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WSCAP Newsletter August 21, 2025
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Your impact in 2024
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Your support of Solid Ground <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f544ccd69f&e=b80de0d97c> has a direct impact on tens of thousands
of lives every year. In 2024, that included more than 8 million pounds of food delivered to Seattle food banks, 170,000 rides aboard our fleet of paratransit buses, and more than 4,500
older adults who got help navigating their Medicare options.
Check out our 2024 Community Report <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a301abe285&e=b80de0d97c> to learn about the many other ways
Solid Ground – with your support – helped our neighbors build pathways beyond poverty last year.
New Name, New Chapter: Introducing Cedar Commons
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OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=24638840e4&e=b80de0d97c>
After months of planning, listening, and building, we’re excited to officially introduce the name of our newest housing community near Bellis Fair Mall: Cedar Commons.
If you’ve driven by the corner of Eliza Avenue and Bellis Fair Parkway lately, you’ve seen the early stages of something big — a two-phase development that will bring more than 120 new
affordable apartments and a five-classroom early learning center to Bellingham. As we celebrate 60 years of helping people, fighting poverty, and building community, projects like Cedar
Commons show how our mission continues in tangible, transformative ways.
Why Cedar Commons?
Earlier this year, we asked our staff to help us choose a name for this new neighborhood. “Cedar” reflects the landscape of the site, which will be planted with beautiful, resilient
cedar trees. “Commons” evokes connection: shared green spaces, intergenerational play areas, community gathering rooms, and people coming together to support and uplift one another.
A Spotlight On The Project
We’re proud to share that our vision for Cedar Commons was recently featured in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. The story highlights how the development is designed to build a
resilient community and meet the critical needs of families and older adults in Whatcom County.
As staff member Emily Martens wrote, “A new chapter in community-centered housing in Bellingham is underway. This thoughtfully designed development goes beyond shelter — it’s a commitment
to inclusivity, sustainability and the power of community.”
Read the full article here <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=00d0310710&e=b80de0d97c> to learn more about how Cedar Commons is building
“affordable homes with heart.”
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9e46f9a59e&e=b80de0d97c>
Symposium on Food Insecurity in the Wenatchee Valley
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Chelan Douglas Community Action Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=385d025134&e=b80de0d97c> food center ribbon cutting with
Congresswoman Kim Schrier and State Senator Mike Steele
Our Valley, Our Future (OVOF) is diving into the issue of food insecurity in the Wenatchee Valley at a symposium on September 11, 2025. The gathering will feature presentations from
local experts and community members in a deeper look at the increasing challenges for the regional food system.
Food insecurity is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for a healthy life.
The problem seems to be fairly well defined in the region, according to data and surveys. The symposium will discuss the challenges here and probe ways the region can build local capacity
and increase access to healthy food.
Steve Maher with OVOF reports Feeding America, a national nonprofit network of food banks and meal programs, estimates that 14 percent of Chelan County’s residents are food insecure,
and 13 percent of Douglas County’s residents.
The Washington State Food Security Survey Report from the University of Washington and Washington State University reported that nearly three-quarters of food-insecure respondents regularly
restrict the quality and quantity of food consumed.
According to the United Way, 40 percent of Chelan County households and 41.3 percent of Douglas County households didn’t make enough to cover the basic necessities in 2023. The cost
of getting by for a typical Chelan County family of four is $6,691 a month, or $80,292 a year. For a Douglas County family of four, it is $6,583 a month, or $78,996 a year, according
to the United Way estimates. The assessment calculates the cost of housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and other essentials.
The food distribution network serving Chelan and Douglas counties includes the Chelan Douglas Community Action Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40
eb&id=6e5c8cb62d&e=b80de0d97c> , Upper Valley MEND, Chelan Valley HOPE, Community for the Advancement of Family Education (CAFÉ), several food banks and pantries, school districts, and
other nonprofits.
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Vanessa Gaston discusses challenges in Clark County's homeless action plan implementation <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=36ef532561&e=b80de0d97c
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Clark County Community Services <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=54bb33d874&e=b80de0d97c> is taking significant steps to enhance
its approach to homelessness and service delivery, as discussed in a recent government meeting on August 14, 2025. The meeting highlighted the need for a more personalized and responsive
system to better serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
A key focus of the discussion was the importance of personal connections in the service delivery process. Participants emphasized that each individual has unique needs and circumstances,
which can be overlooked in a large institutional framework. The call for a more coordinated entry system was central to the conversation, with suggestions to empower outreach workers
to act swiftly when individuals are ready to receive services. This approach aims to capitalize on critical moments when individuals are most receptive to assistance, potentially preventing
future barriers to housing and health.
Vanessa Gaston, the director of Clark County Community Services, acknowledged the challenges posed by state requirements that prioritize serving the most vulnerable populations. She
explained that while the current system is designed to address the needs of those with the highest barriers, it can inadvertently leave others without timely support. Gaston noted that
the agency is actively exploring ways to leverage additional funding sources to fill these gaps and improve service delivery.
The meeting also addressed the complexities of the coordinated entry system, which is still developing in Clark County. Participants recognized the need for ongoing evaluation and adaptation
of the system to ensure it meets the diverse needs of the community. They discussed the importance of identifying bottlenecks in service access and the necessity of flexibility in prioritizing
individuals who may not score as high on vulnerability assessments but are nonetheless in need of immediate assistance.
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Washington State Department of Commerce <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=04e4df0181&e=b80de0d97c> visits HopeSource <https://wapartnership.us4.li
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Most people know Ellensburg as a stop along the way to grab a bite, fill up the tank, and head over the pass. But spend time there and you’ll see something bigger: a community at the
heart of Washington, full of energy, ideas, and potential.
Director Joe Nguyễn joined Community Engagement Specialist Martin Sanchez in central Washington last week to connect with community leaders and organizations about the challenges and
opportunities in the region.
From tackling housing and child care needs to strengthening the economy, job creation, and building resilience for the future, Ellensburg is showing what’s possible through community
collaboration.
We’re proud to be a partner in helping the community address current needs while strengthening their foundation for the future.
Thank you to the community partners for hosting our team and sharing your voices.
Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=df23c7ff7a&e=b80de0d97c> , HopeSource <https://wapartnership.us4.list-m
anage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b5e0c47f67&e=b80de0d97c> , City of Ellensburg, WA Government <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id
=05f1aea2c8&e=b80de0d97c> , Central Washington University <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=79d6a37645&e=b80de0d97c> , Kittitas County
Health Network <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ad95b8807e&e=b80de0d97c> , State Senator Judy Warnick
Learn more HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9c72b378e1&e=b80de0d97c>
Rooted in Hope: How MDC Helped Angela Reclaim Her Life <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d0980e3a30&e=b80de0d97c>
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“You don’t know how far gone you are until someone helps you come back.” – Angela
A Guardian Angel in Disguise
Angela Powell believes her fiancé saved her life — even in his final moments.
They were supposed to take the drugs together. But he took them first. The dose was laced with fentanyl. He died before he ever made it home. Angela never touched it.
“He didn’t just die — he saved me,” she says softly. “If it weren’t for that moment, I wouldn’t be alive. And if it weren’t for MDC <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bb
da818ebd4ce40eb&id=380c1c02db&e=b80de0d97c> , I wouldn’t have known how to live again.”
She arrived in Tacoma with nothing but a suitcase and a sliver of faith — grieving, houseless, in chronic pain, and fighting addiction. Emotionally spiraling and physically deteriorating,
Angela knew she was at a breaking point.
“I had lost my partner, my home, my health, even my mind,” she recalls. “I didn’t know where to go — but I knew I couldn’t keep going like this.”
MDC: A Lifeline in the Dark
Angela first connected with the Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=98efde564d&e=b80de0d97c>
through their Welcome Center, where she found more than services; she found people who truly cared.
“They didn’t judge me. They didn’t hand me a brochure and send me away,” Angela says. “They walked beside me. Every step.”
Through MDC’s Behavioral Health <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d3e7eb6cf5&e=b80de0d97c> team, Angela received immediate support.
She met Dr. Terry, who helped stabilize her overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks, and Nurse Val, who ensured she had access to the medication she desperately needed.
“I was panicking about everything — even things like earthquakes or sinkholes,” she explains. “It felt like my brain was fracturing. But MDC helped bring me back to myself. I’m mentally
well for the first time in years.”
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Community Action of Skagit County <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=23e6e8ee68&e=b80de0d97c>
Income Guidelines have gone up for CSFP senior food boxes! These boxes have 45 pounds of non-perishable items and fresh produce and can be delivered or picked up every month. For more
information contact us at (360) 410-5023.
Caja de alimentos gratuita para personas adultas mayores (60+). Las cajas tienen 45 libras (20kg) de alimentos no perecederos y frescos. Entrega o recogida gratuita. Para más información:
(360) 410-5023.
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Navigating applications for essential programs can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. We're here to help!
OlyCAP’s <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=3389281d36&e=b80de0d97c> Community Centers in Tri-Area, Quilcene, and Brinnon are now
offering one-on-one application assistance sessions to help you access the support you need. Our trained staff can guide you through the process for programs like:
* LIHEAP (Energy Assistance) to help with heating and utility costs
* SNAP (Food Benefits) to stretch your grocery budget
* Apple Health (Health Insurance) to keep you and your family covered
* And more, based on your needs
Appointments are required so we can give you our full attention and make sure your questions are answered.
Scan the QR code attached the flyer or visit this link to schedule your session today: https://hubs.li/Q03D1Tvm0 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=
cbd064fd2e&e=b80de0d97c>
El Centro de la Raza:
Kaleidoscope Play and Learn (Evento en Español)
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What is Kaleidoscope Play & Learn?
Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups are gathering spaces for Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers, parent, and young children to meet with others in their community and learn about fostering
healthy child development and school readiness. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is a place where everyone, children and adults, learn through play. Groups are led by members of the community
in culturally-responsive environments.
¿Qué es Kaleidoscope Play & Learn?
Los grupos Kaleidoscope Play & Learn son espacios de reunión para que familiares, amigos y vecinos, cuidadores, padres y niños pequeños se reúnan con otras personas en su comunidad y
aprendan cómo fomentar el desarrollo infantil saludable y la preparación escolar. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn es un lugar donde todos, niños y adultos, aprendemos jugando. Los grupos
están dirigidos por miembros de la comunidad en entornos culturalmente receptivos.
Learn more HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=aa22297274&e=b80de0d97c> .
New at the farm: drip irrigation, a giant pumpkin, and twice as much pizza dough
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It’s been nearly 30 years since Solid Ground <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=4126c4f503&e=b80de0d97c> first started growing produce
at Marra Farm in South Park, and each season still brings something new.
This summer, Solid Ground’s Giving Garden <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f0db8fa2a7&e=b80de0d97c> is getting its first-ever drip
irrigation system, growing a giant pumpkin already topping 1,000 pounds, and doubling its (still relatively small) crop of wheat and corn for pizza dough and tortillas. Farmer Scott
Behmer says his team is also reaping benefits from some of the work done last year, including a hoophouse that’s enabled the farm to grow more warm-weather crops like cantaloupe.
Solid Ground’s ¾-acre garden in South Park serves two purposes: to grow fresh produce for the surrounding community (more than 5,000 pounds in 2024) and as an educational tool to teach
local school children about farming, food systems, and food justice. Last year alone, 1,155 kids visited the farm.
Drip irrigation means less water use, fewer weeds
Each visit brings something new. This year, the biggest development is the new drip irrigation system, which Scott and his team have spent most of the summer installing.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=14a71025a3&e=b80de0d97c>
WA 211 Announces Selection of Statewide Call Center
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Financial Education and Wealth Generation Strategies for Economic Mobility
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 11am PT
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Join the Collaborative on Economic Mobility for a webinar designed to equip Community Action Agencies with tools and resources to help families set financial goals, identify wealth-building
opportunities and make informed decisions for financial stability and growth. Participants will learn from Community Action Agencies who are implementing innovative approaches to address
the financial challenges of families and communities. Gain insight and actionable strategies to help start or strengthen financial education and wealth generation programs that support
economic mobility.
Register for the Webinar <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=1cb511231e&e=b80de0d97c>
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More updates to 2025 multifamily housing funding application and funding notice
Capital funding applicants should re-review the new information before working on their NOFA application
Applicants seeking capital funding for affordable multifamily housing developments from Commerce’s Multifamily Housing Unit (MHU) should review the recently updated Combined Funders
Application (CFA) Forms <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f8edbd853f&e=b80de0d97c> and our state funding notice (#MHU-2025-01) <https://wapartner
ship.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=dba9407f35&e=b80de0d97c> , including appendices A-C.
MHU apologizes for the multiple application updates and any impact it has caused on our applicants’ ability to begin work on their funding applications. We’ve created a Track Change
Log <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=fa2843eae2&e=b80de0d97c> to help track past changes, and we will update it with any future
revisions.
Application Office Hours
We encourage applicants to attend upcoming office hours on Zoom to learn about application changes or ask any other questions.
Office Hours are on Zoom, and registration is required. Please follow the links to register:
* 1 p.m. Aug. 26 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=629c4e321e&e=b80de0d97c>
* 1 p.m. Sept. 9 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=66c6ea5b29&e=b80de0d97c>
* 1 p.m. Sept. 23 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c2a8416136&e=b80de0d97c>
For additional questions, please contact HTFApp@commerce.wa.gov <mailto:HTFApp@commerce.wa.gov> .
2025 survey shows increase in homelessness. Some think the total is way higher.
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After several months of delay, Pierce County’s annual survey of those experiencing homelessness counted an 11% increase over the previous year.
While the annual Point-In-Time count is nationally recognized as one of the best ways to quantify the extent of homelessness, outreach workers and other metrics suggest the survey severely
undercounts the true scale of the crisis.
The PIT count is a one-night survey of everyone either living in shelters or outdoors in Pierce County. It occurs in January every year and relies on the efforts of volunteers.
According to the county’s 2025 PIT Count report, 2,955 were counted on Jan. 30, up from 2,661 the previous year.
The survey counted 1,522 people in shelters and 1,422 people who were unsheltered at the time of the count. Last year’s PIT count results were reported by the county on May 23, this
year they were published Aug. 18.
Libby Catalinich, spokesperson for the Pierce County executive, said the process was delayed this year because the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which requires the
survey, did not open their portal for reporting the data until May.
Catalinich says the county sends the data to HUD to review and approve the data before publishing it.
According to the county, the number of people counted in the PIT count has more than doubled since 2015, showing a 130% increase.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=94af123dc0&e=b80de0d97c>
A solution to the child care shortage is hiding in plain sight
“Looking only at one half of the population is a mistake.”
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Josh Brooks hadn’t planned for a career taking care of young children, but in 10th grade he started spending time with his friend’s younger brother and discovered that he had a real
knack for it.
At 18, Brooks took a job at Common Ground, a child care center in northern Virginia, and enjoyed it so much he kept working there throughout college, where he studied psychology. After
graduating, though, he felt pressure to get a “real grown-up job” and applied to work as a government contractor. He maintained spreadsheets all day and was miserable. “After nine months
I realized how ridiculous that notion was, to keep myself from something that I loved,” he said. And so he returned to Common Ground.
Brooks, now 28, knows his career path is unusual: In the US, only 3 percent of the preschool workforce, and just 6 percent of the child care workforce, is male. But he works in a progressive
part of the country, for an organization that explicitly touts the value of having men in the classroom <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=189c9b10
1e&e=b80de0d97c> . Common Ground’s executive director, Liz Badley Raubacher, is married to a man who runs another child care center in town.
It also helps that he’s not the only male teacher on staff. Brooks works alongside Jordon Farrell, 30, who started volunteering at Common Ground to fulfill a high school requirement
and, like Brooks, was surprised by how much he liked it. Farrell’s been working there for the last seven years. They both teach alongside Zach Davis, 24, who originally went to trade
school for hospitality. When the pandemic hit, most hotels shut down and Davis took a role as a recess attendant at a private school, and realized how much he liked working with kids.
But when that school also closed due to Covid-19, he stumbled onto Common Ground, and has been happily working there ever since.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=1e0c11e335&e=b80de0d97c>
Licensing delays keep social workers, counselors out of WA workforce
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For Hawaii resident Maryn Stevens, Washington state looked like a land of opportunity. When she discovered she could earn more in Washington than Hawaii as an early career mental health
counselor, she began laying plans to find a job here.
Stevens, 26, was living with her parents in Honolulu and carrying about $50,000 in graduate school loans. She was ready to launch her next, more financially secure chapter. So one day
in late April this year, she gathered her transcript, filled out a personal information form and took her first step: applying to Washington’s health department to begin seeing clients
as a trainee.
A month and a half of silence went by before she started getting nervous.
Stevens had unknowingly joined a queue of thousands of applicants hoping to enter Washington’s workforce as mental health counselors and social workers, data obtained by The Seattle
Times shows.
As of Aug. 8, nearly 3,600 potential mental health professionals — including recent graduates like Stevens, trainee “associates” ready to pursue full licensure, and professionals licensed
in other states — were awaiting final approval or to hear back about applications they’d submitted to Washington’s Department of Health.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=7c88244f20&e=b80de0d97c>
City-funded youth mental health therapy services are being used more
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A free therapy program launched by the city of Seattle late last year aims to help students with growing levels of anxiety and depression, and remove barriers to help them get mental
health help for those issues.
Months after the program launched, the city says participation has more than doubled, and it has added more services to support youth from communities of color.
In December, the city’s Department of Education and Early Learning launched a partnership with the national organization Talkspace, offering teletherapy to youth ages 13-24. Through
the program, youth can send messages through the app any time, and a therapist is supposed to respond to them within 24 hours. They also get one free video therapy session a month through
the program.
As of June — seven months into the program — 566 people had signed up for therapy services.
Amelia Moore, the strategy and engagement manager for the city’s Department of Education and Early Learning, said the program has seen growth every month, with numbers doubling between
March and June.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=94895a42d1&e=b80de0d97c>
Spotlight: New Annual Snapshot of Homelessness Report
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The Snapshot of Homelessness Report <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=2a37b6052c&e=b80de0d97c> provides population estimates of people
experiencing homelessness or housing instability for an entire state fiscal year. This report combines data from HMIS and other state agency data systems to create an estimate of the
homeless and unstably housed population for the state and each county. Seeing this information from an annual perspective provides a new area of analysis. We can now compare these numbers
to other metrics that are collected annually and better track our progress. We will incorporate this information in a new version of the County Report Card, to be released soon!
Amid growing 'scandal' of elder homelessness, health care groups aim to help
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At age 82, Roberta Rabinovitz realized she had no place to go. A widow, she had lost both her daughters to cancer, after living with one and then the other, nursing them until their
deaths. Then she moved in with her brother in Florida, until he also died.
And so last fall, while recovering from lung cancer, Rabinovitz ended up at her grandson's home in Burrillville, Rhode Island, where she slept on the couch and struggled to navigate
the steep staircase to the shower. That wasn't sustainable, and with apartment rents out of reach, Rabinovitz joined the growing population of older Americans unsure of where to lay
their heads at night.
But Rabinovitz was fortunate. She found a place to live, through what might seem like an unlikely source — a health care nonprofit, the PACE Organization of Rhode Island <https://wapartnership.us4.li
st-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=4f403c5174&e=b80de0d97c> . Around the country, arranging for housing is a relatively new and growing challenge for such PACE
groups, which are funded through Medicaid and Medicare. PACE stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and the organizations aim to keep frail older people in their
homes. But a patient can't stay at home if they don't have one.
More people 55 and over without homes
As housing costs rise, organizations responsible for people's medical care are realizing that to ensure their clients have a place to live, they must venture outside their lanes. Even
hospitals — in Denver <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b0c66c5bac&e=b80de0d97c> , New Orleans, <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/c
lick?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=055b5a9984&e=b80de0d97c> New York City <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=197c1c8498&e=b80de0d97c>
, and elsewhere <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=54d942ddfe&e=b80de0d97c> — have started investing in housing, recognizing that
good health isn't possible without it.
C <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=8e3d749877&e=b80de0d97c> ontinue reading….
AmeriCorps is under siege. What happens in the communities it serves?
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Daniel Zare worked one-on-one as an AmeriCorps member with students going through rough times in school, lightening teachers’ workload in the classroom.
At AmeriCorps Project CHANGE, based in Silver Spring’s Sligo Middle School, Zare was one of several in his group who tracked adolescents’ emotional and social wellbeing over months using
a system dubbed “My Score.” They then helped support the kids who were struggling the most.
In April, though, the program screeched to a halt. That’s when the Trump administration abruptly canceled nearly $400 million in active AmeriCorps grants across the United States that
fund volunteers who embed in communities, in exchange for a small stipend and education award.
“All the work that we had culminating toward the end of the year, the relationships that we built with teachers and students and officials, it just completely went kaput because we were
told we weren't allowed to go to work at all,” Zare, 27, told States Newsroom.
“"AmeriCorps is a really great example of the federal dollars being kind of invisible in communities. Communities often don't know that a local food bank or a senior center are supported
by AmeriCorps volunteers and AmeriCorps money," said Andre, who taught administrative law at the Vermont Law School after working under President Barack Obama and in Trump's first administration.
Andre said communities with a lack of social services, including in rural areas, will likely feel the biggest losses without an AmeriCorps presence because the agency "facilitates pennies-on-the-doll
ar type services through volunteer work."“
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=cdad6ebad1&e=b80de0d97c>
New work rules could deny food stamps to thousands of veterans
States also will pick up additional SNAP costs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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After a year in the U.S. Navy, Loceny Kamara said he was discharged in 2023, because while on base he had developed mental health issues, including severe anxiety and nightmares, and
had fallen into alcoholism.
Kamara, 23, went to rehab and managed to get sober for some time while living with family in the Bronx, he said. But after he lost his job as a security guard in December, Kamara was
kicked out of his home. Now he lives at a veterans homeless shelter in Long Island City, a neighborhood in Queens, New York, and he relies on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
— commonly known as food stamps — and odd jobs to make ends meet.
Each month, nearly 42 million people receive SNAP benefits to help supplement their grocery budgets. Able-bodied SNAP recipients who are between 18 and 54 and don’t have children have
always been required to work. Veterans, however, have been exempt from those rules — but that’s about to change.
The giant domestic policy measure that President Donald Trump signed on July 4 eliminates that exemption. Beginning in 2026, veterans will have to prove they are working, volunteering,
participating in job training, or looking for work for at least 80 hours a month to keep their food stamps beyond three months, unless they qualify for another exemption, such as having
certain disabilities.
Republicans in Congress and conservatives who helped formulate the law say these eligibility changes are necessary to stop people who could be working from abusing the system. But critics
say the change fails to take into account the barriers many veterans face, and that the new work rules will cause thousands of veterans to go hungry.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=25fd8137dc&e=b80de0d97c>
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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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=dbda53c8dc&e=b80de0d97c
> !
This full-day session will be held prior to NCAP's Annual Convention <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ae2ffc23fb&e=b80de0d97c> 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=a7eaec15d2&e=b80de0d97c>
Check Out the Preliminary Agenda <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b8af3fdc1a&e=b80de0d97c>
Register for Annual Convention <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=14162438c3&e=b80de0d97c>
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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=8180a69954&e=b80de0d97c>
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Early Bird Giveaway Alert!
Get your tickets before August 22 and you could score FOUR Main Level or Terrace Club seats to watch the Mariners in action during the 2025 season! Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity
– grab your Mix and Mingle for a Mission tickets now and you'll be entered into our Early Bird drawing!
Don’t miss Mix and Mingle for a Mission! Come for the food truck, games, and door prizes—stay for the community, growth, and inspiration. Explore MSC’s mission, connect with passionate
changemakers, and enter to win a professional photo shoot with Chris Leavitt! Let’s uplift together and take something meaningful home!
We welcome young professionals, emerging leaders, community members, and folks ready to make an impact!
All proceeds collected from Mix and Mingle supports our new Redondo Heights Food Bank, which provides weekly supplemental food to anyone needing nutritional support.
GET TICKETS HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=70df6e150b&e=b80de0d97c>
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Time is running out! Early bird tickets for Byrd Barr Place's Legacy in Motion: Resistance through Reclamation gala are only available until July 31st! Don’t miss out on the chance to
secure your spot at one of Seattle's most anticipated events of the year.
* Event Details: Special Guest to be announced (have you guessed who it is yet?)
* Date: September 27th, 2025
* Time: 6:00 PM
* Location: Hyatt Regency Seattle
This is more than just a night out – it’s an opportunity to support our mission, honor community leaders, and hear from impactful speakers. You won’t want to miss the exciting surprises
we have in store!
Get your tickets today and join us for a night of celebration, community, and change.
<https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf1/3/16/1f517.png> Buy your tickets here: https://byrdbarrplace.maxgiving.events/tickets <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac
f3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=942991f7e9&e=b80de0d97c>
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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=1d69d1179e&e=b80de0d97c>
* Donate an auction item <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=12f225be38&e=b80de0d97c>
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* Volunteer at the gala <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=586a02fe98&e=b80de0d97c>
REGISTER ONLINE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=26a79ed7c7&e=b80de0d97c>
Social Justice Salons: Responding to the Moment
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Panelists from past salon, Women of Color Leading Change (l to r): Andrea Caupain Sanderson, Janice Deguchi, Traeanna Holiday, Estela Ortega, and Shalimar Gonzales
Solid Ground <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=3352512966&e=b80de0d97c> ’s Social Justice Salons are deep dives into the challenges
people living in poverty face and the systems working to help them thrive. These panel discussions with community experts – including people with lived experience – delve into issues
like housing strategies, food justice, repairing our human services safety net and mental health systems, and more. Each session features people at the cutting edge of success in our
region and focuses on the challenges and opportunities we face as we work to solve poverty in King County.
There’s a deeply existential conversation happening behind closed doors at human services nonprofits and agencies across the country:
* Will the federal government continue to be a reliable partner in meeting the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors?
* What will happen to the communities we serve if the government turns its back on them?
* Does our commitment to anti-racism and social justice – so critical to understanding the challenges we face – also put a target on our backs?
* What will we do if we’re forced to choose between our commitment to our values and our ability to provide critical services to our community?
This October, Solid Ground is opening up this conversation. For our annual Social Justice Salon, we’ll bring together community thought leaders from across the worlds of human services
and social justice to explore these questions and help us better understand what the future holds for our safety net organizations and the people they serve.
* WHEN: Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 4:30-6:30pm
* WHERE: The Forum at Town Hall Seattle
* TICKETS: $0-10; refreshments will be served. Check back soon for registration info.
* WHAT: Responding to the Moment: Social Justice, Federal Actions, and the Future of Human Services
Registration will be open at a later date. Learn more HERE. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=52e1643db4&e=b80de0d97c>
Hopelink’s 30th Annual Reaching Out Celebration
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Join us on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Meydenbauer Center <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=3840066222&e=b80de0d97c> as we mark
the 30th anniversary of Hopelink’s signature event. This year, we're shifting from a luncheon to an evening celebration, but the heart of the program remains the same: an inspiring
night of connection with community, moving stories from those who have turned to Hopelink in times of need, and a powerful keynote that ties back to our shared vision: a community free
of poverty.
We are honored to welcome Jason Brown, former NFL player turned farmer and food justice advocate, as our keynote speaker.
Be part of this unforgettable evening, register today <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=cd2bc7d4db&e=b80de0d97c> and help us celebrate
30 years of impact.
Learn more & register HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ef451ae03e&e=b80de0d97c>
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Save the date for our 60th-Anniversary Gala this October 25! <https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tca/3/16/1f389.png> We'll be gathering at the Hotel Bellwether <https://wapartnership.us
4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=fe180c2af9&e=b80de0d97c> Ballroom for dinner, games, live music and a dance party.
Whether you're a longtime friend of Opportunity Council or a brand-new supporter, we hope you'll join us in celebrating six decades of neighbors helping neighbors.
More info and tickets coming soon. <https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t16/3/16/1f39f.png> <https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t4d/3/16/1f942.png>
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