With continued cuts to Disability Lifeline (DL) looming, we decided to ask DL recipients attending United Way’s Community Resource Exchange how they might be affected by upcoming changes to their benefits. It is anticipated that the House and Senate will agree to preserve DL medical coverage. However, the cash assistance benefit will likely see big cuts, if not complete elimination. We asked people why they need this cash benefit and how they will get by if this benefit is no longer available. This is what…

This blog was written by Naomi Goodman, Senior Policy Analyst at Seattle Housing Authority

At the Federal Level

Congress passed the 2011 budget a few weeks back, ensuring some stability for housing and homeless providers for the remainder of the federal fiscal year, ending September 30. However, this year’s budget made significant cuts to affordable housing programs and laid the ground work for additional cuts in 2012. Local providers are struggling to comprehend how cuts will affect the communities they serve. The federal budget calls…

Of all the events United Way of King County spearheads throughout the year, the Community Resource Exchange is by far my favorite.

In one place, on one day—so many who are struggling to just survive have a day where it’s all about them.

Throughout the day, I and dozens of other volunteers were helping to find people who would be willing to share their stories with us.

For me, the most moving moments were hearing from young homeless women and their kids.

I…

Last Friday United Way of King County held it’s 6th Community Resource Exchange (CRE) at Qwest Field. While we’re still crunching the numbers, it is estimated that about 1,700 people experiencing homelessness accessed services, from foot washing to dental work, at the event. Seattle’s Q13 Fox News was on site covering the event and interviewing guests. Check out their short piece below.

With the 105 day regular session scheduled to end this Sunday, April 24, resolution of differences in revenue approaches and support for key programs will undoubtedly mean a special session.  The Governor will decide later this week when the special session should begin; she will certainly want a clear agenda with a focus on key issues before she calls legislators back to Olympia.  Options include calling lawmakers back immediately after the regular session adjourns, or waiting a while to allow leadership in both houses to come…

Congress and the Administration narrowly avoided a government shut down on April 8 just hours before the deadline. The final agreement to fund the federal government until the end of FY2011 (September 30, 2011) was the culmination of three and a half months of discussion about discretionary spending levels and policy stances.  The bill includes $38.5 billion in spending cuts for the remainder of this fiscal year.  

Mandatory spending – entitlement programs such as Medicaid and Social Security – were not the focus of…

Guest blogger David Fleming, MD, Director and Health Officer
Public Health-Seattle & King County

Ask Magan Cromar the value of Maternity Support Services (MSS) and tears will fill your eyes as she describes the life-preserving services she and her daughter received.  Magan had to leave her job after her daughter Sophie was born with special needs. A public health nurse visited their home in Issaquah twice a week to check on Sophie’s health and ultimately helped them through a health crisis that prevented an…

Community Health Centers, the clinics that serve the low income, unemployed and uninsured, have been hit by multiple budget reductions on the federal and state level which will severely compromise their ability to deliver care to those in need.   

CHC’s are required to see all patients regardless of their ability to pay.  Clinics serve those most in need, as over 90% have incomes below 200% of federal poverty level ($36,620 for a family of three).  A significant portion of those seen in CHC’s are…

For two years Richard Carter has been volunteering with Wellspring Family Services, an organization that helps families facing homelessness achieve self-sufficiency. Not only does Richard joyfully share his musical talents as a pianist at Wellspring’s annual events, but he has also courageously shared his own experience as a young person experiencing homelessness with donors and State Legislators in Olympia. Thank you Richard for lending your voice, talents and time to help address homelessness in our community.  

April 10^th-16^th is National Volunteer Week!…

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the centerpiece of the federal government’s effort to help more than 1,200 cities, counties and states meet the needs of low and moderate income people. It provides flexible funding for a wide-range of activities including building and preserving affordable housing, providing services to the most vulnerable, public improvements projects, and economic development. In fiscal year 2010, $3.984 billion in federal CDBG money flowed into local communities – making a difference in the lives of millions of people…