HomeMy WebLinkAbout061225 WSCAP Weekly NewsletterALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
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WSCAP Newsletter June 12, 2025
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Building affordable homes with heart
The two-phase housing development was designed to target the different needs of families and seniors, building community and resilience for all.
A new chapter in community-centered housing in Bellingham is underway. A still-to-be-officially-named initiative is designed to meet some of the region’s most pressing needs: affordable
places to live for families and seniors. Led by Opportunity Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=4b466cd10b&e=b80de0d97c> ,
this thoughtfully designed development goes beyond shelter — it’s a commitment to inclusivity, sustainability and the power of community.
Construction on Phase 1 is now in progress and completion is expected in Spring of 2026. The location near Bellis Fair Mall at the corner of Eliza Avenue and Bellis Fair Parkway in Bellingham
offers exceptional accessibility. It’s close to public transportation, key services and major employment hubs — making it easier for residents to stay connected. New bike and walking
paths are being added by the city of Bellingham to further enhance access and neighborhood integration, while professionally designed green spaces will provide shade and park-like spaces.
PARTNERSHIPS GUIDED BY DATA AND COMMUNITY VOICE
Every year, Opportunity Council, the Whatcom County Department of Health and Human Services and others work together to create a report on homelessness in Whatcom County <https://wapartnership.us4.li
st-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=1e92104f5c&e=b80de0d97c> . Part of a national program, the Point-in-Time Count is a community effort to understand the changing
face and needs of people experiencing homelessness. Reports from the last two years demonstrate marked increases in both the number of families with children experiencing homelessness
and older adults forced into homelessness due to fixed incomes and rising costs.
These reports show that at least 671 households are experiencing homelessness, and that applications for housing in the Coordinated Entry system managed by Opportunity Council reached
new highs over the past two years. Internal data points show major gaps in housing options that are both affordable and accommodating to our community members in need.
In response to these critical gaps, Opportunity Council partnered with the city of Bellingham to develop a two-phase housing development project that could help.
When developing affordable homes, it’s important to remain sensitive to the needs of people who will use the space. Opportunity Council surveyed community members in Bellingham, including
families and folks in the coordinated Entry Housing pool, on what they value in a home.
Responses about factors like location, amenities, common recreation areas, and how homes can best support people’s family, lifestyle and culture helped inform the approach to the project.
For example, living rooms have been designed to maximize open space and flexibility, and the building’s common areas will be designed to host large residential gatherings while providing
quiet, restful environments at other times.
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Neighborhood House Annual Report 2024
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Dear Friends,
We are proud to share how Neighborhood House <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=931aa9ce52&e=b80de0d97c> has improved the lives of
over 13,000 low-income children, youth, adults, and older adults in 2024. The results highlighted in this report are made possible by our diverse and skillful staff, who are experts
at providing culturally responsive services. Satisfied clients referred others and remained connected to services through major life transitions. For many, Neighborhood House is more
than a provider—we are a partner.
Connecting People to Community-based Care
In July 2024, Neighborhood House became a partner in the HealthierHere Community Hub. We are one of the largest case management partners in this new effort to connect individuals to
behavioral health, community-based, and healthcare organizations across King County. We have ten Community Health Workers who speak seven different languages and provide support in
assessing and accessing resources to King County residents.
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<mailto:info@mdc-hope.org>
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It’s not our worst days that measure a life well lived, but the times we rise again despite it all.
We’re Metropolitan Development Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=e2a234b658&e=b80de0d97c> – your advocate in achievement,
your champion in connection and your partner in personal stability. Since 1964, it’s been our mission to level the scales of poverty in Tacoma and beyond. We empower our community with
integrated social services and compassionate support so they can break free from survival mode, find stability and create a path forward.
Our programs vary in scope and reach, but they’re all driven by a single purpose: Put simply?
We’re here to fight poverty and build a better community in the process.
Food banks reach out to local growers for fresh products
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Increasing food insecurity is putting more pressure on local foods banks that are struggling to meet greater demand in the face of funding cuts, rising prices, and dwindling stocks.
One approach being pursued is reaching out to local farmers and growers to access more fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement food selections.
Richard Springer, director of the newly remodeled Lake Chelan Food Bank at 417 S. Bradley Street, plans to do just that.
“Our board is giving me money every month to buy food,” said Springer. “When I ask people what food they want many ask for more fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Springer said he plans to work with local producers to fill that need.
“I want to go out and start buying direct from the farmers,” Springer said.
In neighboring Okanogan County, the Okanogan County Community Action Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d3079f7f8c&e=b80de0d97c>
(OCCAC) has a similar idea. OCCAC in partnership with Blue Sky Minds and community minds is launching a new volunteer initiative called Harvesting Hope
OCCAC estimates that a third of Okanogan County residents are facing food insecurity. To translate that into numbers, of the nearly 45,000 population, some 15,000 of those are at risk.
OCCAC operates the county food bank which in turn supports nine food banks countywide.
OCCAC Executive Director Rena Shawver summed up the current challenges facing county residents.
"Okanogan County's food shortage is like the perfect storm," said Shawver. "Inflation has sent food and gas prices sky high. Rent and housing prices are higher than wages. Families pay
up to 60 percent of their income on housing costs, which leaves them without money for other things.”
On top of that, Shawver said the country is facing a national food shortage.
“Weather changes and market conditions make it tough to grow food, so food deliveries to pantries are down while the number of people relying on food pantries is up,” said Shawver.
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=263e6b7e4b&e=b80de0d97c>
Housing, infrastructure, environment focus of PO Council meeting
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The Port Orchard City Council approved multiple agenda items at its May 27 meeting, including expanding housing assistance, improving pedestrian infrastructure, and funding environmental
restoration projects.
Tony Ives, executive director of Kitsap Community Resources <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=4b3d56f6a2&e=b80de0d97c> , <https://wapartnership.us4
.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f04900937e&e=b80de0d97c> addressed the council during public comment to highlight the growing demand for rental assistance
in South Kitsap.
“In just the last quarter, 516 people came to our South Kitsap office,” Ives said. “More than 230 of those visits were housing-related, specifically asking about rental assistance.”
Ives noted that a previous $20,000 rental assistance fund for Port Orchard residents had gone unused due to staffing constraints and overlapping aid from other sources. He emphasized
that current data shows a sustained need, not just among veterans and seniors, but across the broader community.
Later in the meeting, the council approved an interlocal agreement with KCR to administer rental assistance through its Housing Solutions Center. Funded by state sales tax revenue, the
program will provide up to $30,000 in aid to low-income Port Orchard residents (0–60% of area median income). The funds can be used for rent or utilities bundled with rent, with a cap
of $2,000 per household.
Story here…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=03dc278edd&e=b80de0d97c>
The Trump administration wants to cut a grant program that helps low-income households in Spokane
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On May 2, President Donald Trump released his discretionary budget proposal for the 2026 federal fiscal year, slashing $163 billion in non-defense funding in areas such as education,
environment, housing and health.
The discretionary budget is approved annually by Congress and the president through the appropriations process. It differs from the funding cuts in the "Big Beautiful" reconciliation
bill passed by the House on May 22 and currently being considered by the Senate.
The 2026 discretionary budget proposes eliminating the $3.3 billion Community Development Block Grant, also known as CDBG, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development. This grant provides over 1,200 state and local governments with funding for community development in low- to moderate-income communities.
The grant program has existed since 1975 and was designed to decentralize decision-making. This allows state and local governments to administer programs to combat poverty and provide
affordable housing effectively with fewer restrictions.
Funds can be used for myriad projects, such as housing rehabilitation, emergency housing repairs, small business assistance and home weatherization.
Local nonprofit Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=e47b1a5cf7&e=b80de0d97c> , or SNAP, is alarmed
about the grant program's planned elimination.
In 2024, the city of Spokane received over $3 million in CBDG funding, and Spokane County received $1.5 million. John Hoover, SNAP's director of housing services, says the nonprofit
receives about $500,000 from the city and $200,000 from Spokane County to provide services each year.
In the past year, SNAP has helped 270 families with home repairs, at an average cost of $2,500 per household, Hoover says. Moreover, SNAP's 30 programs help 45,000 to 48,000 Spokane
County residents each year.
Hoover says the proposed cuts will affect many SNAP programs, including weatherization, energy assistance and the emergency home repair program for moderate- to low-income families.
He says the programs help vulnerable people throughout the county.
Of the local CDBG-funded program beneficiaries, 75% are elderly. More than half of the beneficiaries also identify as disabled. Hoover says that many of the households that utilize SNAP's
emergency repair programs also have multiple generations living in one home.
"Making these repairs to a structure is providing shelter for multigenerational families that otherwise would not know what they will do," Hoover says. "They're going to be in a van,
they're going to be on the street, they're going to be in a shelter, all things you don't want."
Hoover says the CDBG funds are an investment in all Americans' ability to live better lives and escape poverty. He says grants often assist people who can't walk into a bank and get
a conventional loan for a home repair or to start a business.
"They don't have ready access to money in order to either fulfill their dream of owning a business or, in my folks' case, of replacing a water heater when it dies," Hoover says. "They
just don't have those funds available to them."
Current CDBG funding for SNAP runs out on June 30.
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Building Upward Mobility in Pierce County
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The Community Collaboration for Upward Mobility report showcases how Pierce County <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=b8960f99a0&e=b80de0d97c>
and MDC (Metropolitan Development Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=615070ec04&e=b80de0d97c> ) are aligning resources to
drive sustainable change.
This collaborative work spans housing initiatives, job access programs, and education services—all designed to ensure that every resident has the tools to succeed.
Read the Report here <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f5bce0fc16&e=b80de0d97c>
AmeriCorps’ dismantling sends Methow Valley teen home early
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“In a message to grant recipients dated April 25, the Trump Administration said it was cutting their funding because their programs were no longer a priority, according to a lawsuit
filed by 24 states and the District of Columbia. Washington state is included in the civil action, which seeks to reverse the cuts.”
““By dismantling AmeriCorps and its programs, which are creatures of Congress, the Trump Administration has violated the executive branch’s obligation to take care that the law is faithfully
executed,” Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown said in an April 29 statement.
Countywide impacts
According to documents included as exhibits to the lawsuit, $513,000 was cut from 20 programs under the Chelan-Douglas County Community Action Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track
/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ac24dfbf40&e=b80de0d97c> , which funds AmeriCorps programs in Okanogan County.
Rena Shawver, executive director of the Okanogan County Community Action Council <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c6d47ce4b0&e=b80de0d97c>
(OCCAC), said the organization hasn’t taken on AmeriCorps volunteers recently. In the past, the agency’s volunteers have focused their efforts for OCCAC on its food assistance programs,
working in community gardens or supporting food pantries, Shawver said.
The council just received funding for a VISTA volunteer — another AmeriCorps program that is being eliminated across the country. That volunteer will support OCCAC’s new Harvesting Hope
program, which is working to reduce food insecurity in the county through gardening and gleaning efforts, and food drives.
“There’s a food shortage nationwide, but it’s hitting our community particularly hard,” Shawver said.
“The loss of any of these programs that were started as part of the War on Poverty in the 60s is going to be a real loss, especially for rural communities like ours,” she added.
VISTA volunteers typically take on a three-year commitment, but this position may only be for one year, Shawver said, given that AmeriCorps has been effectively eliminated.
“We’re waiting to see what happens,” she said.
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The Central District’s New Garfield Superblock: Gentrification or Greater Good?
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For decades, a 100-year-old building at the corner of 23rd and Cherry Street in the Central District has served as a hub of Black culture. While restaurants, shops and barbers all came
and went, one thing remained consistent: they were always Black owned, operated and appreciated.
But six months ago, three businesses occupying the building—a barber, an East African restaurant and Miss Mary’s Flowers 4 U <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818eb
d4ce40eb&id=1713f0bd2a&e=b80de0d97c> (the only known <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=47353c476b&e=b80de0d97c> Black florist in
the entire Pacific Northwest)—fell silent. Within the following weeks, they were abandoned, and today, only rubble remains in their place.
“The forced removal of the Black business owners at 23rd and Cherry for “affordable” housing is reminiscent of the many gentrified areas of the C.D. While the project is community-forward
and is intentionally honoring the cultural history of the neighborhood, BIPOC residents are still being displaced, or at least significantly inconvenienced by the changes.
“I hear so much about how, you know, just 30 years ago, this neighborhood used to be like all Black folks, right? You look at, like, the demographic maps that we have in, you know, our
building, and they show the population is all Black folks in the C.D. And now everyone has been pushed out,” Atiyeh Assaf said, a market coordinator at Byrd Barr Place <https://wapartnership.us4.lis
t-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=0a0647fc3a&e=b80de0d97c> .
Assaf, like Keyser and those at Coyote Central, was similarly shocked by the demolition at 23rd and Cherry and had no prior knowledge of the Superblock’s development, only learning about
it for the first time during our conversation.
Byrd Barr has been a foundational element of the Central District for over 60 years, particularly in its efforts to fight for social justice and against gentrification. Byrd Barr has
a long-standing history in the C.D. as a “safety-net service <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=f514cf2ea3&e=b80de0d97c> ” that provides
food, shelter, financial tools and more to Seattle residents.
“Working to serve others and address these issues [social justice and gentrification] with gratitude, respect and dignity is the essential mission of Byrd Barr,” Jo Moreau said, a third-year
public affairs student at Seattle University and frequent food-packager at Byrd Barr. “Volunteering at Byrd Barr has shown me how important it is to be an active part of my community.”
Because of their sizable impact on the local community and their efforts to create affordable housing and systemic change within the Central District, it was a shock to Assaf that Byrd
Barr Place had been left out of such a vital conversation.
“Right now, Byrd Barr is, you know, we’re associated with that gentrification. And so it’s been really difficult to try to engage with the community again and be like, hey, no, we’re
still here, doing this good work,” Assaf said.”
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Cuts to Medicaid & Medicare threaten our communities’ health
What you need to know
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For thousands of King County residents, Medicaid and Medicare-funded services are a critical lifeline – and sometimes, the only accessible option for care available. These services make
it possible for older adults, people with disabilities, and underprivileged populations to receive timely care and avoid preventable emergencies or hospitalizations, reducing costs
overall for Medicaid programs and impacts on our healthcare system.
As agencies who help Medicare and Medicaid recipients navigate and access care each day, Neighborhood House <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=94c91
31bd7&e=b80de0d97c> , Multi-Service Center <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=438c0579b4&e=b80de0d97c> , Solid Ground <https://wapartnership.us4.lis
t-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=4aa795eec2&e=b80de0d97c> , and Hopelink <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=a1e3adcdda&e=b80d
e0d97c> invite you to join us in advocating for the health of our communities through sustained funding for these programs.
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SNAP <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=7a614016c1&e=b80de0d97c> ’s 13th Annual Dad’s Day Dash returns to Manito Park, Saturday, June
14, marking a shift from the traditional Sunday schedule. This family-friendly 5K and 1-mile run/walk celebrates Father’s Day while helping support SNAP's 30 SNAP programs.
Register now!https://www.raceentry.com/races/dads-day-dash/2025/register <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c9fbcd0452&e=b80de0d97c>
HopeSource <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=1aef5f252a&e=b80de0d97c> : Together for Impact
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Mark your calendar for an evening that celebrates progress and builds momentum. Together for Impact is our newest fundraiser, where you’ll enjoy local cocktails, hear inspiring success
stories, and directly support programs that help people move from crisis to stability. It’s happening June 25 at the Historic Train Depot in Ellensburg and we'd love to see you there
— tickets are available HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=cd194f01dd&e=b80de0d97c>
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Click here <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=6bdf325262&e=b80de0d97c> to see photos from last year’s event!
Interested in joining us as an event partner? Contact us here <mailto:lo'tool@hopelink.org> !
Community, Culture, And Celebration: Byrd Barr Place Hosts Second Annual Block Party
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Byrd Barr Place <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c2767fc285&e=b80de0d97c> is inviting the Seattle community to an afternoon of free,
family-friendly fun at its second annual Block Party on July 12. The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on 18th Avenue, between Cherry Street and East Columbia Street, in front
of the Byrd Barr Place building.
The street will be closed for the festivities, which aim to bring neighbors together while supporting local vendors and celebrating the vibrant culture of the Central District. Highlights
of the afternoon include live music performances from Seattle’s own DJ Topspin and headliner Royce The Choice, a variety of food trucks, and booths from local vendors offering unique
products.
Families can enjoy activities such as face painting, bouncy houses, and a dunk tank featuring Byrd Barr Place staff. Additionally, school-aged children will receive free backpacks as
part of the celebration.
An announcement during the event will offer a preview of Byrd Barr Place’s upcoming initiatives for the second half of 2025, reinforcing the organization’s ongoing commitment to community
support and engagement.
“We are thrilled to bring the community together again for this annual celebration,” said Dr. Angela Griffin, CEO of Byrd Barr Place. “The Block Party is not just about fun—it’s about
strengthening the ties that bind us and showing our gratitude to the community that supports our work year-round. We can’t wait to share some exciting updates about what’s next for
Byrd Barr Place!”
Learn more here. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=5b0fcb0846&e=b80de0d97c>
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Heatwave Havoc 2025
You're invited to Heatwave Havoc 2025, a one-day tabletop exercise focused on strengthening Pierce County’s coordination and readiness for extreme heat events. As our region faces increasing
risks from high temperatures, this event offers a timely opportunity to plan, collaborate, and respond through real-world scenarios.
Event Details:
* Date: Monday, June 23, 2025
* Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
* Location: Chambers Creek Regional Park – Environmental Services Building, 9850 64th St. W, University Place, WA 98467
* Who should attend: Professionals in public health, emergency management, healthcare, utilities, social services, and community-based organizations.
Lunch and snacks will be provided at no cost. More information and registration HERE. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c133194f82&e=b80de0d97c>
Washington State Supreme Court Disability Justice Survey
Accommodations Questionnaire
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A first-of-its-kind study focused on disability in our state's justice system, using a Disability Justice lens.
The study centers the lived experiences of people with disabilities and particularly those who are also impacted by racism, poverty, gender bias, and other forms of marginalization.
The Washington State Supreme Court is working to reach as many people as possible to make sure the survey reflects diverse voices and drives meaningful equity-focused change in our justice
system.
The survey is looking for:
* People with disabilities who have interacted with the court
* Care Providers, support people, and family members of persons with a disability who have experience with the court
* Community organizations, service providers, and advocates
*
Click here to access the survey. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=14d372100a&e=b80de0d97c> Survey closes June 13, 2025.
Thank you for your participation and for helping us improve access to justice in Washington.
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New federal guidance for the BEAD program released
Washington State Broadband Office will asses program impacts
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Restructuring Policy Notice <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/t
rack/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=5a742990c6&e=b80de0d97c> on June 6, which modifies the BEAD program. These new requirements will impact our applicants in Washington.
“My team is working hard to assess the impacts and what we need to implement these changes while limiting the impact on our applicants as much as possible,” said Washington State Broadband
Office (WSBO) Director Aaron Wheeler. “It will be difficult news for Washington’s BEAD applicants because we were nearing the end of our process. Everyone has worked extremely hard
to get to this point, and now we are facing these new requirements. I do not doubt that we will find a way to ensure success. Getting us across the finish line will take more work now.”
Round 2 <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=3098417e6d&e=b80de0d97c> closed May 16 and WSBO was reviewing those applications when this
new guidance came out. Over the coming days, the WSBO team will review the latest policies and assess their impacts on our program. We will share an update when our assessment is complete.
Read the NTIA Policy Notice press release <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=775a86ab4c&e=b80de0d97c> .
About BEAD
The BEAD program <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=1bce0af05e&e=b80de0d97c> aims to get all Americans online by funding partnerships
between states or territories, tribal nations, communities, internet providers and other stakeholders to increase high-speed internet adoption. The federal program provides over $42
billion for infrastructure planning and implementation nationwide. Learn more about Commerce’s BEAD work on our Internet for All page <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee
5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=68f21d88d2&e=b80de0d97c> . There is no federal freeze on BEAD funding, and we continue to work closely with our state and federal partners on this work.
Learn more HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=06f7b73288&e=b80de0d97c>
Hundreds tap WA help for people who faced housing discrimination
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More than 400 homebuyers across Washington state have tapped into a down payment assistance program launched last year to redress past housing discrimination.
Now, that number could climb as the state broadens income eligibility to help more people struggling to afford sky-high home prices.
The Covenant Homeownership Program offers no-interest down payment loans to certain homebuyers of color whose families were affected by racist property covenants commonly used in the
first half of the 20th century.
Shortly after its launch, it became the target of a lawsuit claiming reverse discrimination.
But for the hundreds of people it has helped so far, the program offered a path to homeownership, said Dee Scott, a Keller Williams real estate agent in Kent who has helped buyers —
including four members of her family — access the program.
Before the Fair Housing Act outlawed housing discrimination in 1968, Scott’s grandparents lived in Seattle’s Central District, one of the few Seattle neighborhoods where Black people
could buy homes and an area that went on to experience rapid gentrification.
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Ideas, suggestions, challenges focus of homelessness forum
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Participants discussed addressing homelessness following the impending closure of the Open Doors sleep center.
• Forum attendees found that better communication and publicity for programs is necessary.
• More planning is necessary to address the problems unsheltered residents in Moses Lake are experiencing, participants said.
About 100 people came to the Moses Lake Civic Center on Tuesday to make suggestions and consider options for the way forward after the Open Doors Sleep Center closes at the end of the
month.
Most of the sleep center operation was funded by a grant from the Washington Department of Commerce, which the Moses Lake City Council opted not to renew, as council member Don Myers
explained to the people at his table.
“So where are they going to go?” a participant asked Myers.
“That’s what we need your help with,” Myers said.
Participants were broken up into groups and provided with questions and topics for conversation.
The people at each table were asked to summarize their discussions and suggestions.
Doug Sherman, summarizing the discussion for his table, said it’s a big and complex issue.
“We didn’t have a lot of solutions, and that’s the reality,” he said.
The sleep center provides overnight shelter for about 25 to 35 people, but, as Sherman pointed out, that’s not big enough.
“Between 27 and 35 people are at the (sleep center) but there are somewhere between 180 and 200 people that are homeless in our community,” Sherman said. “So even there, we are barely
scratching the surface when it comes to meeting the need.”
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As evictions in Washington skyrocket, the state’s Right to Counsel program for low-income renters is stretched thin
Housing advocates hope the state’s new law limiting rent hikes will help slow the pace
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Every four months, Philippe Knab, the reentry and eviction defense program director for Washington’s Office of Civil Legal Aid, compiles a report on eviction trends across the state.
Since 2021, each review has painted a worse picture than before –– especially the most recent one.
“The number of people being displaced right now is at a historic high in Washington state,” said Knab. “January 2025 was the single highest month we've ever seen seasonally. February
and March were just a hair under that.”
In King County alone, eviction filings in January 2025 were 66% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
“It’s pretty mind-boggling,” he said.
Evictions in Washington have been steadily increasing over the last few years, with no signs of slowing. The spike stems from rising rents coupled with stagnant wages, lack of affordable
housing and the expiration of pandemic-era eviction protections such as increased rental assistance. Filings statewide reached an all-time high in 2024, having increased by 53% since
2019. And fiscal year 2025 is on pace to surpass those numbers.
The increase in evictions is stretching Washington’s Right to Counsel program thin. The statewide program began in 2021 as the first of its kind in the nation, and it’s meant to ensure
that low-income tenants have access to legal representation while navigating the eviction process, which greatly increases a person’s likelihood of winning their case and accessing
housing resources.
“Until about six months ago, I used to start every presentation on this topic by saying, ‘We've represented every single low-income tenant who's eligible since 2021,’” said Knab, who
oversees the state’s Right to Counsel program. “We can't say that anymore, because we finally got to a point in King County where we couldn't keep up.”
The uptick in evictions is happening amid a record-setting homelessness crisis <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=9c5356e519&e=b80de0d97c>
, with proposed cuts on the horizon to federally funded safety net programs that help low-income households stay afloat. As of late May, the Trump administration plans to cut the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=6df1a6cced&e=b80de0d97c> ’s rent assistance program
for low-income households by around 40%. And a proposal moving through Congress seeks to cut roughly $700 billion from Medicaid <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda8
18ebd4ce40eb&id=b330399f07&e=b80de0d97c> , which provides free or reduced health care to those with limited incomes. The cut would impact more than 600,000 Washington residents throughout
the state.
“People can’t afford the rent, and it’s gonna get worse as the federal government cuts Medicaid and other critical safety net services,” said Michele Thomas, the director of policy and
advocacy with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.
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Rural and Suburban Permanent Supportive Housing Most at Risk in FY26 Budget Proposal
The Alliance’s Homelessness Research Institute has found that roughly half of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) residents in rural or suburban areas would be at risk of losing their
housing if the President’s budget proposal <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=49c7a34165&e=b80de0d97c> is enacted.
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Permanent Supportive Housing provides housing paired with robust, wraparound services for people who have experienced chronic homelessness. For largely rural Continuums of Care, 47%
of PSH beds are federally-funded, while 50% of PSH beds in largely suburban Continuums of Care are federally-funded. Rural and suburban may not receive as many resources from states,
local governments, foundations, or other private donations, and thus rely more on federal funding – specifically, the Continuum of Care program.
If federal funding for Permanent Supportive Housing disappears, as is proposed in the President’s budget, approximately half of these residents would likely lose their homes and again
risk homelessness.
Learn more HERE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=fe2f704ba7&e=b80de0d97c> .
WA households can’t afford basics, even if they’re not poor, report says
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Over a quarter of households in Washington earn more than the federal poverty threshold but still struggle to afford necessities like housing, child care, transportation and more, according
to a recent report on affordability in Washington.
Often, these households don’t qualify for social assistance programs like food stamps or Medicaid because their incomes exceed eligibility limits. Meanwhile, they have to contend with
high costs of living and may even go without necessities to make ends meet.
These households represent an underrecognized kind of hardship: economic precarity that falls outside the technical definition of poverty, as set by the federal poverty level.
The federal poverty level “is an outdated instrument that does not consider the wide variation in cost of living by location,” wrote the authors of the report. As a result, measurements
based on the federal poverty level “sharply underestimate the true extent of financial hardship in the U.S.”
The report was published in May by United for ALICE, a research organization affiliated with United Way, a network of nonprofits that advocate for community well-being. “ALICE” is an
acronym for “asset limited, income constrained, employed.”
Federal poverty guidelines are a set of thresholds that determine whether a household qualifies for various kinds of government benefits based on income and size. Critics of these thresholds
say they are too low, especially in high cost-of-living regions.
“We know there’s huge regional variation from Seattle to Mississippi,” said Stephanie Hoopes, national director of United for ALICE. “Even within Washington state, the cost of living
in Pierce County is different than some of the rural counties.”
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How Farm-to-Food Access is Making Our Food System More Equitable
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According to Feeding America <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=27cdff867f&e=b80de0d97c> , one in eight people in Washington state
face hunger, with 9.5% <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=4a9dbb68c8&e=b80de0d97c> of the King County population experiencing food
insecurity. Among cities and neighborhoods <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=0ccfe2f91c&e=b80de0d97c> , residents of Auburn (34.6%),
Kent (26.9%) and Tukwila (26.4%) experienced some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the county.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=2d7ebbf3fc&e=b80de0d97c> food insecurity
as “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
The reasons surrounding food insecurity are complex. Poverty <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=35c7af3aad&e=b80de0d97c> is often
the main reason, but systemic inequities <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ef96f5fba6&e=b80de0d97c> and structural racism are major
factors. In King County, Black and Hispanic households are disproportionately affected, as they are twice as likely to have not enough food to eat.
In response to food insecurity, the Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=ca1e4cfc03&e=b80de0d97c>
is making fresh, local foods more accessible, regardless of income. They make it possible to use various food assistance benefits with vendors.
“There’s this stereotype or understanding that farmers’ markets are expensive. They have a higher price point than most because the farmers set their own prices, and I think it’s that
understanding that farmers markets are only for people who can afford them, [but that] is not at all the case,” Food Access Coordinator at the Neighborhood Farmers Market Joey Lu said.
“We do really make sure that everyone in the community is able to come to our market, and that’s great when we can get everyone supporting local food systems.”
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Free or low-cost child care!
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The Fair Start for Kids Act makes high-quality early learning, including child care, preschool, and programs for infants and toddlers, more affordable and accessible for families and
more sustainable for providers.
Find out more about the Fair Start for Kids Act below.
Learn more <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=521c1e317d&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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Washington state unveils MyWABenefits: A streamlined platform for viewing your benefits
The Washington State Health and Human Services Enterprise Coalition <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=df4f85372f&e=b80de0d97c> is
excited to announce the launch of MyWABenefits <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=c13e8ce4c5&e=b80de0d97c> , a mobile-friendly website
designed to offer people easy, secure access to the status of their health and human services benefits like food and cash assistance as well as Apple Health Classic Medicaid. This new
website provides millions of Washingtonians with a convenient way to manage their benefits from any device that is connected to the internet.
MyWABenefits allows people who receive benefits and their authorized representatives to:
* Check their benefit status anytime, including food assistance, cash assistance and Apple Health Classic Medicaid.
* Access their account information 24/7 via smartphones, tablets and computers.
* Receive important updates and notifications about their benefits, reducing the need for in-person visits to busy offices or calls for assistance.
* Access the website in English, Spanish or Russian.
Focusing on convenience and accessibility
The launch of MyWABenefits reflects the HHS Coalition’s commitment to enhancing accessibility and ease of use of public assistance programs for everyone who lives in Washington. By providing
customers with access to their own benefit information, anytime and from any location, Washingtonians will have another option for managing their benefits in addition to visiting a
local office or making a phone call. MyWABenefits offers additional flexibility for people with busy schedules, transportation challenges or mobility limitations.
“You wouldn’t have to go into the office for every little thing,” said one client who participated in testing.
“It’s a quick and convenient, all-in-one place that you could go to, to find out what’s going on with your benefits,” added another client.
Getting started
Clients can login with their existing SecureAccess Washington <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=773a85a875&e=b80de0d97c> account
or create a new one, then log in anytime to check their benefit status and stay connected with key program information. The website will also offer helpful resources, including a video
tutorial <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=75c236391e&e=b80de0d97c> and frequently asked questions.
For more information about MyWABenefits or to create an account, visit MyWABenefits.wa.gov <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=8dae7913fb&e=b80de0d97
c> .
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Summer Energy ALERT
12-Year high will impact low-income Americans most
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National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) recently released their annual Summer Residential Cooling Outlook, which estimates the average family could pay $784 to cool
their homes this summer. This hits energy-burdened households even harder, with the Census Household Pulse Survey reporting that the percentage of households that could not pay their
energy bill for at least one month in the last year increased, from 21.4% to 25.3%.
The NEADA report notes that Federal utility-bill assistance cuts of nearly a third from 2023 to 2025 leave vulnerable families at greater risk than ever; only 26 states plus the District
of Columbia will offer cooling assistance this summer, and only 31 offer disconnection protections. Losing access to, or avoiding use of, air conditioning and fans exacerbates many
health conditions and increases the risk of heat stroke. Meanwhile, nearly 20% of very low-income families have no air conditioning at all.
Federal and state Weatherization resources can often be used to add air-cooling, especially with the installation of air-source heat pumps. Statistics like these can support local efforts
to advocate for energy assistance funding, attract media coverage, and secure local support from energy providers through supplemental resources.
To read the full report, and see how your state fares, click here <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=2ac5407c03&e=b80de0d97c> .
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Best Practices Using Secondary Data <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=acc25d44cc&e=b80de0d97c>
to Support Grant Writing and Stakeholder Engagement <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=2f02325135&e=b80de0d97c>
In this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for using secondary data to support grant writing and stakeholder engagement. Specifically, attendees will learn to find and interpret
secondary data in the NCAP Data Hub to demonstrate their agency region’s needs, strengths, and shifting capacities for poverty fighting.
* Attendees should leave the webinar with the following skills:•
* Ability to find and interpret secondary data in the NCAP Data Hub’s Needs Assessment tool and Map Room
* Ability to create simple, easy-to-interpret visualizations, maps, and one-pagers to help introduce decision makers to your agency region’s unique issues
* Strategies for using data to craft needs statements for grant writing, elevator pitches, and other proposals
Tidelands: An Indigenous-centered space of reciprocity & revival
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In the heart of downtown Seattle, just blocks from Pike Place Market, you might stumble upon something quietly radical: an Indigenous and woman-owned gathering space pulsing with joy,
where ancestral knowledge and contemporary art collide.
Inside, the gallery glows with portraits that seem to breathe, welcoming visitors into a setting that feels less like a gallery and more like a living story in motion. This is Tidelands
<https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=30f1ac6ccc&e=b80de0d97c> , a space that hums with vibrant cultural and community offerings, the
living vision of artist, educator, and changemaker Matika Wilbur.
Wilbur is known nationally for her groundbreaking photography project and book, Project 562, which documents contemporary Native American life across every federally recognized tribe.
Here at Tidelands, her latest endeavor takes root in something both deeply personal and expansively communal, creating a space where Indigenous creativity thrives, reciprocity is practiced
daily, and cultural sovereignty shapes a vibrant, living future.
While several art galleries feature Native artists, according to Wilbur, Tidelands is Seattle's only Native-owned art gallery — and one of very few in the entire Pacific Northwest. Nationally,
Native artists continue to face structural barriers to gallery representation, and Indigenous art is often sold and profited from by non-Native individuals and institutions. This pattern
extends back generations, with Native art historically appropriated, commodified, and decontextualized for outsider audiences.
"Most Indigenous art in Seattle is sold by non-Native-owned galleries," Wilbur said. "I wanted to create a space where profits from art sales return to Indigenous communities."
Continue reading…. <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=0d23e2205b&e=b80de0d97c>
Register for #NAEH2025
Spots are still available for the Alliance’s 2025 National Conference on Ending Homelessness <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=03d5895de0&e=b80de0d
97c> in Washington, D.C. this summer!
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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=5d743f652c&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=5d0a468890&e=b80de0d97c>
* Donate an auction item <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d3804369a6&e=b80de0d97c>
* Make a donation <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=929b5ba442&e=b80de0d97c>
* Volunteer at the gala <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=6a4397b3df&e=b80de0d97c>
REGISTER ONLINE <https://wapartnership.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=acf3cee5bbda818ebd4ce40eb&id=d4a2390079&e=b80de0d97c>
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⬇️CONNECT WITH US FOR THE LATEST UPDATES!⬇️
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Copyright (C) 2025 | WSCAP | All rights reserved.
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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