November 2008

You may have heard the news that Mayor Nickels has named me to be the new Director of the Seattle Human Services Department. I've been serving as Interim Director since Patricia McInturff retired in April 2008. My appointment is subject to City Council confirmation.

I am deeply honored by this appointment and excited at the opportunity to continue and further our mission to help the city's most vulnerable people improve their lives and thrive.

None of this is possible without you, our many partners in the community, who help older adults live independently, find services for homeless residents, improve the lives of young people, aid victims of domestic violence, provide support to families, connect low-income people to benefits, and help our newest residents gain access to benefits.

I am proud to work with such a caring and compassionate group of people and look forward to working together to meet present and future challenges. We are living in a time of great uncertainty, but one thing is certain: we pledge to always stand up for people in need. That's what we're all about at the Human Services Department.

Alan Painter
Acting Director

When he entered the YouthCare barista program, 20-year-old Tom was homeless, living "day to day," and sleeping each night in a shelter. The eight-week training program gave him valuable job skills, but even more important, a double-shot of self-confidence and determination to stabilize his life. After graduating last spring, he got a job at a high-end barbeque and catering restaurant and found a studio apartment through the YMCA's transitional housing program.

Tom is one visible example of the success of this program. Funded by the Human Services Department since 2007, the Barista Training and Education Program is a collaboration between two nonprofit agencies, YouthCare and FareStart. The program teaches homeless youth, ages 16-21, barista job skills, including customer service skills, while providing the long-term support and services necessary for them to explore personal goals.

Since July 2007, 47 youth have enrolled in the program (including eight who are currently enrolled) and 30 have completed the program. In addition, 16 of the youth have reached educational goals, either passing GED tests or earning high school credit. For more information about the program, please contact Marci Curtin, Human Services Department, at 206-684-0550 or marci.curtin@seattle.gov, or Liza Burell, YouthCare Orion Center, at 206-204-1412 or liza.burell@youthcare.org.

The Family & Adult Service Center (FASC), a Seattle "day center" for homeless men and women, can remain open thanks to $350,000 in City of Seattle funding included in Mayor Greg Nickels' 2009-2010 proposed budget. "Day centers are a critical first step in helping homeless men and women rebuild their lives," said Nickels. "We are pleased the city can provide assistance to allow this invaluable program to continue." The City Council is now reviewing the proposed budget. Final action is expected by the end of November.

Run by The Compass Center, the FASC day center can accommodate up to 75 people at any given time, and serves approximately 350 different individuals per day. The center offers a safe and warm daytime respite from the streets and a place where homeless people can eat, shower, use the toilet, do their laundry, make phone calls, receive mail, and find companionship. Case workers help connect people with services.

For more information about the Family & Adult Service Center, please contact Al Poole, Human Services Department, at 206-684-0260 or al.poole@seattle.gov or Rick Friedhoff, The Compass Center, at 206-357-3102 or rfriedhoff@compasscenter.org.

At a news conference last month, Mayor Nickels highlighted the additional $2.1 million in his proposed 2009-2010 budget for permanent housing units for chronically homeless individuals. The funding continues the Mayor's commitment to "Housing First" projects, a highly successful approach that combines housing with important in-house medical and mental health services and other support programs. In just the past three years, Seattle has put 280 Housing First units in operation with another 289 expected to be online by 2011. The proposed $2.1 million is expected to secure approximately 40 additional units. The Human Services Department's budget includes $300,000 in 2009 and $815,000 in 2010 for support of Housing First units. Seattle has taken a leadership role in funding Housing First programs at the 1811 Eastlake Building, Plymouth on Stewart and elsewhere. For more information, please contact Julie Moore, Office of Housing, at 206-684-0604 or julie.moore@seattle.gov.

At the Mayor's End Hunger Awards ceremony on Oct. 6 at the Palace Kitchen Restaurant, Mayor Nickels honored seven "hunger heroes." Sponsored by the Seattle Food Committee and Meals Partnership Coalition, the awards recognize exceptional work of local individuals and organizations in the fight against hunger. This year's award winners include:

• Pete O'Brien, manager of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul food bank
• Recovery Cafe, Belltown program that helps homeless people
• Michael Davalos, dedicated volunteer with Lifelong AIDS/Chicken Soup Brigade
• Rosie Palmer, retired school teacher and nun
• Rhoda Morrow, PhD with the Hunger Intervention Program
• Food Waste Composting Project of Solid Ground and Seattle Public Utilities which takes food waste from food banks and turns it into soil amendments.

For more information about the awards, please contact Fe Arreola, Human Services Department, at 206-684-0281 or fe.arreola@seattle.gov.

The Day One Program launched a secure and confidential Web site in October for domestic violence programs, allowing them to share "real-time" available bed space and information about services. When victims call a domestic violence agency seeking shelter and services, that agency is able to help the caller access available shelter space and services in one phone call (or to find out that no space is available). Previously, victims or their advocates had to make as many as 20 separate phone calls to find shelter openings. The Human Services Department (HSD) has signed memoranda of agreement with 11 domestic violence agencies from King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties to implement the program. HSD collaborated with the King County Women's Program, the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center in Pierce County, and the Snohomish County Human Services Department on this effort. For more information, please contact please contact Amy Heyden, Human Services Department, at 206-684-4007 or amy.heyden@seattle.gov.

Building Changes, Housing Resources Group, and Sound Mental Health celebrated the opening of Kenyon House in October. The newly constructed 18-unit housing project has been designed for homeless individuals who are living with AIDS and mental illness. Residents will come from the Bailey-Boushay House Day Health program through AIDS case management referrals to Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Financing for the project included support from Human Services Department HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) funds administered through the Office of Housing for this project. The project also included investments from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a HOPWA Special Projects of National Significance award. For more information about this project, please contact Jim Betts, Human Services Department, at 206-684-0273 or jim.betts@seattle.gov.

The Washington State Council on Aging named the Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens' Age 55+ Employment Resource Center (ERC) a recipient of its 2008 Excellence in Action Award. The award was presented by Gov. Gregoire on Oct. 17.

"No comparable program exists in this state and there are very few senior employment programs that exist nationally," said Robert Stevenson, chair of the State Council on Aging.

The center provides job search assistance, resume workshops and related support to people 55 years and older. A strategy using peer support enlists job counselors and staff who are also 55 years and older. Each year, the Age 55+ ERC helps more than 1,000 clients with their job searches, and has a waiting list. The influx of aging boomers shows the need for the ERC, and this year the center has been successful in helping more than 350 people enter employment. For more information about this program, please contact the Human Services Department's Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens at 206-684-0500 or seniors@seattle.gov or visit the Web site:
www.seattle.gov/humanservices/seniorsdisabled/mosc/employment.htm.

The American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC) awarded Winnie Tsai an Excellence Award in Resident Education for her extraordinary service to elders and adults with disabilities residing in Seattle Housing Authority's Jefferson Terrace community. Representing more than 2,100 service coordinators nationwide, AASC annually recognizes outstanding service by individuals or organizations for public housing residents. Ms. Tsai was cited for doing an exemplary job in connecting with local universities, public health and nonprofit agencies to provide extra services for improving the nutritional and general health of high risk residents.

Life Lines is published by the City of Seattle's Human Services Department (HSD). We invest in programs that help people gain independence and success, and work with other City departments to support Mayor Greg Nickels' efforts to build strong families and healthy communities. We welcome your comments. E-mail us: hsdenewsletter@seattle.gov Visit us: www.seattle.gov/humanservices Contact: David Takami, HSD, 206-684-0253 or david.takami@seattle.gov