Note: This piece was originally published in the Seattle P-I five years ago. Unfortunately, the GAU program is on the chopping block again. The arguments put forth by United Way CEO Jon Fine and United Way board member Dan Brettler are still true today and powerful reasons to preserve GAU. Take action to save GAU by contacting your senator. More info is at the bottom of the post.

Darren Branning lived under a bridge in Renton and did his best to stay as far away from people as he could. Gnawing hunger pains, exposure to raw Pacific Northwest weather and the paralyzing chatter from voices deep within his head made him withdraw further. Darren desperately needed help to move beyond simple survival and begin the journey to recovery and self-sufficiency. He got that help through the state’s General Assistance Unemployable program.

Unfortunately, some are calling to cut this crucial temporary lifeline to thousands who are unable to work through no fault of their own. While it’s important to balance the state’s budget, cutting GAU is not the way to do it. This short-term fix can have long-term consequences that could cost taxpayers more through state services for the homeless as well as increased use of emergency mental health and other services.

United Way of King County supports programs funded by state government to provide a safety net. In the case of GAU, people such as Darren use the program when they are out of options. The program also helps many temporarily disabled people have enough money to eat and stay in housing until they can work again. GAU keeps people from sleeping under bridges and on the streets, enabling them to make the transition from dependence to self-sufficiency. It is a cost-effective program that works.

The $339 monthly assistance GAU provides is a ray of hope for those such as Darren. It is not meant to be a permanent support system. In fact, the average length of time a person is on GAU is about 11 months. GAU is not government largess to those unwilling to work; rather, it’s an effective, inexpensive way to help good people who have no disability or workers’ compensation insurance, have been temporarily disabled and are therefore unable to work until they are healthy again.

To qualify, a person must provide medical or psychological proof of being incapacitated. Further proof must be submitted every six months to stay on the program. The recipient must be a Washington state resident, prove financial need and undergo treatment and referral assessment. Those whose sole disability is alcoholism/drug addiction and those in the criminal justice system are ineligible.

Taking people off GAU won’t suddenly make them eligible for the federal SSI program. These people are ineligible for the federal program because their disabilities are temporary, and SSI is meant for people who are disabled for more than a year. Instead of moving caseloads from the state to the federal level, eliminating GAU would move people from homes to homelessness. In King County alone, almost 3,000 people would be affected, and they could end up joining the 8,000 who are already on King County’s streets on any given night.

The GAU program affects too many lives to consider cutting, and it makes sense to adequately fund such an important safety net for thousands. If we are shortsighted, it could end up costing us millions.

United Way of King County currently commits $6 million annually to ending homelessness in our community; however, we can’t do it alone. Our community still needs to have government at the table to provide the strong, effective programs such as GAU to keep people out of the rain. We believe ending homelessness is one of King County’s most urgent issues, and we urge elected officials to ensure community safeguards such as GAU are kept in place.

Protecting GAU ultimately helps protect our state’s fiscal health and also helps protect something more important — people like Darren. He is now in a warm home and employed . He no longer needs GAU because he is earning a living and is on the road to recovery. But where would he be if this safety net was not in place?

UPDATE: Currently more than 16,000 people receive GAU, nearly 5,000 of whom live in King County. With emergency shelters filled to capacity and low-cost housing in short supply eliminating cash assistance and limiting medical benefits will have a devastating impact on individual lives and local communities.

Take action now to protect GAU and join United Way of King County by calling, e-mailing or writing your senator and the senators listed below. Ask them to:

1. Preserve the cash grant so that GAU recipients can pay for rent, food purchase and basic needs.

2. Remove time limits on medical benefits.

3. Include additional funds for shelter/housing of GAU recipients.

Click here to find the senator from your own district. From King County? Please also contact these Senators from Ways and Means Committee whose vote is critical to support of GAU:

Learn more about GAU in the Security Lifeline bill 2SHB 2782.