Sara Robbins

DSHS offices have been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. DSHS has communicated its intent to not fully reopen Community Service Offices across the state. A group of direct service providers and advocates (Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, REACH, Solid Ground, Catholic Community Services, and others) have been meeting with DSHS since June 2020 to advocate for DSHS offices to re-open to serve anyone in need of in-person services. Our direct advocacy with DSHS has not been successful. Community-based providers have seen how offices being closed have led to unhoused clients and clients with disabilities losing benefits and/or not being able to apply for benefits. We are writing this letter to bring this issue to the attention of the Governor’s Office, the Secretary of DSHS, Assistant Attorney General for DSHS, and the Office of Equity. If your organization would like to sign on click here.

Seattle/King County Public Health and COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Mel Koziol from Seattle/King County Public Health joined us to share information about COVID-19 vaccinations for children. The presentation included information about the mature minor rule and information for children and teens. If you would like to review the slides from the presentation they can be found here. Mel Koziol – Youth and Young Adults COVID Vaccine Team-Public Health Seattle and King County mkoziol@kingcounty.gov Health Through Housing If you are a King County Resident, we need your help!  As a resident, your voice is critical. You can help urge the King County Council and the Regional Policy Committee to move Health through Housing (HtH) ahead by swiftly passing the HtH Implementation Plan.  TAKE ACTION King County and local jurisdictions have partnered to implement Health through Housing to create 1,600 units of emergency housing and permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. People who move into these 1,600 homes will have access to on-site case management and health and behavioral health services.  Helping Homeless Students Workshop Thank you to everyone who attended our Helping Homeless Students: McKinney-Vento 101 Workshop. A huge thank you to Kayla Blau, Mehret Tekle-Awarun, Samie Iverson, Joanna Tarr, Jenea Proctor Mills, and Julie Herdt for sharing their knowledge and passion with us. You can review some of the tools and resources discussed at the information session below.  McKinney Vento Liaison List Contact Information: Tukwila School District Liaison emails: Julie Herdt herdtj@tukwila.wednet.edu and Maryan Abdow abdowma@tukwila.wednet.edu Seattle Public Schools Liaison Emails: mkv@seattleschools.org Jennea Proctor Mills Seattle djproctormills@seattleschools.org