Action & Opportunities

Do YOU believe human service workers should be paid equitable wages? Do you think the City should sustain current levels of human services, especially in difficult economic times? Do you want to raise YOUR voice to make it so? See below for advocacy opportunities!

This year, it's even more important to speak up for housing, shelter, food, and more in the budget - funding for important things like affordable housing, shelter, and services is on the line as the Budget goes through the City Council. Luckily, you can count on the Coalition and our friends at the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness to make it easy for you to take action!

Join us for two new, FREE Budget Advocacy Trainings in partnership with the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness.

• Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 6:00-7:30 PM, IN PERSON at Solid Ground in Wallingford.

We will have food to share. Learn more and register here. This training will focus primarily on the Seattle Budget, and is more geared towards people who live or work in Seattle, though all are welcome! 

• Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 10:00-11:30 AM, ONLINE. Register here!

PS: Register even if you can’t make it – we will share a recording of the online training afterward. This training will include information on both the Seattle and King County budgets and is more suitable for people who live or work outside of Seattle.

What you will learn and practice:

- What this year's budget means for homelessness, housing, and human services

- Who your elected officials are, and how to get in touch with them

- How to craft an effective message

- There are many different ways to take action - we will practice some of them together 

- How to help others take action (for service providers, that includes the people you serve)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Fall 2023 Seattle City Budget Testimony Opportunities 

We need your help to ensure adequate wage equity investments are applied consistently to all human service workers receiving city funding. We also need your help in telling the council to extend one-time funding so as to sustain current, successful investments in well-being and resilience. SHSC members are mobilizing to testify on Friday, October 27 at 10 AM and Monday, November 13 at 5 PM. For more information on testifying, please sign up via this link.

Human Services Advocacy Training

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 3-5pm at the LIHI main office (1253 S Jackson St)

In-conjunction with Statewide Poverty Action Network, SHSC leaders will describe how local governments develop their human service budgets and what human service workers can do to inform this process. You will learn how to tell your story to elected officials, who need to hear from YOU, the subject matter experts in this work. 

This training is free and open to all levels of experience. Save the date, and if you would like to RSVP please complete this form.

Wage Equity for human services workers is long overdue and on the way! 

Your Raising Wages for Changing Lives campaign has launched! We are thrilled to announce that the City of Seattle has released the RFQ for the Pay Equity Analysis. Click here to review the materials. We will be selecting the research team in July, with the final analysis report scheduled to be released at the end of January.

We are also thrilled to announce that your conversations in your communities have resulted in signatures rolling in on our wage equity sign-on letter.  Have YOU and your own organization signed on yet?  Do you support compensating human service workers for the skills, education, experience, and value of the work they do to build well-being in our communities?

Add your name to the sign-on letter!

Whether you are a human services worker, funder, board member, neighbor, or supporter: we all welcome your voice in speaking up for pay equity! Both individuals and organizations can add their names, along with an optional testimonial explaining why you support wage equity for human service workers. We look forward to keeping you updated as the momentum builds.

YOUR visible support is what will make wage equity a reality!

SHSC has developed our work on Indigenous Rights

In 2021, SHSC created a Land Acknowledgment and committed to a set of Indigenous Rights Actions and Goals. Please click here to read SHSC’s Land Acknowledgment.

SHSC CITY BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN EQUITABLE RECOVERY

Hello, Seattle Human Services Coalition members!

This will be a critical budget season as the City determines how to spend an influx of one-time federal funds and sets a strategy for helping our communities recover from an incredibly difficult year. This packet is our recommendation on how to build an equitable recovery and it is built on the input that each of your member coalitions provided.

In addition to the actions recommended by each SHSC member coalition, we are advocating for TWO TOP PRIORITIES that will increase the effectiveness of all of our organizations and support the communities we serve:
1. No cuts to current successful human services, and

2. A city-funded comparable worth pay equity analysis in 2022 to help us all push for fair, sustainable, and equitable wages for human services workers.

SHSC's City Budget Taskforce has already begun using this powerful recommendation package in meetings with the Mayor's Office and City Councilmembers.

We encourage you to utilize this packet as well! Share it with your organization, partners, coalitions, and especially elected officials. The more we get this message out the better our chances are of ensuring that the City of Seattle funds an equitable recovery and adequately supports the impactful services you all provide! 

If you have any questions, comments or would like to speak further please reach out to the City Budget Taskforce co-chairs (Rick Malley-Crawford - rick@recoverycafe.org and Will Toaspern – willt@solid-ground.org or Julia Sterkovsky at SHSC (jsterkovsky@shscoalition.org).

Thanks very much!

Hello, human services advocates!

Providers know what works to build well-being in communities throughout Seattle. Now, let City Council benefit from your perspective!!

SHSC’s FREE Advocacy Training to be held on Tuesday, September 10th and includes an inside look at providers' shared priorities for 2020, the City of Seattle's budget process, messaging, and skill-building for new and experienced advocates alike.

When: Tuesday, September 10th @ 2:30 - 4pm

Where: Catholic Community Services (100 23rd Ave; Seattle, WA 98144)

This training is a great leadership development opportunity: Are there staff, board members or program participants from your organization who would be GREAT advocates but don't have experience with the City's budget process yet? Give them access to the knowledge and skills they need while expanding our core of human services advocates!

Please RSVP to Jerry Peerson (jpeerson@shscoalition.org) with the names of people who will be taking advantage of this opportunity from your agency.

Look forward to seeing you there!

City Council unanimously passed the ordinance requiring an adjustment for inflation equal to cpi-w on all HSD human services contracts. This includes services funded by city dollars and those funded by state or federal “pass-through” dollars.

Now that we have this stabilizing measure under our collective belts, let’s thank City Councilmembers and then keep the momentum going by moving the attention to the larger and deeper issue of the historic underfunding of human services wages.  Here’s what such a thank you might look like:

Thank you, City Councilmembers, for passing an ordinance to adjust Human Services contracts annually for Inflation

With this vote you have laid the foundation to maintain what we have built together.

Your decision, which is both common sense and ground-breaking, to adjust all human services contracts annually for inflation secures this investment. Thank you.

Now it is time to turn our attention to the long-term legacy you have noted of under-valuing the skills, education, experience, and integral importance of human services workers as reflected in the insufficient, inequitable pay scale for this work. 

Are you in favor of a mandatory inflation adjustment?

Have you heard about the potential City of Seattle ordinance that, if enacted, would require the City to include an annual inflation adjustment on all HSD contracts? It is in the works!

Want to know more?

We have the latest news on what YOU need to do in order to DO YOUR PART to ensure that all HSD contracts have an automatic annual adjustment for inflation that actually meets the inflation rate.

This is a possibility, but this NOT a done deal. If you want to settle this practicality now, participate this summer. If we don't secure this sustainability measure this summer, we will have to keep fighting for an inflation adjustment every year.

To do YOUR part and secure this sustainability measure once and for all, first YOU have to do three things.

1)    Pack the City Council Chambers with supporters. We suggest three to five people from each agency at EVERY ONE OF THESE THREE MEETINGS:

• Thurs, June 6th 1:30-2:30 Council Work Session

• Thurs, June 13th 9:30am Introduction of topic/ordinance to HHEWR Committee

• Thurs, July 11th 9:30am Discussion, amendment in HHEWR Committee

Bring your staff, program participants, board members...

2)    Prepare one person from each agency to make 1-2 min public comment supporting an annual inflation adjustment for the June 13th and July 11th committee meetings. See our messages here: Maintain what we have built together.

3)    Mobilize folks affiliated with your agency to send email or postcards to City Council members from June 14th to July 15th supporting the automatic annual adjustment for inflation.

To help your coalitions organize this advocacy, RSVP now to let us know who will be participating on behalf of your agency on each of these days.  There are just 8 questions on the RSVP, please fill them all in so we can reach you to let you know if there are breaking developments! Thanks to the Coalition on Homelessness who is providing the location for the RSVP for all of us!

This ordinance won't pass unless we all show up at City Hall to advocate in June and July. Council needs to hear from us that a regular inflation adjustment is needed to sustain our work helping Seattle residents build well-being.

Let's make this happen!

Who will participate from YOUR agency? www.homelessinfo.org/adjustforinflation

This is where you decide: do you want this automatic inflation adjustment or not? Vote with your feet and your voice!

Mayor durkan’s budget Proposes to cuts to services you can take action

September 27, 2018

Dear (name of contact),

Mayor Durkan released her budget proposal for 2019-20 on Monday. The first budget hearing is coming up fast on Thurs, Oct 4th (next week!) so we wanted you to know right away how her proposal measures up to SHSC’s 2019-20 Budget Recommendation Portfolio.

The bottom line is that the Mayor’s proposed 2019-20 budget does not even maintain the level of services currently provided and makes NONE of the additional investments needed to see the changes Seattle residents and businesses want in our communities, as urged by SHSC members in the recommendation portfolio.           

There are three major areas City Council members must address in order to achieve the basic priority of no cuts to current levels of community-based health and human services.

• The mayor’s proposed 2019-20 budget will actually cut 217 overnight shelter beds plus space for over 50 people temporarily accommodated in “little houses” in the first 6 months of 2019. This capacity must be restored.

• The mayor also only includes half of the funding for inflation adjustments needed to provide the same level of services with costs increasing and only on some city contracts. $18million more is needed just to account for 3.5% inflation and preserve current services.

• The Mayor’s proposal also cuts funding for grass roots advocacy to bring state resources to Seattle residents, which is more critical than ever.  Just $88,000 in 2019 and $91,000 in 2020 will restore this work.

Half-measures are not solutions.

The mayor’s proposed budget doesn’t even allow us to tread water!

We want City Council take steps to make sure every Seattle resident can reach their full potential:

Invest in solutions at the scale of the challenges our communities are facing.

We will only get a better budget if you MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

What happens next?

The ball is now in the Seattle City Council’s “court” and they will decide on the City’s 2019-20 budget in the next seven weeks.

There are two public hearings where your presence will make a difference:

Thursday, October 4th &

Tuesday, October 23rd

—both hearings are at 5:30pm at City Hall in Council Chambers, 2nd floor Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 98104.

You can make a difference by giving testimony at the hearings or just come and bring your friends to the hearing; we'll have RED scarves you can wear to show your support for human services funding. 

Sign-in to testify usually starts at 4:30 or 5pm. Because many people come to the hearings, if you want to testify, but don’t want to stay too late, you may want to arrive as early as 3pm in order to secure an earlier speaking time, but they will keep the hearing open until everyone who wants to testify has done so.

What would it help to say?

Always start with your support of SHSC’s full portfolio or recommendations, then talk about the portion that you want to bring to their attention, or why the full package is important.

PRIMARY MESSAGE: 

We support SHSC's 2019-20 budget recommendations to move us toward becoming a just and thriving community and we urge you to fund the full portfolio.

Find the complete messages here.

Find tips and pointers on how the hearings work here.

If you know folks who can't make it to the hearing, they can contact Councilmembers directly before October 25th. Sooner is always better! 

Mike O'Brien, (206) 684-8800, mike.obrien@seattle.gov

Sally Bagshaw, (206) 684-8801, sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov

Lorena Gonzalez, (206) 684-8802, lorena.gonzalez@seattle.gov

Lisa Herbold, (206) 684-8803, lisa.herbold@seattle.gov

Bruce Harrell, (206) 684-8804, bruce.harrell@seattle.gov

Debora Juarez, (206) 684-8805, debora.juarez@seattle.gov

Teresa Mosqueda, (206)684-8806, teresa.mosqueda@seattle.gov

Kshama Sawant, (206) 684-8016, kshama.sawant@seattle.gov

Rob Johnson, (206) 684-8808, rob.johnson@seattle.gov

Let your voice be heard!

Jen Muzia                                                     Shoshana Wineburg

Ex Dir, Ballard Food Bank                            Public Policy Manager, YouthCare

Co-Chairs, SHSC City Budget Task Force

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At City Hall you can park in the SeaPark garage ½ block up Cherry St from City Hall for $5 after 4pm if you let them know you were at the public hearing. (If you park before 4pm, the regular rate will apply up until 4pm). 

Council Chambers is ADA accessible, with an Induction Loop assistive listening system. To arrange for accommodations, contact customer support at (206) 684-8888; or TTY Relay 7-1-1; or visit http://seattle.gov/cityclerk/accommodations.

For more information, contact the Seattle Human Services Coalition, 206/325-7105, leave a message and we’ll return your call, or email jsterkovsky@shscoalition.org.

Member Coalitions

* Advocacy, Organizing & Capacity Building * Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence*

* Community Health Council of Seattle King County *  

* Disability Services Committee * King County Early Learning Coalition * Meals Partnership Coalition *  

*Non-Profit Anti-Racism Coalition* Seattle Food Committee *

* Seattle Helpline Coalition * Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness *
* Services for Seniors * Youth Development Executives of King County *

206.325.7105 | shsc@shscoalition.org | www.shscoalition.org

results of this years budget advocacy

SHSC members advocated with three different mayors and 10 councilmembers this year for increased investments by the City of Seattle in 2018.  You stayed on message, educating officials on the needs in their communities and the solutions- you told them, “We know what works. Bring the City of Seattle’s investment in solutions up to scale with the challenges faced by our communities.”

Your concerted advocacy resulted in an increased investment in 2018 of $9,850,942 for community health and human services and efforts to move us closer to becoming a just and thriving community. (See the full list of adds here).  This is in addition to the $4,546,853 for 2018 we gained in 2016. Advocacy works and you do a great job of it!

You Can influence the City Budget

Mayor Burgess released his budget proposal for 2018 on Monday. The first budget hearing is coming up fast on Thurs, Oct 5th (next week!) so we wanted you to know right away how his proposal measures up to SHSC’s 2018 Budget Recommendation Portfolio.

The bottom line is that while the Mayor has proposed some new investments, including two from our portfolio, there is much more than can and should be done.  The increase in homelessness investments he has proposed, for example, is just 3%. If our top priority as a city is to make Seattle a Just and Thriving Community, City Council must bring the City’s investment in solutions up to the scale of our challenges!

It will only happen if you MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

What happens next?

The ball is now in the Seattle City Council’s “court” and they will decide on the City’s 2018 budget in the next seven weeks.

There are two public hearings where your presence will make a difference:

Thursday, October 5th

&

Wednesday, November 1st  

—both at 5:30pm at City Hall in Council Chambers, 2nd floor Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 98104.

You can make a difference by giving a 2-minute testimony at the hearings or just come and bring your friends to the hearing; we'll have RED scarves you can wear to show your support for human services funding.

Sign-in to testify usually starts at 4:30 or 5pm. Because many people come to the hearings, if you want to testify, but don’t want to stay too late, you may want to arrive as early as 3:30pm in order to secure an earlier speaking time, but they will keep the hearing open until everyone who wants to testify has done so.

What would it help to say?

Always start with your support of SHSC’s full package, then talk about the portion that you want to bring to their attention, or why the full package is important.

PRIMARY MESSAGE: 

We support SHSC's 2018 budget recommendations to move us toward becoming a just and thriving community and we urge you to fund the full package.

Here are some ADDITIONAL POINTS:

• We appreciate the City's ongoing actions in sustaining community health and human services AND in the face of rising income inequality and increasing racial disproportionality, it is time to do more.

• We need to bring the City’s investment in solutions up to the scale of the challenges our communities are facing.

• All Seattle residents want to live in a just and thriving community and as our city councilmembers, your leadership is needed to direct public investments to do that.

• Each recommendation in the portfolio has been analyzed through the City's own Race and Social Justice Toolkit.

• Real people don't live in silos. The recommendations in the Portfolio have been created to cross "silos" for maximum impact and effectiveness.

• Let us tell you about the part of the portfolio we are most familiar with...(pick any portion or point and tell them why you support this specific portion of SHSC's portfolio. What is the impact of and need for these services?)

• Thank them!

If you know folks who can't make it to the hearing, they can contact Councilmembers directly before November 1st. Sooner is always better! 

Sally Bagshaw, (206) 684-8801, sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov

Lorena Gonzalez, (206) 684-8802, lorena.gonzalez@seattle.gov

Bruce Harrell, (206) 684-8804, bruce.harrell@seattle.gov

Lisa Herbold, (206) 684-8803, lisa.herbold@seattle.gov

Rob Johnson, (206) 684-8808, rob.johnson@seattle.gov

Debora Juarez, (206) 684-8805, debora.juarez@seattle.gov

Mike O'Brien, (206) 684-8800, mike.obrien@seattle.gov

Kshama Sawant, (206) 684-8016, kshama.sawant@seattle.gov

The ninth councilmember will be appointed on October 6th to replace former councilmember Tim Burgess who is now mayor.

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At City Hall you can park in the SeaPark garage ½ block up Cherry St from City Hall for $5 after 4pm if you let them know you were at the public hearing. (If you park before 4pm, the regular rate will apply up until 4pm). 

Council Chambers is ADA accessible, with an Induction Loop assistive listening system. To arrange for accommodations, contact customer support at (206) 684-8888; or TTY Relay 7-1-1; or visit http://seattle.gov/cityclerk/accommodations.

For more information, contact the Seattle Human Services Coalition, 206/325-7105, shsc@shscoalition.org

Member Coalitions

* Advocacy, Organizing & Capacity Building * Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence*

* Community Health Council of Seattle King County *  

* Disability Services Committee * King County Early Learning Coalition * Meals Partnership Coalition *  

*Non-Profit Anti-Racism Coalition* Seattle Food Committee *

* Seattle Helpline Coalition * Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness *
* Services for Seniors * Youth Development Executives of King County *

2017 candidates forum

Advocacy Training

Do You Have Questions About Immigrant Rights, human services, and sanctuary?

March 20, 2017

With the recent changes at the federal level impacting lives at the local level, SHSC members have been raising questions about the role, rights, and responsibilities of community health and human service providers in immigration enforcement and sanctuary

Here are some of the common questions providers have raised with links to the answers and further resources.  Our thanks to the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) for providing much of this resource info and for the vital, effective work they do!  Thanks to SHSC’s new Operations Administrator, Kimberly Alfonzo Chae, for her work tracking down many of the answers.

1.           What can human service providers do to help program participants and employees feel more secure?  Resource Page

                https://www.ice.gov/doclib/ero-outreach/pdf/10029.2-policy.pdf

2.            What should or can providers do if ICE shows up at their facility?  Resource Page

3.            What should providers and program participants do now, BEFORE interacting with immigration officials, to prepare? Resource Page

For answers to these questions and more, go to SHSC’s Resource Page on sanctuary and human services.

Let us know what you run into!

SHSC supports real soLUtions for community safety

Letter to Mayor Murray and City Council

SHSC's 2017-18 Budget Rec Portfolio delivered to the Mayor's Office

SHSC's City Budget Task Force has delivered to the Mayor's Office, a portfolio of SHSC members' recommendations of what we need to do in the 2017-18 budget to come closer to our shared vision of a just and thriving community--one where all Seattle residents can reach their full potential.

We're excited about this portfolio, coordinated and assembled via this year's new process, and encourage you to take a look at the SHSC 2017-18 budget recommendation portfolio for more details.

Your voice counts!  Whether the recommended investments in SHSC's budget portfolio are added depends on your demonstrated community support. We know the city of Seattle has the resources to ensure that all Seattle residents can reach their full potential; we know it's a question of priorities. Ask Mayor Murray and the City Council, "What are your priorities?"

More info on advocacy opportunities upcoming!

shsc letter to mayor murray & city council: "sweeping" encampments not a real solution for homelessness

Read the Seattle Human services COALITION'S PRIORITIES FOR 2016  

CONGRATULATIONS! CITY OF SEATTLE 2016 BUDGET SUMMARY

Congratulations to everyone who advocated for more funding to help Seattle residents meet their basic human needs in 2016.  Mayor Murray and Councilmembers added a record $17,382,286 to the endorsed 2016 budget for services and structures to address a wide variety of issues across our communities.

At the same time the Mayor and Councilmembers cut the 2016 inflation adjustment for all HSD contracts to below the rate of inflation for service delivery AND failed to step up to the challenge of effectively mitigating the upcoming impacts of the rising minimum wage on human services, which goes up another step on January 1st.

Get the details here.  (You can access more detail for each item City Council added by using the GS# on this summary and looking it up here on the agenda for City Council’s Round 2 discussions.)

Your hard work paid off in many areas for our communities. Our appreciation also goes out to the SHSC leaders who served on SHSC’s City Budget Task Force this year.    Advocacy works!

LAST CHANCE TO INFLUENCE CITY OF SEATTLE 2016 BUDGET

City Councilmembers will be making all their budget decisions in the next few days. 

Come to City Council Chambers Monday morning, November 16th, starting at 10 am and be a witness in a red scarf as the Budget Committee takes their votes on all adds and cuts.

SHSC positions and recommendations. 

YOU DID IT! BEST STARTS FOR KIDS PASSED

Congratulations on the success of King County Prop 1, 
Best Starts for Kids!

MAYOR AND KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY ON HOMELESSNESS, ADVOCACY NEEDED TO CITY COUNCIL NOW!

SHSC's letter to Seattle City Council Members concerning the state of emergency urges further action needed for making a rapid and noticeable difference.  Contact Council now to support these actions. 

minimum wage mitigation needed to prevent cuts in human services

SHSC recommends immediate implementation of Phased Mitigation Plan.

KEEPING UP WITH THE CITY BUDGET? THE STUDENTS AT CENTER SCHOOL ARE.

Listen to the Public Service Announcements they made.

Read Center School students' guest column, "Health, Human Services Deserve More Funding," in Queen Anne & Magnolia News. 

For more information about SHSC's budget recommendations, visit our Actions & Opportunities page. 

2016 CITY BUDGET HEARINGS  

• Did you know Mayor Murray has proposed a cut to all City HSD contracts, including yours?

• Are needs increasing in your communities?

• What funding is necessary to make sure the rising minimum wage does not result in cuts to human services?

The Seattle City Council is making 2016 budget decisions in the next four weeks. There is only one public hearing remaining: Tuesday, Oct 20th, 5:30pm at City Hall.

Although the economy is reported to be recovering, this economy is also falling short for at least half of the people of Seattle.  More and more people continue to come to us for help.

The Mayor has failed in his commitment not to cut human services in three ways:

• proposing a budget that cuts the 2016 inflation adjustment from 2.3% to just 0.8% on all HSD contracts;

• not proposing enough funding to make up for increased costs due to rising minimum wage. Both of these will result in cuts to services starting in 2016.

• AND a 50% cut in human services advocacy work at the state level that benefits Seattle residents.

His proposal does include incremental funding increases in some areas, but not enough investment to address the state of emergency in our communities right now and not enough to see the change we all want in our communities.  

See the full SHSC budget recommendation package for a Just and Thriving Community for more details, including proposed investments from SHSC's recommendation package and other proposed investments SHSC supports.

Good News:  Your voice counts!  Whether our inflationary adjustment is restored, minimum wage is mitigated, or the recommended investments in SHSC's package are added depends on if you demonstrate community support for these investments.

The last budget hearing is Tuesday, October 20th.

Give a 2 min. testimony at the public hearings or just come to the hearing; we'll have RED scarves you can wear to show your support. Find more information on messaging here. 

Tuesday, October 20th at Council Chambers, 2nd floor Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 98104, 5 pm sign-in, 5:30 pm hearing begins.

SHSC MEMBERS ADVOCATE AT OCTOBER 5TH CITY BUDGET HEARING

BEST STARTS FOR KIDS

After ten years working towards it, we now have a dedicated , adequate, stable revenue source for regional community health and human services on the November ballot: Best Starts for Kids! This will mean $60m each year for support kids need to fully develop their potential, including solutions to address domestic violence, hunger, and homelessness.

WAGE THEFT ORDINANCE

Do your constituents have an interest in good systems to prevent wage theft? The City of Seattle is engaged in a process to iron out the rules needed to enact the Wage Theft Ordinance.   It is still being shaped right now. If you have an interest in how this looks, act now.

COALITION HUMAN RIGHTS LEADEr Award

• On Human Rights Day, December 10, 2014, the Seattle Human Rights Commission awarded the Seattle Human Services Coalition the Coalition Human Rights Leader award.

• SHSC co-chair, Patricia Hayden, accepted the award on behalf of SHSC.

SHSC MEMBERS ADVOCATE AT CITY BUDGET HEARINGS

• The many advocates of SHSC's 2015-16 Budget Recommendations Package wore orange scarves to show their support for the package at the October 7th City Budget Hearings. See more pictures.

• SHSC Co-Chair, Patricia Hayden delivered SHSC's testimony at the October 7th, City Budget Hearings at Garfield Community Center. Read SHSC's message.

• King 5's coverage of the October 7th, City Budget Hearing.

ACTION NEEDED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF NEW MINIMUM WAGE POLICY

• SHSC leadership reminds City Council and Mayor Murray that a comprehensive study and plan are needed to prevent cuts in human services for Seattle residents due to new minimum wage policy. See complete set of the actions recommended here.

YOU CAN'T MAKE CHANGE WITH A BUSINESS AS USUAL BUDGET

• Pictured in the banner above: the SHSC team who presented the budget rec package to Mayor Murray; City Budget Task Force Co-Chairs Johnny Otto and Julia Ismael, holding the package in the front row surrounded by experts in community health and human services, Alison Alfonzo Pence, MJ Kiser, Deeann Puffert, Regent Brown, Merril Cousin, Mark Secord, Julia Sterkovsky, SHSC Co-Chairs Steve Daschle and Patricia Hayden, and Jessica Werner.

• SHSC representatives presented Mayor Murray with the SHSC’s package of 2015-16 City of Seattle Budget Recommendations for a Just and Thriving Community in August and met with each member of City Council in September.

• The 2015-16 package has a new central organizing question, one we heard many city councilmembers ask us last fall: “What would it take to move the needle?” That is, what are the actions needed in order to see positive changes in our communities.This package was also developed in a new way. We focused on reducing racial disproportionality in outcomes and reducing the negative effects of the artificial silos of services into which the system has traditionally been organized. Get a complete copy.

INTRODUCING THE AGENDA FOR A JUST & THRIVING COMMUNITY

We choose to build, nurture, and sustain a just community where all people have access to the
basic necessities, opportunities, and resources to survive and thrive. The “Agenda for a Just and
Thriving Community” is designed to promote the creation of a society in which everyone has equal
access to adequate resources. Learn more. 

SHSC RAISES ISSUES WITH MAYOR MURRAY

SIGN ON TO STRENGTHEN INCENTIVE ZONING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Having an adequate supply of housing in Seattle that is affordable to people of all incomes is integral to strong, healthy communities. The Seattle Human Services Coalition has added our voice to a collaborative effort to strengthen the incentives for developers in Seattle to include affordable housing in their projects.
We urge you to sign the Growing Together Coalition petition and we urge your organization to endorse stronger incentives. Sign the Petition.

•  Read the Seattle Times Op-Ed endorsing Proposition

• Announcing the 2014 Human Services Awards Recipients

• SHSC’s Human Services Issues Advisory on Raising the Minimum Wage

SHSC recognizes the importance of a livable minimum wage in addressing poverty in our community. SHSC fully supports raising the minimum wage for all human services workers (and others) to $15/hr. We are also acutely aware that this call for raising the minimum wage must be done in such a way that does not result in a decrease in urgently needed services; any solution must take into account the impact on the vulnerable people we serve. Read more...