Yesterday, November 17, 2015, the Seattle City Council Budget Committee voted 8-0 to add $2.265 million to the City’s budget as a one-time allocation to address the crisis of homelessness. These funds will be intended to provide new and expanded shelter beds, extended day center services, maintenance of skilled outreach services to vulnerable homeless adults, support of authorized encampments, and child care for homeless children. The Green Sheet (Council’s process of changing the Mayor’s proposed budget) can be viewed here, specifies that the $2.265 million will come from the City’s General Subfund, and outlines the process for spending the money.
The Coalition’s list of recommendations for new shelter, extended hours & increased capacity, and crucial services was included as an attachment to the Green Sheet. The final budget vote is next Monday (11/23). We will now work closely with the City to ensure that these funds are put into action as soon as possible to bring people inside quickly.
Your Advocacy made a HUGE difference!
Thanks to EVERYONE for calling, mailing postcards, e-mailing, signing our petition (400+ signatures!), and showing up at multiple City Council meetings to share your powerful examples of why we must #BringPeopleInsideNOW. Please join us in THANKING all City Councilmembers via e-mail, with SPECIAL THANKS to Nick Licata for shepherding this proposal through the budget process.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to take action! If you haven’t already, please sign up for the Coalition’s Action Alerts and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@Homeless2Housed).
Check out media coverage of the Coalition’s organizing on our website and Facebook.
Thank You!