About Us

Overview

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is one of the largest contributors to Seattle's safety net. We advance our Vision and Mission by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to more than 200 community-based organizations and programs that support strong and healthy communities each year. We partner with the community and non-profit service providers to understand and address current and emerging human service needs and to invest in a comprehensive and integrated regional human service system.

HSD has about 400 employees and is organized through four divisions designed to deliver outcomes that work for the community, promote innovation, and advance racial equity. These divisions are Aging and Disability Services (ADS), Leadership and Administrative Division (LAD), Safe and Thriving Communities (STC), and Youth and Family Empowerment (YFE). ADS also serves as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) serving Seattle and King County.

2021 Priorities

Every year, the department highlights its annual priorities. Last year was upended by the pandemic. In 2021, we are looking to continue our COVID-19 response, bring on new programs, and restart several initiatives that had to be set aside to address emergency priorities:

  • Complete the New Regional Homelessness Authority Staffing and Investment Transition: HSD's divisions are leading the way with impactful work that touches every community in Seattle. One of HSD's top priorities is to continue supporting the launch of the new King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). This includes transitioning HSI staff and City investments, on-boarding a new CEO, and development of an organizational chart. This big structural change not only impacts the City's efforts, but also requires ensuring an uninterrupted flow in services provided by our community partners.
  • Sustain critical COVID-19 work of providing shelter, food, PPE resources, and vaccinations for high-risk and vulnerable populations.
  • Re-Envision HSD: With homelessness response transitioning to the KCRHA, HSD will redefine how it exists within the human services space. This includes working with the public to stand up a new Safe and Thriving Communities Division. This extensive work will examine form and function, culture, and future HSD outcomes. Ultimately, we want HSD to attract and retain the most talented people, while positioning HSD's programs as a national leader in addressing poverty.
  • Develop a comprehensive community safety plan, including capacity-building and budget proposals, with community partners.
  • Complete Age Friendly Seattle priorities by increasing access to information and services through multiple platforms, promote social connection and support networks to reduce social isolation during COVID-19, and support the City's digital equity initiatives to increase access and connectivity for all.
  • Expand youth opportunity, including Seattle Youth Employment Program, Seattle Opportunity Promise and College Promise.
  • Establish the HOPE Team to lead outreach and coordinate shelter referral processes for those experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
  • Increase affordability for Seattle residents through benefits like the Utility Discount Program and services like the Summer Food Service Program.

Outcomes that Impact Community: While we conduct this re-envisioning, The staff at HSD continues to work to ensure the City's resources are being leveraged for maximum positive impact for people who live in the Seattle region. Grounded in the City's commitment to eliminate racial disparities and achieve racial equity in Seattle, HSD intentionally commits to making results-based investments that support communities of color. Our goal is that people of color do not experience disparities. Thus, we invest in innovative strategies and effective programs to address six key impact areas:

  1. Preparing Youth for Success
  2. Supporting Affordability and Livability
  3. Addressing Homelessness
  4. Promoting Public Health
  5. Supporting Safe Communities
  6. Promoting Healthy Aging

Leadership

As the Acting Director of the department, Tanya Kim leads nearly 400 staff who make HSD’s role as a funder, direct service provider, and convener possible. In partnership with providers and stakeholders throughout the community, the department strives to effectively steward public dollars by investing in strategies, programs, and services that work for the community, promote innovation in service delivery, and advance racial equity.

Results Based Accountability

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) has developed a results-driven investment strategy modeled after the Results Based Accountability™ (RBA) framework outlined in Trying Hard Is Not Good Enough, by Mark Friedman. RBA helps HSD move from ideas to action and ensure that the department's work is making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable people. This framework also helps ensure that HSD is a highly functional, accountable agency that is leading the way toward addressing community disparities.

City of Seattle Outcomes

Performance Seattle is a central dashboard where City of Seattle residents can see what their City is doing to make their lives better. Performance Seattle tracks the City’s performance on seven key priority areas that matter most to residents and provides an in-depth look at City performance data through a variety of data visualizations, including maps, charts, graphs, and infographics. Each of these seven dashboards tracks a different priority area and provides residents with a deeper understanding of how well the City of Seattle is meeting key ongoing service targets and multi-year goals.

Funding

HSD's work is funded by a variety of revenue sources, including federal, state, and inter-local grants, as well as the City's General Fund, Sweetened Beverage Tax Fund, Short Term Rental tax revenues (which fund investments in permanent supportive housing), and the Payroll Tax Fund. External funding such as grants represent 33% of HSD’s $308.4 million 2022 Adopted Budget.

Recent News and Announcements

View recent press releases, past issues of HSD's monthly Lifelines e-newsletter, the Human Interests blog RSS feed, and the latest social media posts -- and sign up for Lifelines and other HSD newsletters.