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.