 At CEH’s October Governing Board meeting, the board challenged our community to ask itself how we plan to work differently in our region’s rapidly shifting economy. As a convener of local advocates, CEH sees this challenge as a call to both seek new partners and redefine relationships with public services that impact the county’s homeless system.
On October 9th, CEH’s Youth and Young Adult Initiative gathered 50 Teen Services Librarians from Seattle Public Libraries and the King County Library System to rethink how library staff are trained to engage homeless or unstably housed young people who frequently access library services. This was the first time staff from these two library systems had participated in a joint training. After a presentation from Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness (YAEH), Seattle Public Libraries announced that it will join the King County Library System in making its branches Safe Place locations in 2015. Safe Place connects clients to emergency youth shelters and other social service resources including case management, education, and employment training. Together, these activities help to prevent the costly adverse outcomes of chronic homelessness.
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In 2012, King County launched Family Housing Connection (FHC), a coordinated assessment and referral process for families experiencing homelessness in King County. Over the past two and a half years, lessons from local experience and changes in expectations at the Federal and State level have influenced a number of policy and practice shifts. Consulting firm Focus Strategies has been engaged by the Committee to End Homelessness (CEH) to assess the progress to date and recommend refinements to the system as needed.
At the community meeting, Katharine Gale and Kate Bristol of Focus Strategies will review the findings from the first phase of the project, present information on other system models, and facilitate small group conversations with stakeholders to address key challenges.
All community members are welcome -- programs that use FHC, housing and service funders, and other stakeholders with specific FHC involvement are encouraged to attend.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
9:00am – 12:00pm
Tukwila Community Center, Banquet Room
12424 42nd Ave S.
Tukwila, WA 98168
Advocate for policy that supports mental health and substance abuse programs at Town Hall on Thursday, November 13 at 6:30pm. The event includes a chance to learn about King County’s legislative priorities in mental health and substance abuse at the upcoming legislative session as well as a chance to hear perspectives from state and federal legislators representing our region. Click here for more information.
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Columbia Legal Services updated their homeless youth manual with information about unaccompanied homeless youth in Washington State. There are 4,622 unaccompanied homeless youth in Washington schools. Read the full manual here.
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On Wednesday, November 19th, from 10am to noon, Building Changes will host a webinar on working with landlords. The webinar will cover both landlord engagement and fair housing/ landlord tenant laws. Click here to RSVP and contact Emily.Mirra@BuildingChanges.org for more information.
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The Office of Civil Rights is hosting two free workshops for housing providers on November 19. The first, “Best Practices to Promote Fair Housing," is a presentation designed to help housing providers be proactive to prevent violations of the fair housing laws before they occur. The second, “The Advanced Fair Housing Seminar” uses hypothetical scenarios to provide further training for housing providers.
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-noon
First Steps: Best Practices to Promote Fair Housing
Seattle City Hall, Bertha Landes Knight Room
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Advanced Fair Housing Seminar
Seattle City Hall, Bertha Landes Knight Room
600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) recently released two reports: A Primer on Using Medicaid for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness and Tenants of Permanent Supportive Housing, and a companion document, Medicaid and Permanent Supportive Housing for Chronically Homeless Individuals: Emerging Practices from the Field. These two reports offer advice on how communities can leverage Medicaid funded services to expand supports for persons experiencing homelessness, including increasing supports for people in permanent supportive housing.
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness released a guide that provides Continuums of Care (CoCs) and recipients of CoC Program funds with information on reallocation and strategies for undertaking reallocation through the annual CoC Program Competition. This tool can help CoCs make decisions about when reallocating funds is necessary, understand the different types of reallocation and in what circumstances they are appropriate, and navigate and overcome challenges in the reallocation process. Click here to read the guide.
The King County Housing Authority Homeless Housing Initiatives Department is hiring a Senior Office Assistant. Read about the position’s duties and applicant requirements on KCHA’s website.
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Governing Board
Upcoming Meeting: Wednesday, January 28 / 8:30 - 10:30 am / Seattle City Hall
Agenda Topics: TBD
Recent Meeting: CEH Strategic Plan and 2015 Legislative Agenda
Interagency Council (IAC)
Upcoming Meeting: Monday, November 3 / 2 - 4 pm / Bellevue City Hall
Agenda Topics: HUD Housing & Native Americans, King County Affordable Housing Trends, Coordinated Assessment
Recent Meeting: Strategic Plan Review, Performance Targets Review
Consumer Advisory Council (CAC)
Upcoming Meeting: Wednesday, November 19 / 6 - 7:30pm / Plymouth Congregational Church, Seattle
Agenda Topics: Strategic Plan Review and Input
Recent Meeting: FHI Coordinated Entry Focus Groups, Landlord Engagement Campaign
The Family Homelessness Initiative staff host monthly information sessions on the 3rd Wednesday of the month to talk with local stakeholders (providers and funders) about the work of the Initiative. This is an opportunity to hear about current projects, what is coming up next, to ask questions and provide input. Also, the FHC Feedback Meetings, which are an opportunity for service providers and partners to hear updates on new policies/procedures at FHC and to provide FHC with feedback, will directly follow the Info Session each month.
Reoccurring: 3rd Wednesdays each month 9:00 – 10:00 am at varying locations
Next meeting: November 19th at the 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave S., Seattle, WA
Immediately followed by FHC feedback meeting from 10:00 to 11:00am
Contact Triina Tennelo for more information: 206.263.9110 or triina.tennelo@kingcounty.gov or visit the Initiative website for more information:
The monthly YYA Stakeholder Forums provide a monthly opportunity to hear about the changes planned for our homeless youth and young adult system in King County. Please check the YYA Webpage for updates. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan to Prevent and End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness in King County contact Megan Gibbard (megan.gibbard@cehkc.org) or visit the YYA Webpage. To be added to the YYA stakeholder email list, which provides bi-weekly updates on the initiative, email Carrie.Hennen@cehkc.org.
YYA Stakeholder Forum- Tuesday November 25, 2-3:30pm, Bellevue Library Room 1 (1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue.) The forum is a monthly opportunity to hear about the changes planned for our homeless youth and young adult system in King County. The forum will be preceded by a Community Sign In Training (1-2pm), and immediately followed by a YHC feedback forum (3:30-4:30pm). Please RSVP for the Community Sign In Training by emailing Megan Gibbard.
 South King County Forum on Homelessness
Contact: Manuela Ginnett, manuelag@multi-servicecenter.com or Jo Cherland, johannac@ccsww.org. The SKC Forum on Homelessness meets the 1st Wed. of every month at 9–10:30am at Kent Commons, 525 – 4th Ave N. SKC Forum on Homelessness web address: http://kentwa.gov/content.aspx?id=2728
Upcoming Meeting: Wednesday, Nov 5, from 9:00 to 10:30am at Kent Commons (525 – 4th Avenue N.)
North King County Housing Stakeholders Meeting
Contact: Kelly Rider at kelly@housingconsortium.org. The NKC Stakeholders group coordinates homeless housing & service activities in North King County. Typical Schedule: Quarterly, 2nd Wednesday, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, (brown bag) Shoreline City Hall
Upcoming Meeting: December
Eastside Homelessness Advisory Committee (EHAC)
Contact: Arthur Sullivan ASullivan@bellevuewa.gov. EHAC coordinates homeless housing & service activities in East King County. Typical Meeting Schedule: 2nd Thursday of the month, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, 1717 Bellevue Way NE (just south of 520)
Upcoming Meeting: Thursday, November 13, from 2:00 to 4:00pm, at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue (1717 Bellevue Way NE)
Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness (ITFH)
The ITFH works among, between, and within the faith community and seeks to create the political will to end homelessness using targeted education, outreach and advocacy. Typical Meeting Schedule: 3rd Wednesday of the month, noon-1:30pm at St. Mark’s. Contact: Bill Kirlin-Hackett at itfh@comcast.net or (425) 442-5418.
Upcoming Meeting: Wednesday, November 19, 2014, Noon – 1:30p.m. at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, Seattle
University District Conversation on Homelessness
Contact: Nathalie Gerhke. Monthly Gathering share thoughts and strategies on local and regional concerns around homelessness. Typical Meeting Schedule: 2nd Monday of the month, 9 – 11:30 am. Meetings rotate throughout the U District, and frequently at University Congregational Church though location may change.
Upcoming Meeting: Monday, November 10, 9-11:30 a.m. at 130-N Foege Bldg, UW (South) Campus, (15th Ave N.E.)
University District Service Provider’s Alliance
Contact: udsp.spt@gmail.com U-District Service Provider’s Alliance share information relevant to working with homeless youth and young adults, program updates, and neighborhood updates. A service provider debrief follows each meeting. Typical Meeting Schedule: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 11am-12:30pm
Upcoming Meeting: Wednesday, November 12, 11am-12:30pm at Street Youth Ministries
Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH)
The General meeting is the 3rd Thurs of each month, 9-11am at E Cherry YWCA. Learn more and sign up for meeting reminders at www.homelessinfo.org
General Meeting: Thursday, November 20, from 9:00 to 11:00am, E. Cherry YWCA 2820 E. Cherry St.
SKCCH Youth & Young Adults: Tuesday, November 18, from 10:00-11:30am, at Capitol Hill Library 425 Harvard Ave. E.
SKCCH Single Adults Advocacy: Thursday, November 13, from noon to 1:30pm, Plymouth's Simons Apts 2119 3rd Ave.
SKCCH Families with Children: Cancelled due to Thanksgiving
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