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Taking Action on Homelessness, Together

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A Conversation On Housing in King County with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal Virtual Event

January 10, 2022

A Conversation On Housing in King County with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal Virtual Event

January 10, 2022

Join We Are In on Monday, January 24, 2022 from 4:00 – 5:00pm for A Conversation On Housing in King County with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, King County Executive Dow Constantine, state Rep. Nicole Macri, and We Are In Founding Director Felicia Salcedo. 

It is evident –– both in King County and across the country –– that the solution to homelessness is housing. The question then becomes, where is the funding going to come from for additional affordable housing units and how do we ensure that the funding is spent swiftly, effectively, and equitably? We are excited to discuss these questions and more with our guest speakers representing national, state, and local government, and for the opportunity to learn more about what homelessness and housing funds exist or will soon be available to the King County community and the steps necessary to ensure impactful implementation. 

Register to join our virtual conversation HERE. 

If you would like to submit a question for We Are In’s guest speakers, you can do so HERE. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Filed Under: News

Tell The Washington State Legislature to Prioritize Ending Homelessness in the Upcoming Budget!

January 6, 2022

Tell The Washington State Legislature to Prioritize Ending Homelessness in the Upcoming Budget

1.6.22

On January 10th, 2022, the Washington State Legislature will begin its new Legislative session. There, elected leaders will decide the fate of the remaining federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and other increased state revenue. It’s critical that they allocate a significant portion of the upcoming budget to fight homelessness. That’s where we need you to take action.

Sign our petition to urge the Washington State Legislature to prioritize ending homelessness not only in King County, but across the state.

These past few years have taught us a lot about managing during a crisis and one thing is clear – when we work together, we can solve major problems. With 2021 in the rearview mirror, we can make 2022 a year where we come together as a community to help our unhoused neighbors find homes and end homelessness in King County.

Tell the Washington State Legislature that Governor Inslee’s proposed budget to the issue is a great step towards reaching that goal.

While communities have been working to address and solve the issue for many years, the pandemic has caused considerable increases in homelessness and housing instability. With the support of all Washingtonians, including our local elected officials, we can help our unhoused neighbors with the supports and services they need.

SIGN OUR PETITION HERE.

Filed Under: Articles, News

Ways to help our unhoused neighbors this holiday season.

December 9, 2021

Ways to help our unhoused neighbors this holiday season.

12.9.21

This holiday season, we wanted to share some opportunities to give back here in King County, from preparing holiday meals to fulfilling children’s holiday wish lists. As we have seen over the course of the pandemic, kindness, connection, and generosity go a long way.

  • Donate gift cards or purchase wish-list-items for clients of Mary’s Place. Mary’s Place provides safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children and families on their journey out of homelessness. Their No Child Sleeps Outside program raises critical funds that keep more than 4,000 moms, dads, and kids in their hard-won homes or help them move back into housing quickly and to operate Mary’s Place’s five emergency family shelters. Find details about holiday giving opportunities here.
  • Contribute to the Downtown Emergency Service Center’s (DESC) holiday gift campaign. The DESC, one of Seattle’s largest homeless service providers, is running a holiday gift campaign to provide a gift to every client living in one of its permanent supportive housing locations. Click here to learn more about the gift campaign.
  • Sponsor an apartment at the DESC’s new permanent supportive housing site, Hobson Place. Support someone who is moving into Hobson Place by sponsoring an apartment, which helps to purchase bedding, cleaning supplies and housewares. Click here to learn more about sponsoring an apartment.
  • Donate household items, clothing, and toiletries to Plymouth Housing. Plymouth Housing, a large permanent supportive housing provider in the region, is looking for cleaning supplies, winter clothing, rain gear, socks, and other items. Contact Cathy Martin at cmartin@plymouthhousing.org to coordinate a drop off.
  • Prepare a meal for Helen’s Place or the Sophia’s Way shelters. The Sophia Way is dedicated to supporting women transition from homelessness to safe and stable housing on the eastside. Sign up here to deliver home-cooked lunch or dinner to one of their two shelters.
  • Donate food or funds to the Rainier Valley Food Bank. Check out RVFB’s website to find out how to contribute, including the best foods to donate, like canned goods, shelf stable milk or milk alternatives, and nut butters.
  • Make a donation to the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.
    The Urban League empowers Black and other diverse communities to thrive by securing educational and economic opportunities. To support its mission, the organization held its 20th annual Breakfast: Era of Essential Service event. Check out the Facebook Live recording to see how the Urban League’s vital work helps our communities.

  • Advocate for long-term solutions to help people experiencing homelessness. Ending homelessness in King County is the best way to help our unhoused neighbors, especially during the cold winter months. Visit WeAreIn.org and/or follow us on Twitter and Facebook to see how you can get involved.

Looking for more ways to give? Our friends at The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless put together this helpful guide that includes different items that homeless service providers in the region are in need of this holiday season. 

Be sure to share some of these opportunities with your friends, family, and community on Twitter and Facebook.

Filed Under: Articles, News

How to Safely Live In Your Car This Winter

November 29, 2021

How to Safely Live In Your Car This Winter

November 29, 2021

By: Kelly M.

It’s getting colder at night. I know firsthand how critical it is to prepare for cold weather, so I compiled my tips for surviving in a car in winter in the Pacific Northwest. We all know that living in a car is not ideal, and that we need more shelter and housing options that will work for everybody.

In the meantime, I hope my experience can help people who are forced to sleep outside stay safe, and can give other people an idea of the day-to-day challenges that we face. 

Here’s my checklist for people who have to sleep in their cars.

1. Write down the address of where you are parked and keep it close at hand.

It’s important to have the exact address of your location in case you need emergency support. When calling 911 while experiencing a medical emergency (such as hypothermia) or panic, it can be difficult to think clearly.

2. Ensure your car is in decent running order before winter.

O’Reilly’s will typically check and test batteries for free. If you don’t know how to check your car fluids and tire pressure, you can ask about that as well. Call 2-1-1 to check for free basic auto support.

3. Buy jumper cables (and make sure you know how to use them).

If you feel safe, an open hood is universal for “I need a jump”.

4. Try to always have at least a half tank of gas.

5. If it is snowing heavily, check to make sure your tailpipe is not blocked by snow.

This will put you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

6. Keep your window(s) cracked, on the side away from the wind.

You want to vent out moisture (which you create by breathing and sweating), but you want to stay as dry as possible.

7. Purchase Reflectix from Walmart or Auto Stores (also cheap scissors, if you don’t have any).

Reflectix is a thermal insulating material. Use it on your windshield for privacy and insulation, using the visors to hold it in place. You can also hang it across the inside of the car using bungee cords connecting it to the grab handles above the front doors); with this method, you’ll also want to drape a synthetic material blanket across it to help trap your body’s heat to the side you’re on.

8. Closed cell pads (i.e. sleeping bag mat or a yoga mat) are ideal for trapping body heat beneath you.

A lot of body heat gets lost from underneath you, and fluffy blankets and sleeping bags get flat from your weight and car seats/floors don’t insulate. Any material you can blow air through is not closed cell. In a pinch, reflectix will also do the job, as will a silver survival blanket, though neither are very comfortable.

9. Never use candles, space heaters, or open flame of any kind in your car.

Just don’t do it.

10. Smart clothing layering is critical.

You want synthetic material next to your skin and as an outer shell (such as a large garbage bag with holes cut for arms, head). Cheap exercise clothes are synthetic and they pass moisture away from the skin. Long or short sleeve synthetic shirts work well, along with additional layers of whatever you have on top. It’s critical to finish with something water resistant if you have to go outside. Wear fleece tights, thermals, and/or long johns. Jeans can go over them but try to keep them dry, and roll them up if they drag on the ground. On your feet, thin synthetic socks with thick fluffy socks, preferably wool/synthetic blend, are best. Wear a hat and scarf. Thin synthetic gloves with flip top mittens are good for the hands. Flip tops usually have room for a hottie.

11. Layer your bedding.

Flannel is a great bedding material if you can keep it dry. Sleeping bags won’t let drafts in. Again, go synthetic. Add blankets on top. Use a mat.

12. Know the signs of hypothermia and seek emergency support immediately, if symptoms arise.

Hypothermia symptoms include: Excessive shivering, exhaustion or drowsiness (particularly when you were wide awake), confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and blue-ing of fingers, toes, or lips. If you call 911 and they are slow to respond, you could set your car alarm off to get a faster response, go to a business that has lights on and ask for help, or try to get skin contact for warmth. Don’t ever be embarrassed to ask to enter a business while having a medical emergency — your life depends on it.

Filed Under: News, Updates

The Truth About Health Through Housing

August 20, 2021

The Truth About Health Through Housing

August 20, 2021

King County recently purchased a hotel in Redmond to be converted into emergency and supportive housing units through Executive Dow Constantine’s innovative Health Through Housing initiative. By the end of 2022, King County aims to create up to 1,600 units of supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness––and all of our region stands to benefit. With affordable housing in our area out of reach for so many, providing permanent supportive housing for people most in need is a central strategy in the fight to end homelessness.

Unfortunately, there are harmful myths about the hotel purchase spreading rapidly throughout communities in Redmond and Bellevue — fueled by disinformation and misconceptions about the initiative and publicly owned housing more broadly. Fears about this purchase, however, are misplaced. In this blog post, We Are In shares seven facts about the Redmond purchase and the importance of the county’s Health Through Housing initiative.

1. Providing permanent supportive housing plays a critical role in addressing the homelessness crisis. 

A study out of the University of California San Francisco found that supportive housing is one of the most effective ways to permanently house people who have experienced chronic homelessness. Through a range of recovery support services, supportive housing facilities can help address some of the root causes of homelessness. For example, all Health Through Housing facilities have staff and case managers on site who connect residents to health and behavioral health services as well as assist them in finding a job, applying to school and enrolling in benefits programs. 

2. The new Health through Housing facility will likely increase surrounding property values in Redmond and Bellevue.

A NYU study found that permanent supportive housing developments tend to correlate with increasing property values in surrounding neighborhoods, in part because permanent supportive housing is one of the best tools to reduce visible homelessness by helping people move inside.

3. Affordable and public housing developments like the Redmond facility will improve overall neighborhood unity and economic stability for all residents.

Despite claims to the contrary, numerous studies have shown that the presence of affordable housing developments does not contribute to an increase in crime; in fact, the National Crime Prevention Council encourages the construction of affordable housing as a tool for decreasing crime.

4. Supportive housing is the most effective way to get tents off the streets.

Providing access to housing is our best tool to reduce visible homelessness. Further, having a roof over your head allows for a shift from a survival mindset toward long-term recovery planning, such as finding a job and permanent housing.

5. There will not be a safe-injection site at the Redmond facility.

The Redmond facility, like all Health Through Housing facilities, does not have a safe-injection site.

6. Emergency and supportive shelter for people experiencing homelessness is critical in our efforts to dismantle racism and inequity more broadly.

Today, more than 11,000 people are experiencing homelessness in the region, with people of color or of Indigenous descent overwhelmingly overrepresented, reflecting decades of racist, inequitable housing and economic policy. The Health Through Housing initiative is a critical step in changing that reality. 

7. Permanent supportive housing is critical to house people with disabilities.

According to the 2020 Point in Time Count, up to a third of people experiencing homelessness self-report having a physical disability and/or a chronic health problem, and 20% self-reported having a traumatic brain injury. People with these disabilities are heavily overrepresented in the homelessness population, and permanent supportive housing is an important way for them to get the support and care they need.

We can end homelessness in King County—and it starts with providing safe, dignified, housing and stability to those who need it. You can read more about King County’s Health Through Housing initiative at the King County website.

Filed Under: News, Updates

Recapping Our Summer Forum Series

July 30, 2021

Recapping Our Summer Forum Series

July 30, 2021

Last month, We Are In concluded a three-part virtual event series, which convened local candidates for the upcoming August 3rd primary election as well as local, state and federal leaders to discuss solutions to homelessness in King County.

Remember to mail or drop off your ballot by August 3rd! You can find a ballot drop box in your area via the King County Elections’ website.

In May, Seattle mayoral candidates — Casey Sixkiller, Colleen Echohawk, Jessyn Farrell, Bruce Harrell, Andrew Grant Houston and Lance Randall (Lorena González was unable to attend) — joined us for a virtual forum on housing and homelessness. Each candidate was given the opportunity to speak directly to the public and local homelessness advocacy and service organizations about their policy positions, including affordable housing construction and tenant protections. We Are In partners that joined the event included Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, Housing Development Consortium, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, Lived Experience Coalition, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, United Way of King County, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, The Mockingbird Society, Building Changes, Seattle for Everyone, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County, and Campion Advocacy Fund.

In June, our City Council Forum covered similar issue areas, providing citywide Position 9 candidates Sara Nelson, Nikkita Oliver, and Brianna Thomas the opportunity to share their views on housing affordability and homelessness and speak directly to the public and We Are In’s partners.

We look forward to similar engagement during the fall general election, stay tuned for announcements!

Later in the month, We Are In convened a panel of local, state and federal leaders to discuss ongoing efforts to end homelessness in King County. The panelists provided updates on recent investments in the region’s fight against homelessness and emphasized the importance of developing a collaborative, regional, cross-sector strategy for King County. The event featured former Governor and CEO of Challenge Seattle, Christine Gregoire; King County Executive Dow Constantine; Marc Dones, CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority; Ben Winter, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development; State Senator Patty Kuderer (48th LD); and our own Daniel Zavala, Interim Director of We Are In and Building Changes. 

Filed Under: News

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