Greetings—I hope this message finds you healthy and well. It is important we pause and give thanks as we approach the end of the most challenging and unpredictable year we can remember. Thanksgiving offers us space to thank our families, colleagues, and our incredible human services providers—but this year feels a lot different. The people we serve have faced more challenges than ever before. The human service safety net has been stretched further than we thought possible. And many people won’t be able to enjoy time with family over Thanksgiving and the holidays because of the pandemic.

At the same time, many of Seattle’s human services partners have met this challenge and have filled a critical need throughout the year. The impacts of COVID-19 are not going away anytime soon. I want to offer my deep appreciation for the incredible work you do to serve Seattle’s most vulnerable communities. I also want to extend my thanks to the hard-working staff of the Seattle Human Services Department. Many have been working non-stop since COVID-19 hit the region last spring. Thank you!

As many of you know, City of Seattle is approaching the end of its 2021 budget deliberations. City Council has been reviewing Mayor Durkan’s proposal and will be unveiling the final version in the weeks to come. Council is scheduled to vote on the 2021 budget package on November 23rd, and our team will be in touch with contracted community-based providers following that vote.

An exciting part of next year’s budget is how the City invests in our communities. All are invited to join HSD’s community forum series on its new Safe and Thriving Communities Division. This new division will respond to community requests for the City of Seattle to shift funding away from traditional police response and reinvest in community building efforts using nearly $22 million in annual investments. Through the community forums, you will learn about options to direct the work of the new division. Namely, design a hiring process for the new division director and a community structure that shares responsibility for decisions and outcomes. Learn more below and on our Human Interests blog.

In closing, I also want to highlight the recent recognition given to four dedicated HSD employees. The Seattle Management Association (SMA) is an employee affinity group at the City, and “the leading professional public sector organization promoting excellence and integrity in City of Seattle leadership.” Volunteer board members support their fellow City of Seattle employees by planning opportunities for professional development, networking, and recognition. Their annual SMA Excellence in Leadership Awards highlight the exceptional work of public employees as recognized by their fellow co-workers. I am pleased to share that this year HSD staff were selected for three separate awards!

First, Flor Alarcon-Avendano was selected for an individual award in the category of Race and Social Justice. Flor was nominated four times in two different categories. 

Second, Deborah Witmer was selected as part of the City of Seattle COVID-19 Testing Site Team in the category of Planning and Project Management.

Finally, the Duwamish Valley Action Team (DAT) were selected as part of the Duwamish Valley Program Team recognized in the category of Environmental Stewardship. Maria Langlais and Natalie Thomson are members of the DAT.

SMA told me they received over 70 nominations this year and their amazing leadership stood out. Please join me in applauding their hard work and the work that all our public employees do every day here in Seattle.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones, Jason

“I don’t know what I would do without this help.” This is something that Kristine Broome hears frequently. Kristine is a longtime caregiver support specialist in Seattle Human Services’ Aging and Disability Services division.

“My client, Sandra, often says this when I check in with her regarding the services the Family Caregiver Support Program is providing for her,” continues Kristine. “She is currently receiving eight hours a week of respite care with a contracted home care agency and caregiver counseling through Sound Generations. Bathing assistance is included in the respite care Sandra’s mother receives.” Click here to learn more about caregiver support services Sandra and others receive in Seattle-King County.

“ADS care coordinators are skilled in motivational interviewing, person-centered care planning, health promotion, transitional care follow-up, and individual and family support, and highly knowledgeable of social services available in the local community,” writes Health Home program supervisor Heather Dagg. “We believe these services are vital for optimal physical and cognitive health for our clients.” Click here to learn more about our ADS division’s Health Home program.

“For more than 20 years, Aging and Disability Services (ADS)—a division of the Seattle Human Services Department designated as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Seattle-King County—has partnered with Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) to provide on-site AAA case management services for residents of 52 high-rise and “senior” buildings,” writes SHA Case Management team supervisor Sean Walsh. Click here to learn how this long-standing partnership made a difference when COVID testing was needed.  

If you haven’t visited the site previously, AgeWise King County is a monthly e-zine published by the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. Click here to subscribe for free.

As we enter this year’s winter season, the City of Seattle is in the midst of multiple crises including the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic downturn. Maintaining COVID-19 health recommendations as part of the City and King County’s shelter system remains a challenge facing our homelessness response system.

In the event of a major snowstorm or cold weather event, the City is capable of activating hundreds of short-term, temporary emergency shelter beds across Seattle for people experiencing homelessness. The City’s winter emergency response is coordinated by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), which partners with City departments like HSD to make preparations and ensure City programs and services are maintained during disruptive weather events.

As in years past, HSD has identified shelter spaces for an emergency response based on different scenarios, including a short-term weather event or a longer-term weather event. A short-term winter weather emergency response is activated when there is a snow accumulation in excess of 1-inch and/or forecasted temperatures of 25 degrees or below for multiple days. A long-term response is activated when the weather conditions significantly impact people living homeless, including snow accumulation of over 6-inches, 25 degrees or below for multiple days and/or a State of Emergency declaration. Both event scenarios may include other health and safety considerations such as a wind advisory or ice.

Click here to learn more about our emergency response plan, such as some of the shelter spaces which have been identified and how we responded to past winter weather events.

2020 Shelter Surge & 2020 Street to Housing ESG-CV Rapid Rehousing RFQs

HSD's Homeless Strategy & Investment (HSI) Division is pleased to announce the availability of two Request for Qualification (RFQ) processes:

1) The 2020 Shelter Surge RFQ will identify eligible homeless services agencies to operate and provide supportive services at approximately 425 new single adult emergency shelter spaces. Beginning in December 2020, HSD expects to have access to approximately 300 temporary shelter units located at leased hotel properties and 125 units of new enhanced shelter spaces. Through this RFQ process HSD is also identifying agencies to support the possible expansion of the tiny house village program in FY 2021.

2) The 2020 Street to Housing ESG-CV Rapid Rehousing RFQ will select one service provider to provide program enrollment and support to participants at the single adult shelter surge hotel buildings. This intentional linkage of shelter to Rapid Rehousing programming is designed to produce faster and more successful exits to permanent housing. The onsite provider will focus on identifying housing options, move-in and rental assistance, and case management services and supports. HSD estimates that through an expedited process approximately 231 households will be enrolled into Emergency Solutions Grant - Coronavirus (ESG-CV) funded Rapid Rehousing program.

Visit the joint funding process web page for more information on these two RFQs and to download materials. Please contact Lisa Gustaveson, Strategic Advisor at lisa.gustaveson@seattle.gov or (206) 482-4573 with any questions.