February 2006:
Contact us:
24-Hour Crisis Line
(206) 461-3222
(866) 4CRISIS or
(866) 427-4747
(206) 461-3219 TDD
Available 365 days
a year
Community
Information Line
(206) 461-3200
(800) 621-4636
(206) 461-3610 TDD
Monday-Friday,
8am-6pm
Teen Link
(206) 461-4922
(866) TEENLINK or
(866) 833-6546
(206) 461-3219 TDD
Every evening,
6-10pm
Business Office
1515 Dexter Ave N
Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 461-3210
Fax: (206) 461-8368
8am-5pm, M-F
Habitat for Humanity Looking for Families
9 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21
Redmond Assembly of God Church
16601 NE 95th St
Redmond, WA
Habitat
for Humanity East King County will be selecting at least six families who
qualify for either two-bedroom or four-bedroom homes for the Redmond
development off Avondale. Habitat constructs homes in a self-help
homeownership program, selling houses at cost on zero interest mortgages. For
more information, click here
or call (425) 869-6007.
Anger Management Group Starting
1:30-3:20 p.m., Tuesdays March
14-May 16
4010 Stone Way N
Suite #230
Seattle, WA
Fee: $15 per session
Resolve anger management issues in your work and personal
life by joining an anger management group, facilitated by anger management
specialists Rich Hammons and Pat Scott. The 10-week long mixed gender group is
intended for individuals who are earning less than $40,000 a year and are 19
years old and older. This is not a program for court-referred individuals or
people in domestic violence situations. For more information or to register call
(206) 390-7063.
Free Parenting Classes
Thursday evenings from Feb.
2-March 23
Spanish speakers: 6:15-7:15 p.m.
English speakers: 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Hopelink
Bellevue
14812 Main St, Bellevue
Hopelink
will be hosting a series of free weekly parenting classes, called Parenting
with Love and Confidence. Free child care is available during both class
times for parents who call ahead to reserve a space for their child. To
register for either class, call Jessica at (425) 943-7577.
King County 2-1-1
In The News
The 2-1-1 phone number to reach
social service information and referral is coming to King and Snohomish
counties this month. The number will connect callers with Crisis Clinic’s Community
Information Line. Read about it in the King County Journal here and
in the Seattle Post Intelligencer here.
Kent’s Community Resource Fair
6-8 p.m., Thursday,
March 2
315 E Meeker St, Kent
The
city of Kent’s Parks,
Recreation and Community Services Department is sponsoring a Community
Resource Fair to help people living in South King County learn about the many
organizations that assist and support needy individuals and families. Child
care is provided. Admission is free.
Did You Know?
The 2006 unsheltered homeless count is down 6% from the last
count. One night in January, volunteers counted 1,946 homeless people in
selected areas of King County, including 1,618 in Seattle. This year Federal
Way was added to the count and 62 people were found there. The 6% drop does
not include the Federal Way count. The count is organized each year by Seattle/King County Coalition for the
Homeless.
The Neurobiology of Love
7-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 9
$10 in advance,
$12.50 at the door
Scholarships available
Jewish Family Services
1601 16th Ave, Seattle
In
this part of the Jewish
Family Service’s Healthy Marriage Project, learn about new brain research
on love and bonding, infatuation and the “addictive” nature of love. What’s
going on when the mind says “no” but the heart says “yes”? Facilitated by
Steve Morris, MSW, JFS Director of Clinical Counseling. Space is limited. To
register, call (206) 461-3240 ext. 3146.
Immigration Reform Community Forum
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Rainier Valley Cultural Center
3515 S. Alaska St. Seattle
Discuss immigration reform and
where the community can go from here in this free forum organized by the Hate
Free Zone of Washington. For more information call
(206) 723-2203 ext. 208, or e-mail Shankar Narayan at shankar@hatefreezone.org
Help Paying for Children’s Prescriptions
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4
Admission is free.
Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry St
Seattle, WA 98122
Learn about the RxHelp for Kids
program and how it can help the more than 140,000 children in Washington
without medical insurance receive free or nearly free medications. Also
participate in the hands-on tutorial and find out how to sign children up for
programs that will help them afford the medications they need. RxHelp for
Kids is the result of a partnership between Catholic Community Services and RxHelp
for
Washington. For more information call
(206) 443-1990.
Seattle Public Schools Starts
New Enrollment
Parents who are residents
of the Seattle
Public School District are encouraged to register new students for the
2006-07 school year. Children enrolled through Feb. 28 will receive priority
in school assignment if they select a particular school. For information on
schools and enrollment procedures, click here.
Tent City 4 wins fight in Bellevue
The Bellevue City Council
approved a measure allowing SHARE/WHEEL’s Tent
City 4 to stay longer in the city and house more people. To read the
Seattle Times article click here.
AAAHRP 3rd Annual History Conference
Saturday, Feb. 11
Seattle University
The Association for African
American Historical Research and Preservation will host its third annual
history conference, which will present little-known or unrecorded Black
History in the Pacific Northwest. AAAHRP is striving to expand the
dialogue among scholars, historians, teachers, students, community activists
and the general public that was established at previous conferences. Early
registration is recommended. Please click here
for complete conference information, including registration.
Affordable Housing Initiative Started
Catholic
Community Services and the Archdiocesan
Housing Authority have begun a new program, The Village Spirit Center for
Community Change and Healing, that will create affordable housing and support
services for minority populations. The location will be at the headquarters
of Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, 100 23rd Ave
S, Seattle.
|
SSI Recipients May Qualify for Additional Food Assistance from DSHS
Reprinted with permission from Columbia Legal
Services
SSI recipients
have until Feb. 23 to see if they qualify for additional food assistance from
DSHS. The change is based on a court-imposed deadline that was part of a
resolution of a lawsuit filed by Columbia
Legal Services. Eligible recipients have received a letter from DSHS
asking them to apply and see if they meet the requirements.
Most SSI recipients are eligible
to get food assistance (Food Stamps) from DSHS under the federal Food Stamp
Act. Historically, however, few SSI recipients applied for food assistance.
In December 2001, DSHS implemented a Food Stamp demonstration program known
as the Washington State Combined Application Program (WASHCAP) to increase
the number of SSI recipients getting food assistance.
Some SSI recipients can get more food assistance
in the regular Food Stamp Program, called Basic Food than they can get in
WASHCAP. A household who pays for heat or whose actual rent exceeds the low
or high shelter standards used in WASHCAP may get more food assistance under
Basic Food. For the first three years of WASHCAP, a household could “opt out”
and apply for Basic Food whenever they would get more food assistance by
doing so.
Columbia Legal Services estimates, using DSHS
data, that almost 30% of the approximately 40,000 households getting the DSHS
letter could increase their monthly food assistance by 20% or more by
applying for Basic Food.
How much more clients receive depends on what they actually pay for their non-utility shelter costs
(rent, mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, etc.) It
also depends on whether they pay for heat and, if not, what other utilities
they pay for. Generally, people will get more food assistance under Basic
Food if they pay for heat separate from their rent or mortgage payment (or
get LIHEAP energy assistance) and their rent, mortgage payment or other
non-utility shelter costs combined are at least $115 per month. They also may
do better even if they do not pay for heat as long as they pay for two other
utilities such as electricity and phone and their rent or mortgage payment
exceeds $164.00 per month.
SSI recipients should not have to verify their
income or resources to get Basic Food. DSHS already has access to this
information from the Social Security Administration. SSI recipients will have
to verify their shelter costs, including whether they pay for heat or other
utilities, but it’s very easy. Usually, the landlord can verify the shelter
costs by completing a form from DSHS. While DSHS is required to interview
applicants for Basic Food, they can conduct these interviews by telephone. If
an applicant asks for a phone interview, DSHS must provide a phone interview
if there is any situation that makes it difficult for a person to come to the
DSHS office. Transportation problems, distance from the DSHS office or
barriers created by disability or old age are valid reasons for phone
interviews.
Clients who want to figure out if they would
get more food assistance through Basic Food can find out by calling the
WASHCAP Central Unit at (877) 380-5784. DSHS will not put someone on Basic
Food if they would get less food assistance by opting out of WASHCAP. •
This information is taken from a list of
frequently asked questions prepared by Columbia Legal Services. To view the
complete list and printable copies of posters and flyers click here.
Return to the top
Safe Harbors: A Critical Tool For Ending
Homelessness
Judy Summerfield, Acting Safe Harbors Program Manager
Ending
homelessness in 10 years is a top priority among community, government and
business leaders in Seattle and King County. To end homelessness, we need
effective strategies based on sound data. Providing important data that
supports the implementation of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in King
County is Safe Harbors’ top priority.
Safe Harbors
is a Homeless Management Information System that collects and secures
demographic and system outcome information from 188 programs that serve
homeless people across the county. Once fully implemented, Safe Harbors will
offer a rich array of aggregated data that will help us identify the services
and strategies that will be most successful in helping homeless men, women,
families and youth to find long-term housing and to access the supportive
services they need to stay in their homes and live independently.
This means
providers of services to homeless people will have the information needed to
fill service gaps, improve services, document trends and better understand
the factors that cause homelessness. Such sophisticated data also will allow
users to link strategies with outcomes and produce reports for funders.
A lot of
progress was made on Safe Harbors over the past year. In August 2005,
Safe Harbors became part of a state-wide system, along with Snohomish County and
the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. Over time,
this will allow us to better coordinate services statewide.
By the end of
2005, Safe Harbors trained staff from more than 100 programs and training and
implementation will continue throughout 2006. Development work was done to
make new report features available in February 2006, and additional
enhancements to make the system easier to use will be released this spring.
Some of the
agencies already using the Safe Harbors system are Archdiocesan
Housing Authority, Central
Area Motivation Program, Catholic
Community Services of Western Washington, Church
Council of Greater Seattle, Compass
Center, Consejo
Counseling and Referral Service, Development
Association of Goodwill Baptist Church, El
Centro de la Raza, Family
and Adult Service Center, Family
Services, First
Place School, Fremont
Public Association, Friends
of Youth, Hopelink,
Interaction
Transition, International
District Housing Alliance, Kent
Youth and Family Services, Kirkland
Interfaith Transitions in Housing, Low
Income Housing Institute, Operation
Nightwatch, Providence
Hospitality House and R.O.A.R.
– Resources, Outreach, Advocacy and Referrals.
Ending
homelessness in King County in 10 years will require public and political
will, community commitment, resources, hard work and creativity. It also will
require excellent information about homelessness itself. Safe Harbors will
become the most important source for that information in King County and,
quite possibly, in the state.•
For more information on Safe Harbors, visit www.safeharbors.org.
Return to the top
King County’s Housing Stability Project To Begin
Screening Clients
Hannah Newton,
Resource Specialist
Crisis Clinic’s Community Information Line will begin
screening clients for the Housing
Stability Project Feb. 13. Clients who meet the primary eligibility
requirements may by able to receive an appointment with one of the 12
participating agencies.
The project provides loans and grants for rent and move-in
costs to eligible King County households. Seattle, Auburn, Medina, Normandy
Park and Kent do not participate in this program, so residents in those
cities are not eligible.
The first appointments will be scheduled for Feb. 20, and
the Community Information Line will screen for appointments as long as
funding is available at one more locations, which is typically through
September.•
Call the Community Information Line at (206) 461-3200
for more information.
Return to the top
Critical Resource Updates
Compiled by Crisis Clinic’s Resource Center
It is always recommended to check Community Resources Online
for additional information and for the most current information updates of
the following resources.
Angeline’s
Winter Shelter has extended its services until March 31. Previously it
was scheduled to close Dec. 31.
Bellevue’s City
Hall has moved to 450 110th Ave NE. Phone numbers and mailing
address remain the same.
Cocaine Outreach and Recovery
has opened a Family
Crisis Center, which provides counseling and referrals to families in crisis who are experiencing domestic
violence, family conflicts and problems in parent-child relationships.
Denise
Louie Education Center – Beacon Hill has moved to a new location at 3327
Beacon Ave S.
Family
Services - Resident Choices - High Point Annex closed Jan. 1. Services are
being relocated to other branches.
Friends
of Youth – Transitional Living Campus is no longer accepting clients and is
in the process of closing because they will be rebuilding their facility.
Presbyterian
Counseling Service has changed its name to Samaritan
Center of Puget Sound.
Tent
City 3 will move March 1 to St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 10th
Ave E, Seattle, and will be there until May 31.
Tent
City 4 will move Feb. 15 to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3030
Bellevue Way, Bellevue, and will be there until May 16.•
Return to the top
February and March
Selected Resources
Compiled by Crisis Clinic’s Resource Center
This column highlights available timely
resources in the community information database that might otherwise go
unnoticed by our users. It is always recommended to check Community Resources Online
for additional information and for the most current information concerning
the following resources.
February Resource Highlights
AARP
Coordinates free income tax assistance programs from
Feb. 1 through April 15 each year. Services are available to people of all
ages who are middle- and low-income. Focuses on those individuals who are age
60 and older. Limited assistance is available to homebound taxpayers. Some
printed materials are available in Spanish. For a list of local Tax-Aide
sites, visit www.aarp.org/taxaide
and click on the link to “locate a site.”
Children’s
Hospital and Regional Medical Center – Stanley Stamm Children’s Hospital Camp
Coordinates a summer camp for a week in August for
children with medical problems that disqualify them from other camping
programs. The camp is located at the Sunset Lake Camp facility in Wilkeson
and has medical facilities that meet the needs of the campers. Call for an
application. Applications are distributed beginning in February each year and
the camp is usually full by April 1.
Internal
Revenue Service – Tax-Aide
Administers a program where volunteers provide free
income tax assistance at numerous locations throughout Washington. Foreign
language abilities vary from year to year. Chinese Baptist Church in South
Seattle offers interpretive services. This church does some tax returns for
Chinese taxpayers. Call for information on other language service sites. Call
to find all current sites. Eligible individuals may also walk into the
Seattle downtown office (915 2nd Ave, Room 414, Seattle, WA 98174) and wait
in line to receive an appointment. Individuals must bring their unlaminated
Social Security Card and relevant W-2 forms.
League
of Women Voters of Seattle
Advocates for the informed and active participation
of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy
issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. A free
directory of elected officials is published annually in February, entitled
“They Represent You: A Citizen’s Directory of Elected Officials.”
Mary
Bridge Children’s Hospital – Bridges – A Center for Grieving Children
Offers support groups for children who have experienced the violent death
or suicide of a parent or sibling, for children who are living with someone
who is chronically or critically ill, for children who have lost their
parents and for children who have lost a sibling. Simultaneous support groups
are offered for the parents. Call for an intake appointment. New families may
join ongoing groups in November, February, April and September. Parent
pledges are based on a sliding fee scale.
National
Eating Disorders Association
Distributes educational materials and organizes
awareness and prevention events. Operates a toll-free information and
referral helpline. Offers a searchable online database of treatment providers
throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sponsors National Eating Disorders Awareness
Week (NEDAW) held during the last week of February each year.
Seattle
Public Library – Downtown Seattle
Free tax help from trained volunteers is available
at the Central Library and several branches. Most branches also stock a
selection of tax forms and Internal Revenue Service publications. Unless
otherwise indicated, volunteers will be available on a first come, first
served basis (no reservations).
Senior
Services of Seattle/King County
Senior Information and Assistance provides
information on locations of tax assistance sites and programs which will send
income tax assistance volunteers to the homes of homebound seniors or people
with disabilities. Program begins in February.
March Resource Highlights
City
of Seattle – Human Services Department
Provides subsidized jobs to economically disadvantaged youth in order for
them to develop positive work habits and gain job skills. Work
placement is in public and private non-profit agencies. Consists of
half a day of remedial academic work and half a day of work experience for
youth in jeopardy of dropping out of school. Also provides full-day
work experience. Youth can work up to 30 hours/week at minimum
wage. Program begins in late June and runs for 7 weeks.
Applications available after the 2nd week in March at Seattle Parks and Recreation
community centers, Seattle Neighborhood Service Centers, a variety of social
service agencies throughout Seattle, and the SYEP program office.
Humane
Society for Seattle/King County
Spring Animal Care workshops are held March through May.
Master
Builders Care Foundation
“Rampathon” weekend event coordinates volunteers who build wheelchair access
ramps for low-income homeowners with long-term physical needs. Call for an
application. Applications are due every year in March.
Overlake
Service League
Camp, summer school, and tutoring scholarships are available for children in
low-income families and for children with disabilities in the Bellevue School
District. Must apply starting in March for camp and summer school. Apply for
tutoring assistance year-round.
Special
Olympics – Washington
Athletes with disabilities are invited to participate in this year’s
Winter Games, with events including basketball, downhill skiing, Nordic
skiing, figure skating and speed ice-skating. This year the games will
be held March 3-5 in Wenatchee.
University
of Washington – Women’s Center
Awards an annual nursing scholarship for $250 to financially needy nursing
students in western Washington. Interested nursing students may call the
Women’s Center after March 15 for an application. Submit completed
applications by June 1. Scholarships are awarded in the fall. •
Return to the top
“Resource Talk,” Crisis
Clinic’s free monthly e-newsletter, provides critical resource changes,
community events, feature articles on important health and human service
topics and updates to the annual publication of the Where to Turn Plus
directory. Click here
to subscribe or unsubscribe to Resource Talk. You may view past issues of Resource
Talk by clicking here.
Crisis Clinic offers
a variety of products to help connect people with critical resources.
Information about purchasing Crisis Clinic’s Where to Turn Directories,
Where to Turn CD-ROMs, customized reports, customized mailing labels
and holiday lists can be found online by clicking here.
Crisis Clinic
respects the privacy
of our Web site users.
For business
purposes, please e-mail us at ResourceCenter@CrisisClinic.org or call us at (206) 461-3210.
www.CrisisClinic.org
This Newsletter was last updated on Thursday, February 02, 2006 11:39 AM
|
