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WSCAP Newsletter July 24, 2025
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Bellingham medical, hygiene facility for unhoused far exceeds service projection
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A new Bellingham hygiene and medical respite center for unhoused individuals has far exceeded its service projections in its first six months of operation — something its operators say
speaks to soaring community need. “The facility was created to address a basic but urgent need: access to hygiene services, health care, and medical respite for those living without
shelter. The high demand reflects the scale and urgency of the housing crisis in the community,” Unity Care NW said in a press release about the capacity.
Since opening its doors in late 2024, The Way Station in downtown Bellingham has provided services to more than 1,000 people experiencing homelessness in Whatcom County. The facility
was initially anticipated to serve about 750 individuals in its first year of operation.
“The Way Station is not a solution to homelessness, but it plays a critical role in the community’s response,” said Jodi Joyce, CEO of Unity Care NW. “It offers life-changing support
to people who are often left behind — helping stabilize their health, restoring dignity, and connecting them to the resources they need to find a path forward.”
The Way Station is operated through a partnership between Unity Care NW, Opportunity Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=cb944d6abb&e=2908504
92e> , PeaceHealth and Whatcom County Health and Community Services.
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Homeless people visited ER less after moving into King County’s hotels
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King County had two goals when it purchased more than a dozen hotels to convert into housing for people living on the streets — end homelessness for a bunch of people and improve their
health.
Officials say it has been a success on both fronts, publishing data collected in the first two full years of the Health through Housing program.
The program created more than 900 units of housing with services on-site tailored for formerly homeless people, with about 500 more on the way. And data shows the people staying in those
units visit emergency rooms and are hospitalized substantially less than when they were on the streets.
Officials say they’re not surprised.
“That was the premise from the beginning,” said Kelly Rider, director of King County’s Department of Community and Human Services.
While converting hotels was an innovative approach born out of the pandemic, the health benefits of providing housing and wraparound support services to homeless people are supported
by decades of research.
There are more than 7,700 permanent supportive housing units in King County, but it’s expensive to build and operate, and with more than 16,000 homeless people in the region, there aren’t
enough spots for everyone who could use one.
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Pierce County Human Services Community Action Program Distributes Life-Saving Air Conditioners to Low-Income Seniors
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For the second consecutive year, the Pierce County Human Services Community Action Program <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c455eaa486&e=290850492
e> (CAP) has successfully hosted three events to distribute 286 portable air conditioners and HEPA air filters to low-income senior citizens across Pierce County.
According to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, with many deaths being preventable through timely intervention and
outreach. Recognizing this critical issue, the CAP program has taken proactive measures to protect vulnerable populations.
Utilizing data collected through energy assistance services, the CAP program identified population groups at higher risk of heat-related deaths. With this data, the program conducted
an organized outreach effort to inform these groups about the available resources. For participants unable to attend the distribution events, the CAP program ensured that the appliances
were delivered directly to their homes.
This initiative underscores Pierce County Human Services' commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of its senior residents, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
Learn more HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=7ca7f83cd3&e=290850492e>
Bearing Fruit with Entrepreneurial Loans: Good Business Means Good Community <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ade1e2fada&e=290850492e>
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Strong, locally-owned businesses support strong communities. The Community Reinvestment Project supports diverse and robust local markets by helping small businesses cover Seattle’s
high expenses. The project specifically focused on businesses with high tax burdens.
“The thing with food is, we break barriers. It’s like music — it’s one of those things that doesn’t have a color.” – Sean Sylve
Sean Sylve has always called Seattle home, but the inspiration for his food comes straight from the South.
At Po’Boys & Tings, Sean brings Louisiana’s flavors to the Pacific Northwest. “The men in my family have cooked my whole life. I grew up wanting to be in the kitchen.”
After starting at festivals in 2017, Po’Boys & Tings eventually purchased a food truck to expand their business. It’s all family recipes and tricks I learned from my people down South”
But “the cost of doing business is crazy, and it’s really hard coming up with capital. My food truck alone was $65,000. And then you need to buy the product and pay the taxes and pay
employees.”
The Community Reinvestment Project’s Business Capital Support grant helped Po’Boys & Tings weather a recent hard financial season by covering up front costs that kept the business on
top of its game.
Continue reading….
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Getting There Together: How Community Transit Builds Stronger Rural Communities
HopeSource <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ebf3de0cfb&e=290850492e> operates two essential systems that keep our communities moving:
city-sponsored fixed-route systems and state-funded Dial-A-Ride services. These systems were built to serve people who are often left behind in traditional transit planning.
HopeSource’s mission goes beyond simply putting buses on the streets. We ensure Central Washington residents can get to their workplaces, appointments and homes, destinations that are
difficult to reach without a car in our rural county.
HopeSource started providing transportation with one rickety bus and a supervisor/driver. The heart was there, but the capacity to get people where they needed to go was not. Just as
HopeSource continues to do today, a gap in community services was recognized and work began to fill the need. HopeSource staff started knocking on doors of local and state government
officials for support to create an effective transportation system for an under-served community. In turn, government transportation planners needed a non-profit partner to operate
a system. HopeSource put together a strategic plan with detailed start-up and sustainability options to present to potential funding bodies.
These systems didn’t appear overnight. Designing routes, adding stops, improving accessibility, and investing in vehicles and drivers who know their riders by name took time to develop.
The fleet began to grow with three new 14-passenger buses, all designed with lifts to accommodate wheelchairs. Demand rose and funding increased as community benefits were demonstrated.
More buses were added year after year.
HopeSource now operates a fleet of 14 buses and 6 smaller vans, all with dependable, people-centered drivers at the wheel. Whether it's a senior needing dialysis, a young adult with
a disability going to class, or a veteran heading to work, our drivers are more than chauffeurs. They're connectors and caregivers, sometimes the only friendly face someone might see
all day.
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The Journal's View: Nonprofits need our help in these challenging times
Many social-service nonprofits in the Inland Northwest are struggling at a time when the vulnerable populations they serve need them the most. As the region's corporate citizens, it's
important for the business community—organizations and individuals alike—to do what they can to help those nonprofits navigate difficult times.
Like their peers throughout the U.S., organizations that help people meet basic needs have had to cut staff and curb programs amid federal funding cutbacks, take backs, and grant delays.
The direct loss of funds is affecting current operations, and uncertainty moving forward is making it more difficult for some to plan for the future.
As the Journal reported earlier this summer, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c250a72c86&e=290850492e>
has cut staff and curbed services in some areas as a result of the funding challenges. Others have taken or are considering similar measures.
In May, College Success Foundation <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b4432b2061&e=290850492e> announced plans to close its Spokane
regional office, releasing 17 employees who had worked to prepare youth for post-secondary education opportunities and to help them fund that education.
But arguably the most disconcerting news came last week when the United Way of Spokane County decided to wind down operations. The United Way, known at one time for being a one-stop
shop for charitable giving through which donors could give to one organization and have the funds distributed to 30-plus vetted, local nonprofits, has operated in Spokane for over 100
years, through the spectrum of economic conditions.
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Building skills for the kitchen and beyond
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Lined up along one side of a stainless-steel countertop, knives and cutting boards positioned in front of them, a half dozen teenagers listen attentively as Kai Bahls explains how cooking
can require both creativity and precision at the same time.
“When you’re baking, you have to pay really close attention to those measurements,” they say. “A half teaspoon of baking powder versus a half tablespoon will make a big difference.”
This is one of countless lessons students from Interagency Academy <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c248a73603&e=290850492e> in
Columbia City learned over the course of 12 weeks this spring with Kai and Bela Sanchez, Solid Ground <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=0638c6d788
&e=290850492e> Youth Food Educators. While chopping vegetables and measuring flour, the students have learned and practiced everything from knife skills and food safety to time management
and conflict resolution, all designed to support their success both in the kitchen and in the classroom.
“I’m seeing a lot more self-motivation,” says Brandon Sanchez, a Family Support Specialist at the high school, which is part of Seattle Public Schools. “There’s more conversation and
joy around what they’re doing in our classroom.”
The program, called Recipes for Success, is a new and one-of-a-kind partnership between Solid Ground Community Food Education <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818e
bd4ce40eb&id=2cce5ba83b&e=290850492e> , PCC Community Markets <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=0cce691392&e=290850492e> , Organically
Grown, <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=cc70d5fbbd&e=290850492e> and the southeast campus of Interagency Academy, an alternative
public high school that serves students who do best with kinds of support not available in traditional schools.
The growing partnership is the latest extension of Solid Ground’s ongoing mission of empowering communities with the knowledge and access needed to prepare healthy, fresh, and culturally
appropriate meals in their own homes.
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Moses Lake homelessness debate continues
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Alleviating homelessness and its impact on the community continues to be the subject of discussion in Moses Lake. An ordinance under consideration by Moses Lake City Council is the latest
chapter in that discussion. Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce executive director Debbie Doran-Martinez said that, from her perspective, chamber members are looking for responses that improve
the overall situation.
“We would just like to see something that would move the needle in the right direction,” Doran-Martinez said.
The proposed ordinance would regulate the use of public sidewalks if approved by council members; they reviewed a first draft July 8 and are scheduled to vote on the measure July 22.
The ordinance is among updated city regulations that Brittany Bouchouari, director of community for HopeSource <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=5
e7798ad05&e=290850492e> of Moses Lake, said are having a negative effect on homeless residents. The new regulations follow the closure of the Open Doors Sleep Center on June 30.
“Since the sleep center closed and new ordinances took effect, we’re hearing the same thing from people experiencing homelessness in Moses Lake – there's nowhere to go. It's not just
about a place to sleep. It’s about having anywhere to be without law enforcement intervention. We are seeing a gap for those who need a safe place to exist,” Bouchouari wrote in an
email to the Columbia Basin Herald.
Doran-Martinez said the sleep center, from the Chamber’s perspective, didn’t seem to be achieving the desired result.
“We feel (that with) the resources that were allocated to (the sleep center), we didn’t see any results,” she said.
Bouchouari said from her perspective, the sleep center was a valuable option. She cited data collected after its closure.
Continue reading….
Notice barring undocumented immigrants latest change to Head Start
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Undocumented immigrants will no longer be able to access Head Start, the federal preschool program for low-income children, under a notice Thursday from the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.
Head Start, a project of the Johnson-era war on poverty, marks its 60th birthday this year, and about 15,000 children in Washington state receive its early learning and family support
services.
The move echoes the administration’s hard-line stance on immigration by expanding which federal programs undocumented immigrants can’t use. And it adds another layer of uncertainty for
programs, which this year have faced issues from accessing payments to the reduction of the federal workforce overseeing and supporting Head Start.
In the wake of the notice, Head Start providers are left with questions about what they must do and to whom the measure applies.
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, which has 165 kids in Head Start and Early Head Start programs, said that they have not received any guidance from the department about how to implement the requirement.
Brenner compared the lack of guidance to an announcement in March saying the Office of Head Start wouldn’t approve funding for any training or technical help that promoted or participated
in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
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WAGAP Thrift Store closes permanently
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It is the end of an era for Second Hand Rose, the community thrift store in Bingen operated by Washington Gorge Action Programs <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda81
8ebd4ce40eb&id=bf8a9eeb6d&e=290850492e> (WAGAP). The store, which was already undergoing a remodel to downsize, has officially received notice from the WAGAP Board of Directors, which
voted unanimously in June to permanently close the space.
For decades, the store has operated as a front display for the Community Action Agency at 115 West Steuben Street. Open to the public, it provided a convenient and low-cost shopping
alternative for gently used clothing and household items. However, the primary mission was to provide a dignified shopping experience for WAGAP’s low-income clients, and those in need
were offered vouchers to select items at no cost.
Jennifer Pauletto, WAGAP’s executive director, said the decision wasn’t easy. “Before renovations, the store was struggling to break even, and with an even smaller footprint and increased
operational costs, income was expected to diminish even further.”
She explained that, in the current budgetary climate, the Community Service Block Grant at both the federal and state levels is at risk of not being continued. “To prevent additional
cuts to essential programs like the Food Bank Network and Community Youth Center, we had to find cost savings in other areas.”
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The EPA Canceled These 21 Climate Justice Projects
From solar-powered greenhouses to wild rice initiatives, the Trump administration cut funding for nearly two dozen farm and food resilience projects.
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On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to “unleash <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=e9ff850d06&e=290850492e>
” U.S. energy. The order directed the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, to immediately pause previously approved disbursements of funds that were inconsistent
with the president’s new energy priorities.
As a result, hundreds of environmental justice grants were cancelled by the EPA. Among these were 21 projects designed to improve climate, farming, and food resilience in underserved
communities across the United States.
The organizations guiding these projects now face a significant loss of funding, ranging from $155,000 to $20 million each, according to federal documents obtained by Civil Eats through
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
After Trump’s executive order, some funds were immediately frozen, with organizations receiving little to no communication from the EPA as to why or for how long. Between late March
and early May, the groups began receiving letters notifying them that their grants had been terminated.
To find the cancelled climate, farming, and food equity grants, Civil Eats examined a list of 400 environmental justice grants <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818
ebd4ce40eb&id=fee2b48e21&e=290850492e> slated for termination, published by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and cross-referenced the list with hundreds of
grant descriptions made public by the EPA. Through FOIA requests, we verified that each of the 21 projects below had been terminated.
“ <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a90c360b1e&e=290850492e> Okanogan County Microgrid Community Resilience Hubs
Recipient: Okanogan County Community Action Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=59e0b99013&e=290850492e>
State: Washington
Grant Program: Community Change Grant Program
Grant Amount: $20 million
Project Description: The Okanogan County Community Action Council was going to invest in two community resilience hubs. One would have served as an emergency shelter during extreme weather
conditions and as a workforce training space, while the other would have turned an old Safeway building into a solar-powered food bank with gleaning programs, nutrition classes, and
a market-style pantry.”
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How Seattle City Council candidates would tackle disability rights
At a forum hosted by disability and elder rights orgs, frontrunners shared plans for improving accessibility in housing, transit, culture and more.
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Conrad Reynoldson asks a question about accessibility to arts and culture for people with disabilities during a City Council candidate forum on disability issues at El Centro de la Raza
<https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=20717b7f53&e=290850492e> on July 14, 2025.
“Disability is always an afterthought,” said Isabelle Spence, paralegal at Washington Civil & Disability Advocate. “People in positions of power do not tend to think of the disability
community and build in accessibility to start with. And then they end up having to build it in on the back end if they do at all.”
Spence was speaking to a crowd gathered at the Centilia Cultural Center on Beacon Hill Monday evening for a City Council candidate forum focused on disability issues. Washington Civil
& Disability Advocate co-organized the event with 15 other organizations <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f66646d01d&e=290850492e>
that advocate for disability and elder rights and accessibility.
The event featured all four District 2 Council candidates <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=bf1706d6da&e=290850492e> — Jeanie Chunn,
Adonis Ducksworth, Jamie Fackler and Eddie Lin — vying to represent southeast Seattle. It also included the frontrunners for citywide Position 8 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/clic
k?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d1415a30b8&e=290850492e> , Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Bishop Ray Rogers, and citywide Position 9 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u
=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=e88dd882e5&e=290850492e> , Council President Sara Nelson, Dionne Foster and Connor Nash.
C <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=031bb452a1&e=290850492e> ontinue reading….
Including Disabled People in Upward Mobility: Leveraging Local Data
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As a result of long-standing discrimination across multiple domains—such as education, labor markets, housing, and medical access—people with disabilities are twice as likely as nondisabled
people to live in poverty <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=95ab37a776&e=290850492e> . To support upward mobility from poverty, policymakers
must specifically consider the unique challenges people with disabilities face when designing and implementing policies. When interventions don’t consider disabled people’s needs, they
could be left behind.
Federal policies have contributed to limiting economic success <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b2e115b0fa&e=290850492e> for disabled
people, creating clear barriers to upward mobility. For example, employers are allowed to pay some disabled employees a subminimum wage <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3c
ee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=5e92292e0c&e=290850492e> , and there are asset limits for people receiving Supplemental Security Income <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda81
8ebd4ce40eb&id=9d22c8b1e0&e=290850492e> , both of which pose a barrier to building savings, further reducing opportunities for income and wealth. Disabled people often face higher costs
to meet their needs <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9f09634038&e=290850492e> (PDF) that strain their income, such as medical costs
and higher housing costs for accessible housing caused by limited stock (only 6 percent of the national housing supply is considered accessible <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click
?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a03699a9ec&e=290850492e> ).
To craft policies that address these barriers to upward mobility, local policymakers need data that include disabled people’s experiences. Accessing data that include information about
disabilities is critical to successfully identifying and removing barriers to upward mobility.
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Four new members needed for the Homelessness Assistance Unit Lived Experience Advisory Committee
Applications are due by Aug. 15
Commerce’s Homelessness Assistance Unit (HAU) believes there are no better voices to illuminate the needs of Washington’s homeless population than people who've experienced homelessness
themselves. Because of that, HAU is seeking four new members to serve on the HAU Lived Experience Advisory Committee. This committee helps the HAU and the Housing Division integrate
understanding of the experience of homelessness into the assistance programs we manage.
We are recruiting members who represent Washington’s diverse communities. We will focus our efforts on recruitment from counties that are not already represented on the Committee, including
counties in northwest, southwest, eastern and central Washington.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 15.
Review the recruitment packet <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=65ba4cc260&e=290850492e> and application. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.c
om/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=654ab34723&e=290850492e>
We will host an informational webinar at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6. Attendance for this webinar is not required to apply or serve on the Lived Experience Advisory Committee.
Register for webinar (Zoom) <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=160713742e&e=290850492e>
Questions?
More information is available on the Committee's webpage <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=bfdef7098b&e=290850492e> .
Homelessness continues to rise in Clark County following Vancouver’s emergency declaration
The homeless count included 133 people above the age of 62 — a 21% increase from 2024.
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Clark County’s homeless population has grown despite local efforts to boost shelter space.
Council For the Homeless recently unveiled its latest Point in Time Count <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=22647c143b&e=290850492e>
that shows the number of unhoused individuals that were residing in the county as of Jan. 30. The organization reported that 1,530 people were experiencing homelessness on that day
— a 12% increase from the previous count on Jan. 25, 2024.
Council CEO Sesany Fennie-Jones attributed the increase to a lack of housing for low-income residents.
“There is an increased need for supportive services to help people stabilize and maintain their housing and the need for strategies that target the disproportionate rates of homelessness
among people of color compared to white people,” Fennie-Jones said in a statement. “Collaboration and increasing resources are key to solving homelessness.”
Of the 1,530 individuals experiencing homelessness, about 58% of them were unsheltered. The remaining population was either found in emergency shelters or transitional housing.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=65535a0198&e=290850492e>
‘It’ll probably kill a lot of us’: Medicaid changes bode ill for Clark County’s homeless
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Thousands of low-income Clark County residents, especially homeless people, could lose health care coverage in 2027 due to Medicaid eligibility changes.
“Washington, which administers Medicaid through its Apple Health program <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d6b480197e&e=290850492e>
, estimates that between 200,000 and 320,000 people in the state will lose Medicaid coverage as a result <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a9ff72a
c1a&e=290850492e> .“"
The new law outlines several exemptions for the work requirement, including for people with disabilities, medical issues or children who depend on them. But the onus for proving they
qualify for an exemption is on them.
Providing proof of employment or an exemption will likely require attending regular appointments of some kind, managing paperwork, and routinely submitting documentation to the state
or federal government.
““We have a hard enough time getting people documentation just for housing,” Spinelli said. “I can imagine that this is going to be even trickier, and there will just be people who fall
off, who are not able to get the documentation or not able to get the documentation in time.””
“Sarah Hillock, a Vancouver homeless camp resident who relies on Medicaid, is terrified of what the future holds for her. She’s been homeless in Vancouver for the past year since her
landlord evicted her from her Hazel Dell apartment of seven years.
Lying flat on her back in her tent Monday, she wept when she heard about the upcoming work requirements. Carefully, she eased herself upward using a walker. A wheelchair was tucked behind
her tent.
“It’ll probably kill a lot of us,” Hillock said, tears streaming down her cheeks despite one eye being swollen shut.
Due to a lack of cartilage in her knee and decades of living with degenerative disc disease, she can barely walk anymore, she said, let alone work. When the 43-year-old moves, she feels
her bones grinding together.
“I live in extreme pain every day,” she said.
Hillock isn’t sure how she’s going to keep up with the paperwork necessary to prove she should be exempt from the work requirement.
She should be visiting her doctor regularly, she said. But the longer she’s been homeless, the worse her condition has become, which makes it harder for her to get to the clinic. She
rarely has access to a phone to schedule appointments, she said.”
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f7427c8e6a&e=290850492e>
Point in Time Count
A one-day census of people experiencing homelessness in Clark County, WA, required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Washington State Department of Commerce.
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2025 Point in Time Highlights
1. The number of people counted in Emergency Shelter increased 16 percent due in part to the increase in capacity of winter and severe weather overflow shelter.
2. The number of seniors counted who were age 62 or older increased 21 percent. This increase was primarily among sheltered seniors.
3. The number of unsheltered people counted increased 11 percent from the 2024 count. This increase was almost all among single individuals or households without children.
4. The number of people who identify as Black, Indigenous or Person of Color made up 38 percent of the people counted. This is an overrepresentation as BIPOC individuals make up 25 percent
of the population in Clark County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Learn more HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9f15891335&e=290850492e>
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1.4M of the nation's poorest renters risk losing their homes with Trump's proposed HUD time limit
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Havalah Hopkins rarely says no to the chain restaurant catering gigs that send her out to Seattle-area events — from church potlucks to office lunches and graduation parties.
The delivery fees and tips she earns on top of $18 an hour mean it's better than minimum-wage shift work, even though it's not consistent. It helps her afford the government-subsidized
apartment she and her 14-year-old autistic son have lived in for three years, though it's still tough to make ends meet.
"It's a cycle of feeling defeated and depleted, no matter how much energy and effort and tenacity you have towards surviving," Hopkins said.
Still, the 33-year-old single mother is grateful she has stable housing — experts estimate just 1 in 4 low-income households eligible for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
rental assistance get the benefits. And now Hopkins is at risk of losing her home, as federal officials move to restrict HUD policy.
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Civil rights, democracy hits put Black America in ‘state of emergency,’ National Urban League says
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Since taking office Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders that forced businesses, schools, universities and state and federal agencies to dismantle all diversity,
equity and inclusion policies.
Describing Black America as in a “state of emergency,” the National Urban League said the directives show the federal government is “determined to sacrifice its founding principles—equality,
liberty, and justice—rather than accept the truth of a diversifying nation and deliver equitable opportunity for all.’’
The National Urban League, a civil rights and advocacy organization focused on economic empowerment of Black and other underserved communities, released its annual State of Black America
2025 report <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=6efac46010&e=290850492e> Thursday morning at its conference in Cleveland.
In an executive summary <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=36cf5a28c4&e=290850492e> , it credits the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with
the “true birth of American democracy.” But the federal government under Trump has “set fire to policies and entire departments dedicated to protecting civil and human rights, providing
access to an equal education, fair housing, safe and effective healthcare, and ensuring that our democratic process is adhered to across the nation,” the executive summary said.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9923ab3a31&e=290850492e>
Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing
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Affordable, decent-quality housing remains out of reach for many of the nation’s lowest-income renters. Despite modest economic gains for lower-income households in recent years, the
rental housing crisis persists. Half of all renter households are now housing cost-burdened, paying more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities, and over a quarter are severely
housing cost burdened, spending more than half of their income (NLIHC, 2025). These cost burdens disproportionately impact the lowest-income renters.
Amidst ongoing economic uncertainty, incomes are struggling to keep pace with rents. At the same time, housing assistance remains deeply underfunded, and a severe shortage of affordable
homes continues to push renters into unstable and uncertain living situations. Addressing these challenges will require sustained investment in affordable housing programs and other
reforms.
From 2022 through the end of 2024, the U.S. experienced a period of economic growth. This growth included improvements in the labor market, with rising wages especially among workers
in the bottom 10th percentile (Gould & DeCourcy, 2024). There was also some relief in the rental market: median rents declined by 3.5% from their peak in August 2022 (Apartment List,
2025). However, significant challenges persist in the housing sector. The post-pandemic construction boom has slowed and building costs have continued to rise—materials costs alone
have increased 34% since 2020 (NAHB,2025).
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Commerce launches statewide Washington State Zoning Atlas to support smarter planning
First-of-its-kind tool translates local zoning into standardized categories for easy comparison
Understanding how zoning shapes communities across Washington is now a little easier thanks to a joint effort from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Growth Management Services
unit, MAKERS architecture and urban design, BHC Consultants, and students from all four of the state’s accredited planning programs.
Commerce recently launched the Washington State Zoning Atlas (WAZA), a first-of-its-kind tool to compare zoning data from across the state in one standardized, interactive platform.
The Washington State Zoning Atlas <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9a80ab4e2f&e=290850492e> is available as an interactive web-based
map and downloadable database.
In Washington, cities and counties have the power to write and manage their own zoning rules within the framework of the state’s Growth Management Act. While this local control gives
communities flexibility, it also means there is no standard way to publish or organize zoning codes. This makes it difficult to compare zoning information across the state. The WAZA
changes that. It’s the first statewide tool to translate local zoning codes into consistent categories, which means more consistent zoning will be possible for housing, businesses and
other development types.
“The Washington State Zoning Atlas is a powerful resource to answer big questions and help bring more housing online,” said Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn. “Zoning decisions shape what
kinds of homes get built, where they’re built, and who can afford to live there. Local governments make the rules that decide what gets built where, but until now we didn’t have a clear
picture of how those rules add up statewide.”
The WAZA is especially valuable for examining where barriers to housing may exist and how new housing laws, such as middle housing or minimum parking requirements, apply and are being
implemented across the state. It also supports environmental, ecological and economic research by clarifying where development is likely to happen and how intensive it may be. A WAZA
user guide <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=14989fdbd5&e=290850492e> and examples of how WAZA can support <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage
.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ca2f129008&e=290850492e> research and policy analysis across different land use scenarios are also available.
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Need help finding a cooling center or other heat-related resources?
* Call 211: interpreters available by phone in 240+ languages
* Visit 211info.org/summer-and-heat-related-resources <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b22e5a9ca9&e=290850492e> for a list of cooling
resources by county
* Text (your zip code to 898211) and email (help@211info.org) available in English and Spanish
For tips on how to stay cool, and how to recognize heat-related illness, visit:
http://oregon.gov/.../pages/prepareforextremeheat.aspx <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=183c5e4310&e=290850492e>
211info core operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM. Some special programs operate at extended hours. During emergency incidents, 211info may expand operations beyond
core hours at the request of state or local officials. When extended hours are implemented, 211info will provide updates on its website and social media.
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Apply now: $212.4 million available for multifamily affordable housing
Applications close Oct. 16
Applications for multifamily rental housing projects seeking capital financing from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund (HTF) and the federal HOME and National Housing Trust Fund
(NHTF) programs are open until Oct. 16.
There are two separate Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs), with approximately $212.4 million available.
Applications are due to the Department of Commerce by 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16.
Please download and carefully review the NOFA documents linked below for specific information regarding funding requirements and priorities, the process for submitting an application,
and dates of significance.
* HTF Multifamily Housing NOFA #MHU-2025-01 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a36c0d04d8&e=290850492e> is soliciting applications
for multifamily rental affordable housing projects seeking capital funding from the state Housing Trust Fund (HTF), Apple Health and Homes (AHAH), and Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities (IDD) programs.
* HOME and NHTF NOFA #MHU-2025-02 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=26c6b95a74&e=290850492e> is soliciting applications for multifamily
rental affordable housing projects seeking capital funding from the federal HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs to further the goals articulated in Washington state's 2025-2029
Consolidated Plan (CONPLAN) <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=0686f89394&e=290850492e> .
These NOFAs and application materials are also available on the Funding Opportunities webpage <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=da0d6580fc&e=290850
492e> , under the 2025-2027 Biennium accordion. Please note that several NOFAs are published on our website concurrently.
Award announcements are anticipated in January 2026.
Training and resources
The Multifamily Housing Unit (MHU) held a series of webinars to review application requirements and process distinctions based on the funding source and the potential populations served.
To review these webinar recordings and slides, please view our Box website. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=14a27c5951&e=290850492e>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for each open funding opportunity will be published with the corresponding NOFA and updated weekly throughout the open technical assistance period (July
18-October 2, 2025).
MHU will hold a series of Application Office Hours on Zoom to allow applicants to ask questions specific to the open funding rounds. Select a time and day below to register for an office
hour session:
* 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 29 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=e5f4b85875&e=290850492e>
* 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 12 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a3ea990ce7&e=290850492e>
* 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 26 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ecc955000c&e=290850492e>
* 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 9 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=5012708228&e=290850492e>
* 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 23 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=aba3939eac&e=290850492e>
Additionally, MHU offers predevelopment technical assistance and predevelopment grant funding to applicants who are new to housing development. For new developers who are seeking assistance
with their application, please visit the Capacity Building, Outreach, and Support program webpage <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=640d88a5c3&e=2
90850492e> , or email HTFCapacityBuilding@commerce.wa.gov <mailto:htfcapacitybuilding@commerce.wa.gov> .
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When CSBG Is a Major Share of Your CAA Budget: A Strategy Session for CAA Leaders
Wednesday, August 6, at 3 PM ET | 2 PM CT | 1 PM MT | 12 PM PT
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CAAs that receive more than half of their funding from CSBG often face different operational considerations than their peers—particularly when it comes to planning, sustainability, and
financial decision-making. This roundtable, hosted by NCAP and CAPLAW with special guest Kay Sohl, will offer space to discuss financial strategies, identify planning considerations,
and explore practical steps agencies can take to stay prepared in a shifting funding environment. This session will offer a space for both National Partners and Community Action peers
to share insights, reflect on experience, and explore solutions together through discussion and peer exchange.
Click here <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9b6016715f&e=290850492e> to register for the webinar.
This session is designed specifically for executive and senior leaders (including CFOs and COOs) of CAAs with a high percentage of their budgets from CSBG. If this doesn’t apply to your
agency, we invite you to check out our August CEO Roundtables and other upcoming events on our Upcoming Webinars <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id
=1a2728ecce&e=290850492e> page
The Community Reinvestment Project Dashboard has Launched!
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The Washington State Office of Equity and the Washington State Department of Commerce are launching the Community Reinvestment Project (CRP) Dashboard <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track
/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d2dfe7870b&e=290850492e> —a first-of-its-kind tool that shows how $200 million in state funding was reinvested into communities most harmed by the
War on Drugs. This dashboard provides real-time data on funding, services, and outcomes—bringing transparency, accountability, and visibility to one of the most significant equity investments
in Washington’s history.
Call to Action
Want to see it for yourself?
* Visit the CRP Dashboard: Community Reinvestment Project <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=efb3ebfdf8&e=290850492e> .
* Share it with your agency, organization, or community.
* Use it in your planning, advocacy, or storytelling.
* Let us know how you’re using it so we can continue building tools that serve you! Reach out to performance@equity.wa.gov <mailto:performance@equity.wa.gov> !
Learn more HERE. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=4cba87d28d&e=290850492e>
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WSCAP E-LEARN ACADEMY
On Demand Learning Library for Continuous Improvement
with courses such as:
* CAP Infinity Basic 2.0
* CAP Infinity 2.0 Intermediate: Continuous Improvement Course
* CAP Infinity for Boards 2.0 – Basic
* CAP Infinity for Boards 2.0 – Intermediate
* Governance Webinar Series
* HIPAA Trainer
* Human Resources Webinar Series
* Inclusive and Equitable Hiring and Management Practices
* Management Webinar Series
* Home Visitor Safety in Community Action
* Civil Rights Training
* Customer Service with a DEI Lens
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Commerce announces 9.683% rent cap for 2026
This rent cap goes into effect on January 1, 2026
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Department of Commerce announced today that the maximum allowable rent increase for 2026 is 9.683%. This cap is in effect from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026.
Commerce is required to publish this percentage for all rental units subject to the Residential Landlord Tenant Law (RCW 59.18) <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda81
8ebd4ce40eb&id=29e4eab428&e=290850492e> as a result of House Bill 1217, which Governor Bob Ferguson signed into law in May <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd
4ce40eb&id=99c2e0f482&e=290850492e> . Commerce publishes the maximum annual rent increase percentage for the upcoming calendar year on the agency’s website at the Landlord Resource Center
<https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=e5b6c00780&e=290850492e> .
The maximum annual rent increase percentage will be published each year shortly after the mid-July release of June data by the federal U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Summer Resources for Heat, Smoke & Fire
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New Weatherization Program Notice
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The Department of Energy has green-lit Fiscal Year 2025 Weatherization grants to states, including the WAP Readiness Funds. They will be awarded as fast as they can be processed by the
contract office.
Please click here <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c3b797247b&e=290850492e> to read the entirety of WPN 25-2 and see the full amounts
awarded to each state. This is positive news that can be shared with your staff, contractors, and local stakeholders that funding is coming and Weatherization Services can and will
continue. Please contact energy@communityactionpartnership.com <mailto:energy@communityactionpartnership.com> should you have any questions or need any support.
Thank you for all you do! Your work is vital to low-income people, families, and communities across the country.
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Clean Energy Tax Credit Assistance Program offers 1:1 support
Help for those seeking clean energy tax credits via Elective Pay
Beginning this month, join the Clean Energy Tax Credit Assistance Program (CETCAP) team to learn more about how to access clean energy tax credits via Elective Pay. Tax attorneys will
be available for office hours on the second Wednesday and third Friday of each month to answer any general questions you may have.
CETCAP provides free technical assistance to community-based organizations, local governments, ports, housing authorities, tribes and other public and nonprofit entities. The program
helps you access federal tax credits for clean energy projects, and can cover between 30-70% of the costs for:
* Solar energy
* Battery storage
* Wind energy
* Geothermal systems
* Electric vehicles (EVs)
* EV charging infrastructure
Attorneys will also discuss the current state of play regarding clean energy tax credits. Register today by following the links, below.
Register for second Wednesday office hours <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=81181c25a6&e=290850492e>
Register for third friday office hours <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d7d0501b42&e=290850492e>
WA For All: Your One-Stop Spot for Community Resources
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Washington for All <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=5cc7de4ac3&e=290850492e> is a new, accessible website that connects you to resources
and services available to Communities in Washington State.
Finding resources can be overwhelming, so we’ve made the process easier and more
accessible. Built through a collaboration between Washington state agencies and community organizations, this website can be your go-to destination for information, tools, and support
program access.
Click here to visit the site! <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c706eabae1&e=290850492e>
Examples on What You Can Find
* Healthcare Services: Information on medical assistance programs.
* Housing Assistance: Resources for finding and maintaining housing.
* Employment Support: Job search tools and career development resources.
* Legal Aid: Access to legal assistance and information.
* Food and Nutrition: Guides to food assistance programs.
* And Much More! Explore a wide range of resources tailored to your needs.
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Get ready to roll up your sleeves: our second annual Day of Service is happening August 22! ☀️🌻🙋
Join us and your fellow neighbors for this hands-on day of making an impact for communities across Seattle. Whether you come solo or bring a group, there's a spot for you at one of our
project sites. Let’s make a difference together! 💪
Sign up 👉 https://lnkd.in/gjYm6pp4 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a8639f20f0&e=290850492e>
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Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Energy Summit
Tuesday, August 26, from 8 AM - 4 PM
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Registration is NOW OPEN for NCAP's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Energy Summit <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9a8ef2ea17&e=290850492e
> !
This full-day session will be held prior to NCAP's Annual Convention <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=52bb5f9590&e=290850492e> on
Tuesday, August 26, from 8 AM to 4 PM in Detroit, MI. The event aims to equip WAP subgrantee leadership to team up — Program Directors, Executive Directors, and Fiscal Staff — to access
tools and gain perspective needed for effective, strategic program management and integration within their organizations.
Key objectives include:
* Support programs in developing and adjusting a clear, critical path to meet annual production goals through self-governance and course correction.
* Foster a shared understanding of how all organizational units contribute to WAP success, bridging silos such as intake and facilities with broader agency goals.
* Strengthen wraparound service delivery and encourage referrals by enhancing word-of-mouth and crisis-driven outreach.
* Promote sustainable operations through intentional staffing, outcome analysis, and efficient resource allocation.
* Address WAP-specific workforce needs by recognizing distinct knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), supporting appropriate compensation structures, and reinforcing staff retention
strategies.
* Emphasize servant leadership and responsible use of federal funds, encouraging a high-level strategic mindset that moves beyond day-to-day operational details.
Fee: $200. Separate advance registration fee required. (Includes continental breakfast and lunch.)
Register for WAP Energy Summit <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=48e84dd410&e=290850492e>
Check Out the Preliminary Agenda <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c182877a8b&e=290850492e>
Register for Annual Convention <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=2d2420f561&e=290850492e>
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NCAP’s 2025 ANNUAL CONVENTION
Detroit, MI | August 27th – 29th (Pre-Con: Aug. 25th – 26th)
Join Community Action Agencies and other human services providers from across the country at NCAP’s 2025 Annual Convention, taking place August 27th – 29th in Detroit, Michigan!
ABOUT THE EVENT
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and other human services providers are trusted, and they have both the expertise and dedication it takes to serve families and communities best. Agencies
in attendance at NCAP’s Annual Convention will have the opportunity to learn from their peers’ innovative efforts and receive updates on the latest federal standards.
Learn more and register HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=3861a16f35&e=290850492e>
<https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=7b847f53ee&e=290850492e>
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Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 5:00 – 8:45 PM
Summit Building (Seattle Convention Center) – Ballroom 2 & 3 on Level 5
900 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101
The Summit Building Parking Garage is located at 1009 Olive Way between 9th and Boren. Summit is the Seattle Convention Center’s brand new building!
Join us in-person on Saturday, October 11, 2025 for our annual Building the Beloved Community Gala and take part in an exciting event that raises funds for 43 programs and services that
benefit more than 21,000 individuals and families across our region. The evening will include live music, a reception, silent and live auctions, a three-course meal, and the presentation
of our Roberto Maestas Legacy Awards and Scholarships!
2025 Quick Links:
* Sponsor the event <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=6c44acdc28&e=290850492e>
* Donate an auction item <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=03c9ccee76&e=290850492e>
* Make a donation <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b74115c574&e=290850492e>
* Volunteer at the gala <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=dfde4d1c80&e=290850492e>
REGISTER ONLINE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b78d8a81cd&e=290850492e>
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⬇️CONNECT WITH US FOR THE LATEST UPDATES!⬇️
Find us on Bluesky <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=cefb76961b&e=290850492e> !
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Copyright (C) 2025 | WSCAP | All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 7130, Olympia, WA 98507
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This communication is supported (in part) by Grant Number 90ET0501 from the ACF Office of Community Services, Community Services Block Grant within the Administration for Children and
Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components, operate, control, are responsible
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Washington State Community Action Partnership · PO Box 7130 · Olympia, WA 98507-7130 · USA