State Legislative Highlights
During our May Annual Meeting, we were unable to fully highlight all of the amazing victories during the 2021 legislative session. We’ll be joined by Representative Strom Peterson to discuss HB 1220, which will change how jurisdictions all over the state plan for growth and ensure that they plan for a range of housing needs– including emergency housing, supportive housing, and more. We’ll discuss the steps forward to more inclusive planning.
Omar Cuevas-Vega from Statewide Poverty Action Network provided updates on all the changes to state public benefits from the 2021 legislative session. This will include updates regarding Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Housing and Essential Needs (HEN), Disaster Cash Assistance (DCAP), and more. See Omar’s slidedeck here.
Solidarity Fund
The Coalition created the Solidarity Fund in the Spring of 2020 as a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the clear and disproportionate threats of this crisis to people experiencing homelessness. The Coalition will be giving an update on the reopening of the application, the timeline and process. Read more information about the Solidarity Fund here. The application closes on July 15, 2021.
Coalition Updates
- Voter Registration & Voting Rights: See Saleena’s slidedeck here. With the August 3rd primary approaching, we’ll give you some background information on dates and deadlines, a refresher on how to register people without homes to vote, and get your feedback on how we can support you in getting every eligible voter in your site registered to vote. We’ll also take a look at upcoming changes to voting rights for people who were formerly incarcerated, and what you can do to help spread the word about these changes. Take the voter registration planning survey here.
- Project Cool for Back-to-School: Each year, the Coalition helps homeless and unstably housed students prepare for academic success by providing backpacks filled with school supplies. Due to COVID-19, this year will look a little different. We hope to get your feedback on the needs of the children and families you serve so we can get these vital resources to them. Take the Project Cool needs survey here or email projectcool(at)homelessinfo(dot)org.
Member Updates
- TODAY 6/17 at 2:30pm: Join the National Coalition to End Urban Indigenous Homelessness for their monthly NW Seattle/King County Region meeting today and every third Thursday from 2:30-4 p.m. via Teams. Please email Patricia Allen-Dick to be sent the call information.
- WED 6/23: Hopelink invites you to join the final training in the Financial Empowerment Training Series on June 23rd from 11-12 p.m. The training will focus on teaching providers how to empower the people they serve through information and tools related to YMYG Modules 8 & 9: Choosing Financial Products & Services and Protecting Your Money. Register here for the training.
Seattle Public Library is opening additional branches for in-building services! The Downtown Central Library and nine neighborhood branches will reopen the week of June 21. The library looks forward to welcoming folks back in to browse books, use computers or WiFi, change devices, use the hygiene facilities, and more. Read more information here about the current In-Building services.