Welcome Back, Members!
As we wade into our summers, the Coalition on Homelessness exists to provide the resources and connections you need to serve our unhoused neighbors and take care of yourself!
This month, we discussed:
- the newly launched Sun Bucks application
- the Telebup Hotline, a 24/7 resource to access buprenorphine in WA
- the rights of students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act
- initial reactions to the Grants Pass v Johnson SCOTUS decision
Sun Bucks Application has Lanuched!
Sun Bucks (AKA Summer EBT) launched this year, allocating benefits of $120 to as many as 550,000 Washingtonian students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Need more information on Sun Bucks? Review our Annual Membership Meeting recording or visit the DSHS Sun Bucks website.
We want to remind you that many families don’t need to apply for Sun Bucks if they receive state benefits or have applied for their school district’s school meals program. Many families may still need to apply, such as those who are not citizens and therefore not on public benefits – and can do so via the newly launched application website. Families can receive benefits summer benefits by applying before August 31st, 2024.
Hear from Troy directly on our meeting recording.
Not sure if you need to apply? Call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday–Friday (except observed holidays).
Telebup Hotline Overview
As we know, far too many people lose their lives to overdose in King County, particularly due to opioids like fentanyl. Access to treatment like buprenorphine can treat cravings and prevent withdrawals, and most importantly keep people alive. According to Dr. Chris Buresh, medication-assisted treatment like bupreorphine “can buy a person bandwidth to live their lives. They can apply jobs, access housing, and achieve other goals.”
Jody Rauch, our resident public health nurse, lauded the existence of a free hotline to access treatment for opioid use disorder, saying “this would have been an incredible resource when I was [delivering direct service]”.
A note from our presenters: naloxone is a tried and true method to prevent opioid overdose and save lives in the short term. Free naloxone is available from People’s Harm Reduction Alliance at this link!
The Telebup Hotline is a 24/7 toll-free number that connects patients who are 13+, living in Washington, and who have opioid use disorder, with buprenorphine. Patients can expect to call the hotline, speak with a Care Coordinator, schedule an appointment to understand need, and pick up a prescription as soon as possible.
While the cost of the hotline is free, the medication is not guaranteed to be free. Care Coordinators will work to verify insurance and use GoodRx to allow lower prices when possible.
To hear from Olivia Hood and Dr. Chris Buresh directly, please review our recording!
View their presentation slides on our website.
To learn more, visit the program website or send them an email.
To access the Telebup Hotline, call (206) 289-0287.
McKinney-Vento Training Teaser
Every year, the Coalition on Homelessness curates an up-to-date training to help youth and family providers understand the rights of K-12 students experiencing homelessness and the responsibilities of school districts to make sure they meet student needs.
This year, due to scheduling constraints, our full training will be held on October 1st. This training will include a full overview of the McKinney-Vento Act (the law that enshrines the rights of unhoused students) and a resource fair showcasing organizations that provide legal, housing, and basic needs supports for unhoused youth and families. Register for our full McKinney-Vento training at this link!
Before the school year starts, we want to share a few reminders for our youth and family providers:
- The US Department of Education defines homelessness as instances where youth “lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”.
- This means that students who are doubled up (staying in someone else’s home) are experiencing homelessness and entitled to McKinney-Vento resources
- Students experiencing homelessness are entitled to attending their ‘school of origin’
- This means that a student can move away from the last school district they resided in when they were housed due to access to shelter or other resources, but can continue attending that school. Transferring schools has been shown to reduce educational retention and reduce likelihood of graduation – this mandate is aimed to add stability to a student’s life.
- School districts are required to provide transportation so a student can regularly attend their school of origin.
- This can mean amending school bus routes, providing funds to use public transit, or even covering the cost of taxis or rideshares. Because the McKinney-Vento Act is an underfunded mandate, this can mean that transportation solutions may be delayed. We encourage providers to have patience if they believe school district officials are doing what they can to provide a reasonable transportation solution.
- The best way to get questions answered about the needs of youth and families is by contacting your McKinney-Vento Liaison at your school district – they can connect you with resources and liaise with the school district to meet your needs.
We hope to see you at our full training in October!
Grants Pass v Johnson Decision and What We Can Do
At last month’s meeting, we knew we were close to the Supreme Court making their decision on Grants Pass v. Johnson, however not yet. On June 28th, SCOTUS issued a decision that while does not surprise us, upsets many in our community due to the inevitable harm that will fall on our unhoused neighbors existing in cities who choose to criminalize homelessness. For more context, please read an initial response from our Executive Director, Alison Eisinger.
It is important that we all know that despite this deleterious decision, our fight is by no means over. Lawsuits continue to challenge sweeps and bans codified by Washington cities and we have many minds melding to develop a variety of policy tools to protect our unhoused neighbors.
Hear the conversation on our meeting recording!
We also know that voting our values is a way to build legal protection for our unhoused neighbors! In our upcoming Primary Election, there are great chances that you can vote for candidates in your legislative district who have the power to codify human rights, human services, and affordable housing. By August 6th, submit your ballot to help shape our state legislature and protect our unhoused neighbors!
As a reminder, there are many ways to register to vote, including online and via mail until 7/29 and in person at a King County Vote Center until Election Day (August 6th)! If you have lost your ballot, you can order a replacement by printing a new ballot online or calling King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683).
If you have any questions about getting involved in voter registration efforts, or want flyers to share with your clients and colleagues, please contact Tim Marshall.