.
  • The Shoreline Breakfast Rotary participated for many years.


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United Way COVID-19 HungerCorps to help with hunger relief efforts

Friday, May 22, 2020

Kiana Chung, HungerCorps worker
Photo courtesy United Way

The first cohort of United Way of King County’s new HungerCorps will begin assisting in hunger relief efforts on Tuesday, May 26, as part of the organization’s overall operations to help families that have been economically impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

These first 30 HungerCorps members, out of a total of 100 that United way has hired for the summer, will join current AmeriCorps members who are already working at area schools, community college pantries and other sites. 

The second cohort will start on June 17.

HungerCorps members will work at food banks and meal sites, where they will prepare and serve meals, pack food boxes and engage with community members to provide them with information about available resources. 

They will also deliver meals to families at apartment complexes and will serve grab-and-go packaged meals at parks and community centers.

“We talk a lot about heroes in this community and people on the frontline, and here are these people who are stepping up at a time of unprecedented need, and they're going to be part of the solution all summer long,” said Lauren McGowan, senior director for ending homelessness and poverty at United Way.

Many of the people who will receive food assistance are refugees, people of color and undocumented immigrant families. The COVID crisis is hitting these communities even harder because of the history of institutional racism, discrimination and lack of access to public benefits, such as stimulus checks or unemployment benefits.

“We are proud to have such a tireless and dedicated group of young people who are willing to serve in this time of urgent need,” McGowan said. “The HungerCorps will have an immediate and direct impact on our most vulnerable populations.”

All HungerCorps members will be provided masks and will follow public health guidelines about social distancing and other measures to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the virus.

Low-income families depend on schools to provide free or low-cost meals for their children, but with school closures, those families have had to find other ways to keep food on the table.

Food banks traditionally have relied on volunteers for their operations, but many of those volunteers are older adults who are especially vulnerable to the virus. The HungerCorps members will help relieve that shortage of personnel at those locations.



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The story of the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Old Shoreline police station turned Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


To serve and protect.

The building, which used to house the Shoreline Police Department, did it once and then did it again - but in a different way.

This building provided protection for our unsheltered neighbors this winter on nights when no one should be outside.

The Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter did not happen overnight. This had been a vision of people in our community for some time, and the urgency escalated a year ago February when we experienced so much Winter. In response, the City of Shoreline stepped up in a huge way, and, partnering with NUHSA, made a severe weather shelter happen.

We trained 33 volunteers, retaining 20 as active participants. Neighbors were gracious and welcoming, and emergency personnel were never called.

With a capacity for 15 adults, the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter was activated on 14 cold nights between December and March. On our busiest night, we had 11 guests; on our slowest, 2.

Of course, this is not about numbers, statistics, agencies or buildings. It's about people.

The guests we served were diverse. Young and old. Male and female. Working and not. With and without disabilities. With possessions and with nothing. The one thing they had in common was a desire to get out of the elements (or vehicles) and into a warm, dry, welcoming space for the night. They shared resources and stories, chatted, relaxed and slept.

The volunteers were retired and working, parents and singles, male and female. They expressed gratitude for being able to meet, get to know and help our unsheltered neighbors. These wonderful people gave up a night in their own homes to come spend time, making it possible for others to be comfortable for a few short hours.

There are five people who made this effort not just happen, but be successful:

Pastor Kelly Dahlman-Oeth ran both trainings. If you are unaware, he cares for an unsheltered congregation at Ronald United Methodist Church and was able to bring experience and his own brand of compassion and love to the table.

Colleen Kelly (Community Services Manager for the City of Shoreline) did most of the heavy lifting. She also ran the trainings, coordinated access to the space, brought her own expertise to the process, got the hotline set up, and was just generally the best partner anyone could hope for.

Stanley Mochokoto (Lake City Partners) is a phenomenal community asset. He was there to open the doors in the evening and help close up shop in the morning. He went out looking for folks who needed shelter and brought them in. And he shared his wealth of knowledge about the homeless community and all the resources available to them.

Silje Sodal (NUHSA) facilitated communication between NUHSA and the City and organized everything that Colleen hadn't already. She was available to accept donations, make runs to the shelter when needed, and responded to emails coming in with questions about the shelter. She was the amazing support that held everything together.

And Pete Claar created a program that pulled data from the National Weather Service to let us know ahead of time when we might need to staff up and open. He tweaked it a couple of times for us until we had clear, concrete data with which to work.

Thank you to everyone in the community who donated to this, spread the word about it, or just had warm thoughts about how great this is. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, and to everyone who really wanted to, but simply couldn't this time around.

Once again, I am grateful to be part of Shoreline.

-- Lisa Surowiec, Volunteer Coordinator, Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter


Post-script:

We would like to acknowledge the incredible contributions that Lisa Surowiec gave as Volunteer Coordinator for the inaugural year of the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter. Without her leadership and extensive time, energy and coordination, the shelter would not have become a reality this past winter. 

We recognize her management and organizational skills as she adjusted staffing daily, depending on the immediate weather projections. In addition, she solved any shelter needs with speed and grace. Deep gratitude from NUHSA and the City of Shoreline!

Can you help? A new location is needed for next winter! Do you have ideas or space to share? Please contact staff@nuhsa.org. Thank you! 


 

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Commerce provides $9 million in rent and energy assistance to serve estimated 5,000 low-income households

Wednesday, April 29, 2020


Washington state residents currently participating in the federal Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may apply for special crisis benefits

The Department of Commerce last week provided up to $1,000 in rental assistance and up to $500 in energy assistance for households that qualify for the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The crisis funding will be distributed through Commerce’s statewide network of community action agencies, and is expected to serve an estimated 5,000 eligible households.

“Imagine not having enough funds to pay rent, the heat bill, and put food on the table. Thousands of families in Washington face this predicament, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this crisis in our state,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. 
“We are working with our partners to disperse this funding as quickly as possible.”

Community action agencies will distribute the money on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order is in place. Of the $9 million available, 15% is available for rental assistance. Tenants who are behind in their rent and meet the other qualifications for crisis benefits must apply to their local community action agency. If approved, the rental assistance payment will be made directly to the landlord.

Similarly, those unable to pay their energy bills must apply through their local community action agency. When approved, the benefit is paid to the utility that serves the qualifying household.

Who can apply and how

To qualify for the COVID-19 crisis LIHEAP benefits, a household must be at 125% of the federal poverty level and have received – or will receive – a LIHEAP or Low Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRAP) benefit in the current program year (October 2019 – October 2020).

Last year, LIHEAP dispersed an average rental assistance benefit of $800 to 430 households.

In 2019, a family of four, with an annual income of $32,188, or a monthly income of $2,682, qualified for the program. See LIHEAP Eligibility Guidelines

To find out if you qualify for assistance, contact your local community action agency. An interactive map with contact information is linked here.

Commerce has implemented temporary policy changes to allow for quick, safe distribution of these funds, without personal contact. Community action agencies are accepting documents by mail, email, fax, text or telephone. Commerce implemented the program with currently available funds in anticipation of receiving federal government Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding to states soon.



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Get help with April rent through United Way of King county

Saturday, April 11, 2020


If you’re a King County resident who has been impacted financially by COVID-19 and are behind on your rent, you may qualify for assistance.

Please read the qualifications below before submitting your application/

Thanks to generous donations to the Community Relief Fund and the expansion of the eviction prevention program, Home Base, one month of rental assistance is being offered. 

You may apply for this assistance if you:
  • Live in King County
  • Are behind in rent
  • Are economically impacted by COVID-19
  • Have a current monthly household income that is below these amounts (50% of Area Median Income):
    • 1 Person: up to $3,483
    • 2 Persons: up to $3,983
    • 3 Persons: up to $4,479
    • 4 Persons: up to $4,975
    • 5 Persons: up to $5,375
    • 6 Persons: up to $5,775
    • 7 Persons: up to $6,171
    • 8 Persons: up to $6,571

If you meet these requirements, fill out the online application HERE

Si el español es su idioma preferido, llame al 2-1-1. Pueden ayudarlo con la traducción y enviarle el formulario de asistencia de alquiler.

For questions, please call 2-1-1.



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Humans have a Basic Need to Connect with Others

Wednesday, April 8, 2020




By Beratta Gomillion, Executive Director
Center for Human Services in Shoreline


Stop "social distancing" but please continue to physically distance yourself from others. 

We all know we must protect one another, avoid gatherings, and stay at least six feet apart. However, let’s not confuse maintaining our physical distance from each other with emotionally and socially distancing from each other. 

During these unprecedented times with lots of uncertainty and fear, it is very important that you continue to use your social/support network. Social contact is a fundamental human need, and we suffer both mentally and physically without it.

Since we live in a world where digital communication is commonplace, it is somewhat easy, if one has the means, to stay in touch with people superficially through Facebook, Instant Messaging, or even email. 

However, as humans, we yearn for more meaningful interactions with a few people. We can accomplish this by still using social media through free apps such as Skype, Face Time, Marco Polo, Google Duo, Zoom meetings and several others, where you can actually see each other but not be physically with each other. 

We advise you to choose a few select people and turn social distancing into distant socializing. This is a way you can participate in quality conversations and meet your human need to connect with others.

By now, during this time of stay-home directives, many people are just sick of it. 

Some are feeling anxiety or clinical depression for the first time and others are seeing increased symptoms of already diagnosed conditions. We are hearing more and more stories of parents being overly stressed trying to homeschool their children or just keep them occupied. 

Some sources say that alcohol sales have gone up over 50% during this outbreak, but I assure you, drinking or drugging is not a healthy or safe way to deal with your stress. It is also a fact that incidences of child abuse and neglect as well domestic violence spike during crises such as what we are experiencing. 

By now, most people have a better understanding of how deeply social isolation and the stress of COVID-19 impacts us. None of us are exempt from the stress of the COVID-19 outbreak and there is no shame in talking to a professional about what you are going through. 

If you would like to talk to a therapist, whether it is merely to help you get through this difficult period or on a more ongoing basis, please feel free to call Center for Human Services at 206-362-7282. 

We will be happy to talk with you over the phone or through video-conferencing. CHS is grateful to have received a grant from the City of Shoreline that allows us to support you at no cost to you. 

Remember, you are not alone.



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Senior Center needs an experienced grant writer who would like to help their community

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The Senior Center helps members
to age well


Are you an experienced grant writer and wishing you could contribute to your community during these unprecedented times? 

We have an immediate need for a grant writer to assist us in submitting applications to King County for Emergency Fund Relief and/or additional funding sources. 

The senior center is heavily engaged in providing much needed services to our communities but have exhausted our Operation Budget for 2020.
 

GRANT WRITER REQUIREMENTS:
  • Bachelor’s degree in creative writing or related field
  • 2+ years grant writing experience
  • Proficient with measuring and reaching income goals
  • Proficient with MS Office Word and Excel
  • Excellent knowledge of fundraising information sources
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Strong People skills
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Ability to meet deadlines

Compensation is lean…. we can’t pay you but we can give you a great meal every day that you work on the grant and over 600 sincere thank-yous from members that rely on the senior center for their continued healthy living and life enrichment as they navigate the challenges of aging in place. 

These grant applications are brief and will have a quick response rate. 

Contact Theresa LaCroix at 206-365-1536 to schedule an interview.



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Shoreline Schools expands food distribution - PTA Council has gas/grocery cards - Local food banks - How you can help

Saturday, March 21, 2020

The Ridgecrest Little Free Pantry
was the first one in Shoreline / LFP

SCHOOLS - PTA - FOOD BANKS - Dale Turner YMCA - NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

Beginning on Monday, March 23, 2020 the Shoreline School district is expanding its food distribution program to reach more children.

These locations will provide meal services from 11:30-12:30 each weekday beginning on Monday:

School district meals are provided for FREE to all children 18 and younger each weekday at the locations listed above. *Children must be present to receive meals*

Children will receive a hot lunch and a breakfast pack for the following day. Each day's menu will be posted on the Food and Nutrition Services webpage that morning.

Meals can be picked up using the drive-through at each location or by walking up to the site. If driving, please stay in your vehicle and staff will bring the meals to you. If walking up, please maintain social distancing of six feet from others in line.

Additional family food resources are available from Shoreline PTA Council, Little Free Pantries and Hopelink Food Bank. Please see the information below on how to access those resources.

Family Supports During Shoreline School Closures

In light of increased safety precautions, PTA Council is shifting its operations for food and grocery/gas card support for local families, effective immediately. PTA Council will no longer be handing out grocery/gas cards and food at the District’s Central Kitchen or by delivery, but is working with the school district to make a new plan for distributing grocery/gas card in some other manner.

If you need support (or can lend support), please check out the information below. You can also reach out to your school’s Family Advocate to ask about other supports. If you’re not sure who your Family Advocate is, check HERE

COMMUNITY FOOD SUPPORT

Hopelink Food Bank (pre-packaged food bags)
17837 Aurora Ave N
Tuesdays 12-4 pm; Wednesdays 3-7 pm; and Thursdays 10 am-2 pm

North Helpline Food Bank
12726 33rd NE, Lake City
Wed. 10 am -1 pm; Thurs. 4:30-6:30 pm; Sat. 11 am – 1 pm

North Helpline at Bitter Lake 
Sat. 10 am – 2 pm

Dale Turner YMCA
2:00-12:30 pm pre-packaged food pick-up for youth under 18

Little Free Pantries:
The updated list is kept HERE
Are you able to lend support?
  • Donate funds for the purchase of grocery or gas cards for families in need. Shoreline PTA Council is coordinating with the school district to develop a plan for distributing these to families. Shoreline PTA Council has partnered with Embrace Shoreline Schools and Kinder Konnection to collect funds for this purpose. 
  • Drop off food donations at one of the Little Free Pantries listed above.
  • Help provide rental assistance and utility support by donating to Hopelink
  • Help support child care access and food access through Dale Turner YMCA.

3-23-20 Added two Little Free Pantries

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CHS postpones Gala to October



Center for Human Services has announced that their annual Community Connections Gala which was scheduled for April 18th has been cancelled due to the pandemic. 

The event has been rescheduled for October 16th at the Lynnwood Convention Center. 

This year’s gala, which includes a dinner and an auction, is of particular importance because 2020 is CHS’s 50th anniversary of serving the community. 

Beratta Gomillion, Executive Director of CHS, said, “We are disappointed that we must cancel the event, but CHS wants to do our part to prevent the spread of the coronavirus”.

Center for Human Services is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides behavioral health outpatient treatment and family support services. The annual gala is CHS’s primary fundraiser each year.



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CHS Goes Virtual

Friday, March 20, 2020


Due to the pandemic, CHS is temporarily closed to the public starting this week until it is safe to re-open. 

We will continue to be operational during this difficult time, but we have moved to a remote working environment.

Staff will be available to answer phones and provide assistance when possible.

We realize that many people are feeling increased anxiety and depression, so CHS is still providing clinical services to our clients and others. Behavioral health assessments and therapy sessions will be provided using telehealth.

Unfortunately, this pandemic is causing us substantial business continuity issues, and we have had to cancel all parenting classes, Play and Learn groups, support groups, etc. until further notice.

For more updates about CHS programming, please check our webpage or Facebook page.


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United Way of King County launches fund to help families in need because of the pandemic

United Way of King County has launched a new fund to meet the emerging needs of people who have lost all or part of their income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Community Relief Fund will provide access to food and rental assistance to the people who need it most, including many who work in the service industry and other sectors of the local economy, as well as people of color, who disproportionately experience poverty due to systemic discrimination.

“We know that thousands of people in our community are already struggling because of the economic impact of COVID-19,” said Gordon McHenry, Jr., president and CEO of United Way of King County. “Many families in our community are already living paycheck-to-paycheck, and they can’t afford to lose any income. This fund will make a direct, immediate impact by helping them.”

Under this new fund, individual donors can choose to give money for food or rental assistance, or they can direct United Way to use the funds where they are needed most.

The City of Seattle has partnered with United Way to raise money through the Community Relief Fund to meet the nutritional needs of families in Seattle and in all of King County. The city has already budgeted $5 million to provide emergency grocery vouchers to the 6,250 families that are enrolled in the city-supported child care and food assistance program.

While Seattle and the state have placed moratoriums on evictions, many people will still be at risk of losing their homes after the moratoriums expire. 

This fund will assist renters and homeowners who are at risk of becoming homeless because of loss of income, particularly those who might not be eligible for public assistance, such as undocumented people, gig economy workers, or people who pay rent to a friend or family member. 

United Way is working with local governments to grow and implement a regional rental assistance program.

United Way already supports those who need assistance. Now, because of the pandemic, the organizations will need additional funds to help families stay in their homes and feed their children. We encourage individuals to donate to help our community.



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Op-Ed: Helping Community Organizations as we respond to the coronavirus COVID-19

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Non-profit agencies weigh in on COVID-19

As the Coronavirus sweeps across our community, all of us are striving to respond in a considered, calm and compassionate way. We mourn the loss of those that have died as the result of the disease, and our hearts go out to their families and loved ones. Just as our communities were enriched by each of those singular lives, our communities are diminished by their deaths.

Taking care of ourselves, our neighbors and our loved ones has become our top priority and hand washing, social distancing, staying informed, self-isolating and self-quarantining are concrete steps we can take to keep each other healthy.

On March 11th Governor Inslee took the unprecedented step of banning events of more than 250 people, noting that “One main defense is to reduce the interaction of people in our lives.”

As nonprofit organization leaders, our day-to-day work year-round is committed to the health and wellbeing of our community and we wholeheartedly support the Governor’s directive. Slowing the growth in the number of Coronavirus cases is critical.

The Governor also noted that we all have a role to play in responding to this public health emergency, that we are all called upon to lead, and we couldn’t agree more. Our organizations, like you, are on the frontline of our community response to this disease, and our services are needed now more than ever. For instance:

  • The economic impact of the virus has meant that more of our neighbors need help with the basics of life: food, clothing and shelter. We are finding creative ways to meet these needs, including grocery gift cards when our food pantries are unable to stay open, additional cleaning for our shelters, and special protective measures to maintain the health of both our guests and our front line staff when clients are able to keep appointments.
  • The emotional impact of the virus has meant that many of our neighbors are experiencing anxiety, depression, isolation or feelings of helplessness and fear. Our counseling services have helped them cope with the impacts of these feelings, strengthening their ability to weather the uncertainties that we face at this challenging time.

As these needs increase in our community, we are also being called upon to do more with less—a lot less in many cases, as cancelled fundraising events across the community, along with lack of revenue from canceled in-person client appointments and group events continue to severely impact the resources our organizations rely on to do our important work.

Nationally, some of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations are calling for inclusion of our sector in any economic stimulus package, recognizing that our sector is the third largest employment sector. In fact, the vast majority of nonprofits are small businesses, with 92% operating with under $1M in annual spending.

We often assume that nonprofit organizations will be there for all of us when we need them. 

Unfortunately, our sector has not fully recovered from the 2008 economic recession and a recent study shows that more than half of nonprofit organizations have less than one month’s cash, demonstrating how fragile our community safety net really is. 

Because we serve our community’s most vulnerable residents, we need a stronger infrastructure not just for today’s crisis, but to strengthen our communities for the future. Now, more than ever, we need both policies and our community partners to support us with their gifts of time and money.

As you reflect on your leadership during this crisis, we hope you will support your local nonprofit with an additional donation or an offer of support. Together, we can help those most impacted by the virus while maintaining the social safety net that is crucial to a strong and resilient community.

Submitted by:

The Steering Committee for Brave Commitments, a coalition of youth serving human service organizations in King County convened to strengthen and stabilize services for the children, youth, young adults and families of our community.

Anthony Austin, Executive Director, Southeast Youth and Family Services
Mahnaz Eshetu, Executive Director, Refugee Women’s Alliance
Melinda Giovengo, CEO, YouthCare
Mike Heinisch, Executive Director, Kent Youth and Family Services



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English for Work classes to be offered at Shoreline Hopelink

Tuesday, March 10, 2020


Do you have clients who would benefit from improved English skills in order to find work?

Registration for Hopelink’s spring quarter “English for Work” classes is now open! Clients can contact us to register for orientation at 425-250-3007 or englishforwork@hopelink.org.

Orientations begin the week of April 7th at the Hopelink center in Shoreline. The attached flyer includes class dates, times, and locations.

Links to translated versions of the attached flyer can be found here: Arabic Farsi Japanese Khmer Korean Mongolian Portuguese Russian Spanish Turkish

This FREE English for Work 10-week course is designed to help immigrants and refugees who speak some English improve their language skills while they prepare for work.

Students develop their speaking, listening, reading, writing, and technology skills; receive one-on-one advising; and participate in mock interviews conducted by local employers.

Every quarter, many of our students find jobs. Employers know about us, and frequently make us aware of job openings. In addition, Hopelink volunteers often help to connect students with employers in the business community.

Feel free to contact Hopelink at 425-250-3007 or englishforwork@hopelink.org with any questions.


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Bridges to Home: Homelike skilled nursing care for medically fragile children being built in Shoreline

Friday, January 31, 2020

Ashley House is a nonprofit with thirty years of experience caring for children with complex medical needs and caring for families as their kids transition from hospital to home. 

They have partnered with Seattle Children’s Hospital to develop Bridges to Home, which will be the first pediatric skilled nursing facility in Washington State. Bridges to Home will provide fifteen beds with 24/7 skilled nursing services for children.


Kids with medically complex needs are difficult to discharge because our region has no skilled nursing facility dedicated to children. Hospital care for medically complex children can exceed $10,000 per day, and there is a waiting list for pediatric hospital beds.

Seattle Children’s had more than 1500 “avoidable days” last year, when children were ready to leave the hospital but could not be discharged because no facility could provide 24/7 nursing and other essential supports. Many pediatric providers and payers are seeking a solution.

 
Bridges to Home will provide appropriate care at a much lower cost in the community. Services will include care for children using ventilators, dialysis, feeding tubes and other complex treatments.

Parents will be able to learn how to provide care in a home-like setting, where siblings and loved ones can visit. Social workers will help plan kids’ transitions and nursing care and case management will follow families home.

The facility will be located at 18904 Burke Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133. A former, very large, single family home is being remodeled to fit the needs of Ashley House. The organizers and board members have been communicating closely with immediate neighbors and the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA). 


The property, which neighbors called "The Mansion," was originally a single-family home, then had been a kind of boarding house and then vacant for some time. Neighbors are thrilled that it will be cleaned up, remodeled, and used for such a good purpose.

During a presentation at ELNA, an Ashley House board member who lives and works in Shoreline talked about the experience of having his medically fragile child released by Children's when he and his wife had little knowledge or experience about how to properly take care of him.

Ashley House purchased the property for $1.3 million. They have worked through all the zoning and permitting process and usage has been approved by City of Shoreline. They consulted with neighbors to hear concerns and incorporate solutions in the planning.

The "Mansion"
Google maps

The estimated Capital need is $3.3 million. The project total estimated cost is $5.5 million but construction bids are still pending.

The facility will serve about 45 patients annually, with an annual budget of $7 million and 40-45 full time employees, including 32 direct care staff. Medical and Program directors and project managers have been hired.

The patient care rooms are on the main floor. A basement provides parking, laundry, storage, and generator space. The upper floor will be offices, training and consultation space, and a break room.

Children’s Hospital contributed a gift of $1 million to assist in development, construction and operations. HCA is planning a special daily rate. DSHS has approved the regulatory framework. The Department of Health has granted the certificate of need.



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Center for Human Services celebrates 50 Years

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

2020 marks Center for Human Services’ (CHS) 50th year serving the community.

CHS origins came from the founding of Creative Life Foundation in 1970 and Shoreline Youth Services in 1972. These two organizations merged in 1982 and changed the name to Center for Human Services. 

With humble beginnings of 2 ½ employees, CHS now employs 159 staff. CHS is a non-profit organization that provides behavioral health services and family support services. 

CHS has three locations in Shoreline, one in Edmonds, two in Everett, and one in Bothell. CHS also provides services in the community at schools, primary health clinics, client’s homes, and other gathering places. 

CHS plans to celebrate this 50th year milestone throughout 2020, but the primary celebration will occur at its annual dinner auction and gala on April 18th at the Lynnwood Convention Center beginning at 5pm. 

You can register for the event or make a donation in honor of the 50th anniversary here.



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