>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD IN THE AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE.
CLAP ONCE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
CLUB TWICE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
GIVE IT UP IF YOU WANT HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS AGAIN AND
EQUITABLE CONTRACTS.
ALL RIGHT.
THAT WORKED.
SO, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
IT'S A STANDING ROOM ONLY
AUDIENCE.
I'M GOING TO TURN DOWN THE
MICROPHONE A TINY BIT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
LITTLE BIT MORE?
CAN YOU WILL HEAR ME NOW
BETTER?
OKAY.
LET'S JUST GO FOR IT.
WE ARE GOING FOR IT.
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS TERESA MOSQUDA.
I'M JOINED BY OUR COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
TODAY IS A SPECIAL COMMITTEE
MEETING OF THE HOUSING, HEALTH,
ENERGY AND WORKERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
THIS COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT IS 1:35.
I'M VERY EXCITED FOR YOU ALL TO
BE HERE.
WE HAVE A FULL ONE HOUR PLUS
PACKED WITH THREE PANELISTS FOR
TODAY WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE
SEATTLE'S HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDER CONTRACTS.
WE WILL GET A CHANCE TO HEAR
FROM THE ACTUAL EXPERTS ON THE
FIELD ON THE GROUND.
THIS ROOM IS FULL OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
YOU ARE THE EXPERTS.
YOU ARE THE LEADERS IN
PROVIDING HUMAN SERVICES.
WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT
WHAT IT MEANS TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS.
WE WILL HEAR FROM INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED
IN THE HUMAN SERVICE CONTRACTS
AND FRONTLINE HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS.
THIS ISA TIME IN OUR CITY WHEN
HOMELESSNESS AND INCOME
DISPARITIES HAVE LED TO A
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, A LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND AN
INCREASED NEED FOR HUMAN
SERVICES.
WITHOUT YOU, WITHOUT THE
FRONTLINE HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS WE CANNOT PROVIDE THE
CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT ADEQUATE FUNDING YOU,
THE WORKERS AND THE
ORGANIZATIONS FACE TREMENDOUS
BURDENS ON A DAILY BASIS TO
PROVIDE THE VERY CRITICAL
SERVICES TO THIS MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIN.
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE
CITY FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
IN FACT, TELL LAST YEAR NOT ALL
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDER
CONTRACTS EVEN RECEIVED AN
INFLATIONARY WAGE ADJUSTMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING AND WE
HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS.
LAST YEAR I REALLY APPRECIATE
OUR COUNSEL COLLINS WHO HELPED
US GET A 2% INCREASE IN
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT FOR
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS. I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE ALL HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS. AT A TIME
WHEN WE ARE SEEING INCREASED
NEED FOR HOMELESS SERVICES,
HEALTH SERVICES, AND HOUSING
SERVICES.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HEARD FROM
MANY OF YOU THAT WHILE YOU'RE
QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS FOR
HOUSING, FOOD, FOR ASSISTANCE,
MANY OF THE WORKERS WHO ARE ON
THE FRONTLINE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
MANY OF THOSE SERVICES DUE TO
LOW WAGES AND INCREASED
PRESSURE ON THE ORGANIZATION IN
TERMS OF COST, NOT JUST COST
FOR LABOR, BUT ALSO THE COST OF
PROPERTY AND RENTAL PAYMENTS
AND SO MUCH MORE.
THIS IS OUR OBLIGATION AND OUR
CHALLENGE AS A CITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE FULLY FUNDING
OUR HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDER
CONTRACTS.
I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT
SOMETHING.
IT IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE
HAVE WITH YOU.
IT'S AN OBLIGATION THAT WE HAVE
TO REFILL OUR END.
THERE IS MANY GOOD REASONS WHY
SEATTLE CONTRACTS OUT SERVICES
TO THE HUMAN COMMUNITY PARTNERS
WHO PROVIDE HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACTS.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE
MOST TRUSTED MEMBERS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
MANY TIMES THEY ARE PROVIDING
BICULTURAL AND BILINGUAL
SERVICES.
IN MANY CASES YOU HAVE TRUSTED
RELATIONSHIPS ALREADY AND
INDIVIDUALS WILL COME TO YOU.
YOU ARE THE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD
. BECAUSE OF YOUR FOCUS ON
SERVING THESE INDIVIDUALS YOU
ARE OFTEN MORE COST-EFFECTIVE
AND EFFICIENT THAN THE CITY
WOULD BE.
AS THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD
CONTRACT AWAY OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE MADE A
COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT YOU, TO
SUPPORT THE WORKERS AND THE
ORGANIZATIONS, TO SUPPORT THE
UNIONS AND THE INDIVIDUAL
WORKERS ON THE GROUND LEVEL WHO
ARE LEADING THE WAY WITH
PROVIDING THESE CRITICAL
SERVICES.
WE CAN'T HIDE BEHIND CONTRACTS
TO FULFILL THESE COMMITMENTS.
IT IS OUR OBLIGATION AND IT IS
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE WHO ARE ENSURING
THAT THERE ARE SERVICES FOR THE
MOST VULNERABLE HAVE THE
SERVICES THAT YOU NEED AND THE
RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO
FULFILL THOSE SERVICES.
THESE ARE SERVICES FOR OUR
ELDERS AT SENIOR CENTERS,
SERVICES FOR THE YOUTH WHO ARE
SEEKING HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT.
THESE ARE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH
CLINICS.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE
PROVIDING SERVICES TO THOSE
HAVE EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
PROVIDING PREVENTION AND
RESPONSE. YOUR PROVIDING
ACCESS TO FOOD THROUGH FOOD
BANKS AND MEAL PROGRAMS.
AND YOUR PROVIDING HOMES. BY
HOUSING FOLKS AND HELPING TO
GET THEM INTO SHELTER. WE WANT
TO BE REALLY BLUNT AND WE WANT
TO BE HONEST TODAY.
WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE FALLEN
DOWN ON THESE OBLIGATIONS.
WE KNOW WE HAVE FALLEN DOWN ON
THESE OBLIGATIONS.
THE LARGER ISSUE AROUND
HISTORIC LEGACY UNDERFUNDED IS
SOMETHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES,
ESPECIALLY COUNSEL O'BRIEN WHO
HAS NOT BEEN HERE TODAY, HAS
TRY TO TAKE ON IN THE PAST
YEARS.
NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD ON WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO
DO IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THINKS
A COUNCIL MEMBER BAGSHAW FOR
RETURNING TO BUDGET LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE AROUND THAT BEND.
WE ARE AT THE TURNING POINT.
LAST YEAR WHAT WE DO IN THE
BUDGET AROUND THE 2%
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT WAS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
BUT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT
THESE CONTRACTS RECEIVE
INFLATIONARY INCREASES ACROSS
THE BOARD THIS YEAR AND EVERY
YEAR.
THIS IS NOT JUST A BUDGET
EXERCISE. THE BUDGET SHOULD BE
A REFLECTION OF OUR VALUES.
WE VALUE YOUR WORK, THE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE SERVICES
YOU PROVIDE TO THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
WITH THAT I WANT TO INVITE UP
OUR FIRST PANEL.
BEFORE TO DO, BEFORE DID THAT
TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES FOR SOME PUBLIC
COLLEEN COMMENT AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY AT THE
TABLE.
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN, PLEASE
HAVE A SEAT AND WE WILL GET YOU
SET UP.
AS WE TURN IT OVER TO OUR
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES I WANT TO
KNOW FOR FOLKS, WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE THREE PANELS TODAY.
THERE'S A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM A
NUMBER OF FOLKS AND THEN WE ARE
GOING TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT AT
THE END.
COUNCILMEMBER THE ONE I SAW YOU
GRAB THE MICROPHONE.
>> THANK YOU.
I FIRST ABOUT WANTED TO WELCOME
EVERYBODY HERE AND ALSO LET
EVERYBODY HERE KNOW THAT,
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE ARE
ALSO FIGHTING ON OTHER
STRUGGLES RELATED TO
DISPLACEMENT IDENTIFICATION IN
CENTRAL DISTRICT AND ALL THE
WORK INVOLVED IN IT I AM UNABLE
TO STAY FOR THIS MEETING, BUT I
JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS
BEFORE I LEFT.
AND I APPRECIATE BEING GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO THAT.
I KNOW WE HAVE THREE PANELS AND
THE DISCUSSION IS A VERY FULL
ONE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE AND ALSO
WHO IS NOT HERE.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF
ADDRESSING THE ACUTE CRISIS OF
THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND
THE OVERALL SOCIAL CRISIS THAT
HAS ERUPTED IN OUR CITY AND IN
OUR REGION. WE KNOW IT DIDN'T
COME OVERNIGHT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NOW
SHAPED UP AND BECOME BIGGER AND
BIGGER OVER SO MANY YEARS. AND
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT I
HAVE BEEN IN CITY HALL MANY OF
YOU AND I HAVE TALKED WITH ONE
ANOTHER IN OUR EXCHANGE OF
IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN ADDRESS
THIS, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE AT
YOUTHCARE AND MANY OTHER
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
AND ALSO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE
SEIU 11 LOVE AND NINE NORTHWEST
WHO REPRESENTS A LOT OF WORKERS
ON THE GROUND AND SEEING THE
CRISIS FIRSTHAND, BUT ALSO,
IRONICALLY, BEING PART OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE
CRISIS.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY THE
WORST POSSIBLE NEXUS WHERE WE
HAVE A WHOLE POPULATION THAT
NEEDS SERVICE AND THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE SERVING THE POPULATION
ARE ALSO NOW BEING SO IMPACTED
BY THE SKYROCKETING RENT, LACK
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LACK OF
HEALTHCARE, AND SO IT CLEARLY IS
A CALL TO ACTION.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR
ALL OF US.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK YOU ARE DOING AND ALSO THE
WORK YOU'RE DOING ADVOCATING
FOR INCREASED FUNDING.
YEAR AFTER YEAR DURING THE
BUDGET CYCLE YOU HAVE TOLD ALL
THE POLITICIANS HERE IN CITY
HALL NOT JUST ON THE CITY
COUNCIL, BUT ALSO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ABOUT HOW THESE IT
SERVICES ARE BEING NICKEL AND
DIME TO.
I AGREE.
THE 2% INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT
WAS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, BUT
IT'S BASIC, IT'S JUST A DROP IN
THE OCEAN OF WHAT WE NEED.
WE NEED, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE
GOING TO TURN A LOT OF THIS
CONVERSATION INTO ACTUAL ACTION
-- MANY VILLAGES ARE NOW
SHOWING A REALLY TERRIFIC TRACK
RECORD OF TRANSITIONS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE NEED TO
FULLY FUND ALL THE SERVICES YOU
WILL PROVIDE AND WE NEED A
MAJOR EXPANSION OF PUBLICLY
OWNED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NONE OF THIS IS POSSIBLE IF WE
DON'T ALSO UNLEASH OUR
COLLECTIVE FORCES TO FIGHT FOR
PROGRESSIVE REVENUES BY TAXING
BIZ, BIG BUSINESS AND NOT
ACCEPT DEFEAT BECAUSE OF ANY
SETBACK.
LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND
FIGHTING FOR IT.
I ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE RENTERS
COMMISSION, THE TENANT USING,
MANY OTHER COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE JOINED
MY OFFICE AND OTHER COMMUNITY
GROUPS TO FIGHT FOR RENT
CONTROL IN SEATTLE, BECAUSE
IT'S HIGH TIME.
I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW
THERE'S A REAL STRUGGLE GOING
N IN NEW YORK CITY TO MAINTAIN
AND EXPAND THEIR RENT CONTROL.
THEY HAVE SEEN THROUGH THEIR
PERSONAL EXPEDIENCE THAT HAVING
RENT CONTROL WITHOUT CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES ACTUALLY PROVIDES A
LIFELINE AGAINST AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS.
I HOPE YOU WILL ALL JOIN THE
PETITION.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE
FIGHTING.
I THINK THE COMMITTEE FOR
PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS
WANT.
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN?
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
FOR JOINING US AS WELL.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW HIM AS
A MENTIONED EARLIER,
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN HAS BEEN
WORKING ON THE HISTORIC LEGACY
UNDERFUNDED OF MANY OF THE
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDER
CONTRACTS FOR YEARS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
LET'S GO AHEAD.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA
AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
ONE.
IF YOU COULD READ INTO THE
RECORD THE ITEM AND WHILE SHE
WAS DOING THAT IF I COULD
PLEASE BE JOINED BY MARK FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, DEBBIE FROM
CORPORATION FOR SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING, AND JIM FROM SOUND
GENERATIONS.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACT DISCUSSION.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> AS YOU GUYS ARE JOINING US I
JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW QUICK
THANK YOUSE TO ALL THE FOLKS
WHO HAVE MADE TODAY POSSIBLE.
A LOT OF YOU ARE IN THE ROOM
AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE THAT
I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS AT
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY
COALITION, HILLARY COLEMAN WHO
HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US TO
HELP PULL THIS ALL TOGETHER
FROM THE COALITION ON ENDING
HOMELESSNESS IN ADDITION TO THE
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FOLKS FROM
THE COALITION WHO WORKED ON
POLICY CHANGE TO GET THIS
CONVERSATION STARTED.
JUST TO LIST A FEW.
ALLISON EYE CENTER FROM THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY COALITION
ON HOMELESSNESS.
LAUREN FAY FROM DSC, SO SHAUNA
WEINBERG AND EVELYN CORREA FROM
YOUTHCARE.
JESSE INMAN FROM SEIU 1199.
CORINE FROM OPEIU, KELLY LARSON
FROM PLYMOUTH HOUSING, AARON
MOORE FROM WEST SEATTLE
HELPLINE, FLOW FROM CATHOLIC
COMMITTEE SERVICES, JENNIFER
FROM BALLARD FOOD BANK, WRIST
ONE FROM MUSLIM HOUSING, ALEX
AND ANDREW FROM SEIU 775, AMY
GORE FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
JESSE ROLLINS FORMALLY WITH
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN AND
LESLIE DANIELS FOR BOTH OF THEM
NOW WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND
DANNA, STEPHANIE, AND JOSEPH
FROM OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
AND OUR CHIEF OF STAFF WHO IS
LEAD ON LABOR.
IT'S A PACKED ROOM.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ].
>> WE ARE GOING TO TURN IT OVER
TO YOU ALL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR FIRST
PANEL.
WE DO HAVE 20 MINUTES FOR EACH
PANEL PLEASE GO AHEAD AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE WITH
US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED
TO STABILIZE OUR HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDER CONTRACTS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.
MY NAME IS MARK OKAZAKI, I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
NEIGHBOR HOUSE.
ONE OF MANY NONPROFIT SOCIAL
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SERVING
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AS A MULTISERVICE COMMUNITY
ACTION AGENCY OUR PROGRAMS
EXTEND ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF
NEEDS INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING,
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT,
HOUSING, AND AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES.
WE EMPLOY OVER 280 STAFF WHO
SPEAK 40 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
AND DIALECTS AND ARE OFTEN
MULTILINGUAL.
THIS AFTERNOON I HAVE BEEN
ASKED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS UNDER
CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT IN SUPPORT OF AN
AUTOMATIC INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.
HALLELUJAH.
I CANNOT EXPRESS ENOUGH HOW
IMPORTANT THIS IS IN THIS POINT
IN TIME FOR ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES.
ALL OF US ARE FACING TREMENDOUS
FINANCIAL STRESS IN THE MIDST
OF A BOOMING ECONOMY AND FULL
EMPLOYMENT LABOR MARKET THAT IS
DRIVING WAGES UP AND MAKING
HOUSING LESS AFFORDABLE.
THE SEATTLE MINIMUM WAGE HAS
CREATED REAL COMPRESSION ISSUES
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE AND MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE CITY.
WHILE WE SUPPORT THIS, A
LIVABLE WAGE -- ALREADY STRESS.
WE PROVIDE ALL OF US PROVIDE
VITAL SERVICES AND OUR SUCCESS
IS YOUR SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES
TO ADVANCING IMPORTANT PUBLIC
POLICY PRIORITIES THAT
CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS A HEALTHY,
VIBRANT, AND INCLUSIVE CITY.
LIKE THE CITY OF OUR COSTS GO
UP EVERY YEAR.
RENT, HEALTHCARE, UTILITIES,
INSURANCE.
MOST OF OUR COSTS ARE IN
SALARIES.
IN MY CASE IT'S 75% OF MY
BUDGET.
EVERY YEAR WHEN WE BUILD OUR
AGENCY BUDGETS WE HAVE TO FIND
WAYS TO OBSERVE THESE COSTS.
EVEN WITH INFLATION ADJUSTMENT
WE ARE FORCED TO MAKE HARD
DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO CUT.
THE LAST PLACE WE WENT TO CUT
IS IN OUR SERVICES.
BY WAY OF EXAMPLE I RUN A STATE-
FUNDED PRESCHOOL SERVING 160
LOW INCOME CHILDREN LIVING IN
THE FOUR LARGEST PUBLIC HOUSING
COMMUNITIES HERE IN SEATTLE.
THIS YEAR WE HAD TO SUBSIDIZE
THE STATE FUNDING TO THE TUNE
OF $80,000.
IN THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE
SESSION THE STATE APPROVED A 6%
INCREASE IN PRESCHOOL FUNDING
AND EVEN WITH THAT I AM STILL
LOOKING AT AND $80,000 SHORTFALL
IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE BEST MY CHILD OF ELEMENT
DIRECTOR COULD TELL ME WAS THAT
OUR DEFICIT WOULDN'T GET WORSE
EVEN WITH A 6% ADJUSTMENT.
LIKE ALL OF MY NONPROFIT
COLLEAGUES I'M DOING ACTIVE AND
AGGRESSIVE FUNDRAISING TO MAKE
UP FOR THE SHORTFALL. DESPITE
OUR BEST EFFORTS I'M NOT ABLE
TO PAY COMPETITIVE WAGES FOR
OUR AVERAGE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS
SALARY IS $37,000.
BY COMPARISON, A KINDERGARTEN
TEACHER IN THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS EARNS ON AVERAGE
$74,000.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE HARD-
PRESSED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN
HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS AND
SUPPORT STAFF.
LIKE MY OTHER NONPROFIT
COLLEAGUES WE DO THIS WORK OUT
A COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WE DO THIS WORK BECAUSE WE WANT
TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON
THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING. WE
DO THIS WORK BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
THAT SHARED PROSPERITY IS THE
ONLY WAY WE CREATE A THRIVING
CITY FOR ALL.
AND INFLATION ADJUSTMENT WILL
SOLVE ALL OF OUR FUNDING
DILEMMAS BUT AT LEAST WILL
STABILIZE THE FUNDING FOR THE
CITY.
I ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR AN
AUTOMATIC INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS DEBBIE FEEL.
I WORK FOR A NATIONAL NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION CALLED CORPORATION
FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WE PROVIDE LOANS AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFITS AND
COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BECAUSE IT
IS THE SOLUTION TO CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS.
I OVERSEE OUR WORK IN THE
WESTERN UNITED STATES AND I
LIVE HERE IN SEATTLE, BUT A LOT
OF MY WORK IS IN LOS ANGELES
WHERE WE HAVE OUR LARGEST
PROGRAM OFFICE.
LOS ANGELES IS CURRENTLY GOING
THROUGH A VERY SIGNIFICANT
EXPANSION OF ITS HOMELESS
RESPONSE SYSTEM IN THAT
LITERALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
ARE GOING INTO THE SYSTEM RIGHT
NOW TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
OVER 10 YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE
DOING IN LOS ANGELES TO SUPPORT
NONPROFITS THROUGH THE
SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION.
WHEN WE STARTED THE WORK OF
IMPLEMENTATION WE FIRST HAD TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANT
UNDERFUNDING OF OUR NONPROFIT
COMMUNITY. FOR YEARS
NONPROFITS HAD LAGGED IN
SALARIES AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO
COMPETE WITH THE GOVERNMENT
INDUSTRY.
THEY HADN'T HAD ANY FUNDING FOR
THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE FIRST
WENT TO THE NONPROFITS AND SAID
WHAT YOU NEED?
WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR
CAPACITY TO TAKE ON THE LARGE
RESPONSIBILITY OF DEPLOYING
THESE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
RESOURCES?
THEY ESSENTIALLY CAME BACK TO
US WITH THREE BUCKETS OF WORK.
IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THEIR
CAPACITY WE LOOKED AT FINANCIAL
LIQUIDITY, ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE, AND RECRUITMENT AND
HIRING.
LIQUIDITY IS A TOP CONCERN FOR
NONPROFITS IN LOS ANGELES
BECAUSE THERE'S A THREE MONTH
LAG BETWEEN WHEN THEY INCURRED
EXPENSES AND WHEN THEY RECEIVED
THEIR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE
COUNTY.
THE LOS ANGELES HOMELESS
SERVICES AUTHORITY AND AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED THE
NONPROFIT FINANCE FUND IS
LOOKING TO CREATE A CASH
ADVANCE PROGRAM OF THREE-MONTH
CASH ADVANCES WITH FEW STRINGS
AND THE ABILITY FOR NONPROFITS
TO, ESSENTIALLY, USE THAT CASH
TO PAY FOR THAT LAG INSTEAD OF
HAVING TO HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF
UNRESTRICTED CASH ON HAND,
WHICH CAN BE INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT.
SOME ARE TAKING OUT LOANS AND
HAVING TO ACTUALLY PAY DEBT TO
MANAGE THEIR SERVICES WHILE
THEY WAITED FOR THOSE
REIMBURSEMENTS.
IT WAS DEFINITELY PROHIBITING
NONPROFITS FROM GROWING AND
INCREASING THEIR STAFF BECAUSE
OF THAT CONCERN ABOUT
LIQUIDITY.
AS WELL, IN TERMS OF LIQUIDITY
AND OF ELEMENT LARGEST NUMBER OF
DEVELOPERS IN LOS ANGELES WILL
BE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
WE AT CSH WORKED WITH THE CITY
OF LOS ANGELES TO CREATE A $69
LOAN FUND THAT WOULD PAY FOR
ACQUISITION -- FOR THOSE
INITIAL COSTS BEFORE THE
PERMANENT FINANCING FOR PUBLIC
FUNDERS CAME IN.
THE SECOND CHALLENGE AROUND
HIRING WAS REALLY INTERESTING
WHEN THE MONEY CAME INTO LOS
ANGELES THERE WERE 1000 JOBS
CREATED IN HOMELESS HOUSING AND
SERVICES SECTOR.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE COUNTY
RECOGNIZED THEIR ROLE IN
ADDRESSING THIS WITH THE
NONPROFITS IN HIRING AND
RECRUITING STAFF.
THEY CREATED A WEBSITE THAT'S
CALLED PAYCHECK WITH A PURPOSE
WHERE THEY ENCOURAGE NONPROFITS
TO LIST THEIR JOBS ON THE
WEBSITE.
THEY ACTUALLY ACTIVELY MANAGE
AND ADVERTISE THAT WEBSITE
THEMSELVES.
FINALLY, EVEN SOME OF THE MOST
SOPHISTICATED NONPROFITS ARE
OFTEN OPERATING IN A DEFICIT IN
TERMS OF THEIR OWN INTERNAL
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AROUND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN
RESOURCES, FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT, AND FUNDRAISING.
NO ONE WANTS TO PAY FOR THOSE
SERVICES.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY FOUNDATIONAL
TO HELPING A NONPROFIT OPERATE.
WE ARE PART OF A GROUP IN LA
THAT'S CALLED THE FUNDERS
COLLABORATIVE, WHICH IS A GROUP
OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND
PHILANTHROPIC FUNDERS.
WE LOOKED AT THIS SITUATION AND
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT
THESE NONPROFITS?
WE PUT TOGETHER A FUND OF
$150,000 PER AGENCY THAT'S
WORKING ON HOUSING OR SERVICES
RIGHT NOW FOR ANYONE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND PAY FOR PROFESSIONAL
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GET AN
ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THEIR
ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS ARE AND TO
PAY FOR THAT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND THEIR GENERAL
OPERATING COSTS TO BUILD AND
EXPAND THEIR SERVICES.
I WANTED TO MENTION ALSO AS I
LOOK TO THE WEST COAST,
PORTLAND IS ANOTHER COMMUNITY
TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
RECENTLY MADE A COMMITMENT WITH
THE COUNTY OF MULTNOMAH TO
CREATE 2000 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING TO END CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS AS THEY ARE.
TO HAVE A HEAD START IN TERMS
OF NONPROFIT CAPACITY BECAUSE
THEY ARE ALREADY PUTTING ANNUAL
INCREASES IN THEIR CONTRACTS OF
3% TO 4% FOR THEIR NONPROFITS.
I HOPE IS HOPING TO GET A SENSE
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SOME
OTHER COMMUNITIES.
I PRESENT YOUR DEDICATION TO
THIS ISSUE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> JIM.
WE WILL BE QUESTIONS AT THE
END.
>> THINK VERY MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU
MY THOUGHTS ON HAVING AUTOMATIC
ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF INFLATION
FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES
CONTRACTS.
I LEAD THE SOUND GENERATIONS.
AT SOUND GENERATIONS WE PROVIDE
ERVICES TO AGING ADULTS AND
ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN
FOUR PILLARS.
FEUDS SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION,
HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND
ASSISTED SERVICES.
WE OPERATE SIX SENIOR CENTERS.
IN MY ROLE LEADING SOUND
GENERATIONS I HAVE SEEN THE
RISING COST OF DOING BUSINESS
FROM OUR ABILITY TO KEEP STAFF
TRAINED, HAVING THE APPROPRIATE
EQUIPMENT TO DO OUR JOBS, AND
THE COST INCREASING JUST TO DO
OUR OPERATIONS.
FROM PROGRAMMATIC PERSPECTIVE
AN EXAMPLE IS WITH OUR MEALS ON
WHEELS PROGRAM.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE EXPENSING A 12
WEEK WAITING LIST BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO
BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE
FOOD SECURITY TO HUNDREDS OF
INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE SEATTLE
AREA.
IN ADDITION, PRIOR TO WORKING
FOR SOUND GENERATIONS I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A
MARROW -- A MAJOR AEROSPACE
COMPANY FOR MORE THAN 31 YEARS.
RETIRING AS A VICE PRESIDENT
RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF OUR
FACILITIES AND OUR COMMERCIAL
AIRPLANES AREAS IN THE PUGET
SOUND AND ALSO IN THE
CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AREA.
WITH MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE
LEARNED THAT GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY IT WOULD MAKE
PRUDENT BUSINESS DECISION FOR
US TO SOLIDIFY THE ABILITY TO
HAVE A FUNDING AVAILABLE TO
MAINTAIN, SUPPORT TO OUR HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SUSTAINING THE SERVICES THAT
SUPPORT SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
LET'S MAKE SEATTLE A GREAT
PLACE TO GROW UP AND GROW OLD.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
>> DEBBIE, GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WISDOM COMING FROM LOS ANGELES
AND PORTLAND.
WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE HAD GOOD
CONTACT WITH LA AND PORTLAND IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN
TALKING WITH PEOPLE ABOUT
WHAT'S WORKING FOR THEM AND
THOSE CITIES.
OBVIOUSLY, WITH LOS ANGELES
WITH THE INITIATIVES THAT WERE
DONE LIKE TRIPLE H COUNTYWIDE
AND H IN THE CITY.
THEY HAVE RAISED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
I THINK THAT SOMETHING WE NEED
TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT.
THE BIG PROGRESSIVE FUNDING TO
BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH
HOUSING AS WELL AS JUST TO MAKE
SURE OUR PROVIDERS ARE
SUPPORTED.
WOULD YOU TALK TO ME LITTLE BIT
ABOUT PORTLAND? WHEN YOU TALKED
ABOUT THE VARIOUS CONTACTS
THERE WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
IF WE WANTED TO REACH OUT AND
TALK WITH THEM?
>> SURE.
IN PORTLAND WE ARE WORKING WITH
BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
KNOWLTON -- WE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER TO WORK TOWARD THIS
PLAN THAT THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED
AND ADOPTED.
THEIR COUNSEL HAS JOINTLY
ADOPTED A PLAN TO CREATE 2000
UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
>> IS THAT THROUGH THEIR
REGIONAL GOVERNANCE?
THAT TRY MET PORTLAND?
>> THE OFFICE ON HOMELESS
SERVICES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.
>> SO, CAN WE TALK AFTERWARDS?
I WOULD LIKE TO GET NAMES AND
PHONE NUMBERS AND BE ABLE TO
RECONNECT WITH YOU.
>> SURE THING.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR THE
WORK YOU DO AND THANKS FOR
BEING HERE TODAY AND YOUR
ADVOCACY.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL WITH
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW FOR
NEARLY 10 YEARS.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ONLY A FEW
RARE INSTANCES WHERE I RECALL
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS WHAT WE
HAVE ACTUALLY MADE INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR CONTRACTS.
I'M CURIOUS, IN THE ABSENCE OF
THOSE WHAT ARE THE DECISIONS
YOUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE HAD TO
MAKE AND WHAT THE RESULTS WE
ARE SEEING ON THE STREET?
>> I SAID EARLIER IN A PRESS
CONFERENCE FOR ALL OF OUR
NONPROFIT BROTHERS AND SISTERS
THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE, WE ARE
ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR
EFFICIENCIES WHERE WE CAN FIND
COST SAVINGS IN OUR
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES.
THE LAST THING, THE LAST THING
WE WANT TO SEE CUT OUR
SERVICES.
WE ARE GETTING TO THAT POINT
WHERE I THINK THAT WE ARE AT A
CRITICAL POINT WHERE WE MAY BE
GOING TO THE CITY AND SAYING WE
NEEDED TO SERVE MORE WITH THIS
MUCH MONEY.
WE JUST CAN'T. THOSE ARE THE
REAL HARD MORAL CHOICES WE ARE
CONFRONTING.
>> ANY OF THE COMMENTS ON THAT
QUESTION?
>> ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS WE ARE
FORCED NOT TO BE ABLE TO EVEN
PROVIDE COST-OF-LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR STAFFS.
IMPLEMENT RATE IS SO LOW WITHIN
THE AREA THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE
LEAVING TO TAKE OTHER POSITIONS
BECAUSE THEY GET PAID MORE IT'S
JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE
THE TOUGH DECISIONS TO TRY TO
BE ABLE TO DELIVER SERVICES.
IT'S A CHALLENGE.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING
THAT UP.
MARK, IN PARTICULAR, WHEN
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, WHEN YOU'RE
HAVING TO LAY PEOPLE OFF AT A
TIME WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE NEED
SO MUCH MORE SERVICES ACROSS
THE BOARD AS COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN HAS TALKED ABOUT FOR
YEARS WE ARE WORKING SO HARD TO
GET ADDITIONAL UNITS OF HOUSING
WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET INSIDE.
WE KNOW THAT THE HOUSING FIRST
IS THE MODEL.
AND AS ALL OF YOU HAVE SAID,
JIM AS WELL, THAT IF THEN YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS ARE HAVING TO LAY
PEOPLE OFF AT A TIME WHEN WE
NEED MORE AND MORE OF THIS I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO CHALLENGE US
AS WE ARE ALL TALKING TODAY.
ONE OF MY FRUSTRATIONS,
FRANKLY, IS ONE OF OUR LOCAL
NEWSPAPERS WHO WILL ALWAYS SAY
YOU NEED TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
YOU JUST NEED TO BE MORE
EFFICIENT.
THEY WILL ALWAYS TELL US THAT
NOT ONLY DO NEED TO DO MORE
WITH LESS YOU JUST NEED TO BE
MORE EFFICIENT.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?
>>, AND TALK TO ME.
SPEND LIKE FIVE MINUTES IN MY
OFFICE.
ESPECIALLY WITH MY FINANCE
DIRECTOR.
>> IS SO FRUSTRATING.
FRANKLY, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING
AT REGIONAL SOLUTIONS.
WE NEED EVERYBODY IN.
THE CITY WE KNOW PLAYS A PART,
THE COUNTY, THE STATES. I HAVE
GIVEN UP ON OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, FRANKLY.
LOCALLY KNOWING THAT WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO ALSO REACH OUT
TO BUSINESSES AND TO LABOR AND
TO PHILANTHROPY TO SAY WE ARE
ALL IN THIS SOUP TOGETHER AND
IT'S NOT AN EITHER OR, IT'S AN
AND BUT I HAVE GONE TO THE
POINT WHERE I JUST DON'T EVEN
SAY TO ME DO MORE WITH LESS.
WE HAVE TO DO A LOT MORE WITH A
LOT MORE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
I TALKED ABOUT BEING BLUNT
EARLIER IN THAT WE ARE NOT
DOING OUR DUTY. WE HAVE THE
FILLED OUR OBLIGATION TO ENSURE
THAT WE GIVE YOU MORE SO YOU
CAN DO MORE.
I WANT TO BE SUPER BLUNT AS
WELL.
I HOPE THAT SEATTLE TIMES IS
WATCHING.
>> I DIDN'T SAY THEY ARE NAME.
>> I AM.
LAST YEAR THEY CHARACTERIZED
OUR EFFORTS JOINTLY ON COUNSEL
IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO STABILIZE
CONTRACTS HERE AS HE SOMEHOW
TRYING TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM
HUMAN SERVICES AND HOMELESS
SERVICES BY INVESTING IN
FRONTLINE WORKERS IN THE
ORGANIZATIONS.
IT'S QUITE LITERALLY THE
OPPOSITE.
I HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WHO
TRACKS US FOR OUR LOCAL MEDIA
AND OTHERWISE SEES THIS
INCREDIBLY FULL AUDIENCE
STANDING ROOM ONLY AND SO MANY
MORE PEOPLE WHO FOR YEARS HAVE
BEEN CALLING FOR STABILIZING
THE CONTRACTS.
AND THE HERE ARE JOINT AND
UNANIMOUS CALL FROM COUNSEL
THAT WE WANT YOU TO NOT ONLY BE
ABLE TO FULFILL YOUR CONTRACTS,
WHICH WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO,
BUT WE ARE GIVING YOU THE
FUNDING SO YOU CAN DO MORE WITH
MORE.
AND WITH THAT ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS?
LET'S GIVE THIS KENNEL ONE MORE
ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ].
>> WE WILL INVITE UP TO THE
PODIUM HERE, OR I GUESS THE
TABLE, WE ARE MAKING POLICY
WITH THE LOCAL FRONTLINE
EXPERTS AT THE TABLE.
LITERALLY.
IF WE COULD JUST INVITE UP
KRISTIN SPEARS FROM YOUTHCARE,
JEANETTE BARNETT FROM CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SUSAN
FROM FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE,
A FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT
PROGRAM.
WELCOME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS
SUPPOSED TO BE ON THIS PANEL
THAT I DIDN'T CALL, SUSAN,
TONY, AND TRISTAN PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP HERE.
SUSANNA, GO AHEAD AND HAVE A
SEAT.
WE HAVE A NAME TAG FOR YOU
THERE.
SUSANNA B&B NEEDLES AND WE HAVE
TONE AT AND TRISTAN.
THESE ARE OUR REAL EXPERTS.
YOU HAVE ALL HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS
ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONALS
AS WELL, IF THAT'S CORRECT.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT YOU
HAVE ALL RECEIVED AND WHY YOU
ARE OUT HERE ADVOCATING FOR
STABILIZING HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDER WAGES AND CONTRACTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSELOR.
MY NAME IS TRISTAN.
I'M 26 YEARS OLD AND A
YOUTHCARE ALUMNI.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED
TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES WORKING
WITH THE LONG-TERM YOUTHCARE
MEMBER, JO ELLEN BOSSE, WHO NOW
WORKS FOR THE CITY.
BEFORE I MET JOE I WAS
HOMELESS.
I WAS RELYING ON ANYTHING TO
SURVIVE.
ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE JUST
TO FIND A MEAL.
A SNACK.
A FEW BUCKS TO GET TO WHERE I
WAS GOING.
IT WAS UGLY.
I WAS DEPRESSED MY SAD,
DESPERATE, FELT ABANDONED, LIKE
TO SUPPORT. I WAS EAGER TO
MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF, BUT I
DID KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
FORTUNATELY, I HAD A FRIEND
THAT WAS A PART OF YOUTHCARE.
SHE REFERRED ME TO A WOMAN
WORKING FOR YOUTHCARE AND
EVENTUALLY I GOT IN TOUCH WITH
JOE.
JOE WAS ADAMANT ABOUT TRYING TO
MEET ME IN PERSON.
JOE WAS THE FIRST PERSON WHO
ACTUALLY WOULD SEND ME THE
INFORMATION PACKETS AND THEN
TAKE THE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND
EXPLAIN THEM TO ME INSTEAD OF
JUST SAYING, HEY, CALL THIS
PERSON.
HE WOULD REACH OUT TO THEM
FIRST AND PUT ME IN TOUCH.
HE ALWAYS TOOK THE INITIATIVE.
I WORKED WITH JOE FOR THREE
YEARS. IF I NEEDED FOOD,
CLOTHING, ANYTHING I ALWAYS
CALL AND REACH OUT TO JOE.
IF I NEEDED HELP MOST OF THE
TIME JOE HAD IT.
IF HE DIDN'T HE KNEW THE
DIRECTION TO PUT ME INTO FIND
IT.
HE WOULD ALWAYS RANDOMLY SEND
ME AN EMAIL OR CALL TO CHECK
IN.
THOSE SMALL BITS OF
COMMUNICATION, ASKING ME HOW I
WAS DOING, HOW MY JOB SEARCHES
WERE COMING ALONG, SHOWING THAT
HE WAS WILLING TO GO ABOVE AND
BEYOND AND HE TRULY CARED.
IN THE BEGINNING THERE WERE
TIMES I MISSED A FEW OF MY
MEETINGS WITH JOE.
I THOUGHT HE WOULD GIVE UP ON
ME, HONESTLY.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE TO GO
BACK TO MY WAYS.
JOE WAS ALWAYS THERE
CONSISTENTLY NO MATTER WHAT.
WITHOUT THE TIME TO BUILD THE
TRUST THERE WOULD NEVER HAVE
BEEN A POSSIBILITY OF A
RELATIONSHIP TO GET ME TO WHERE
I AM TODAY.
FOR ME PERSONALLY IT HAS BEEN
HARD TO TRUST WHITE MALES
BECAUSE OF MY HISTORY WITH THEM
AND TO HAVE FAITH IN SOMEONE
LIKE THAT IS WHERE.
THIS RANDOM GUY WAS EVER ME
MORE THAN FAMILY.
I WORK IN SALES.
THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT
IS I WAS JOE'S COMMISSION AND
HE WASN'T GOING TO GIVE UP
UNTIL THE DEAL WAS CLOSED.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR JOE I WOULD
PROBABLY BE ANOTHER STATISTIC.
THE PEOPLE I GREW UP WITH OUR
DEALING DRUGS, KILLING
THEMSELVES TO SUPPORT THEIR
ADDICTIONS, THERE THE PEOPLE
YOU SEE OUTSIDE.
THEY DON'T HAVE A JOE.
WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT
YOUTHCARE?
PROBABLY WITH THEM.
I RECENTLY WATCHED AN EPISODE
OF ADVICE AND SAID THAT PEOPLE
HAVE A HISTORY IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE A 95%
CHANCE OF STAYING OUT OF PRISON
IF THEY LAST THREE YEARS
WITHOUT REOFFENDING.
THREE YEARS IS HOW LONG I SPENT
WITH JOE.
THE PEOPLE AND WHO THEY GREW UP
IN THESE SYSTEMS HAVE IT HARD.
THAT'S A TREMENDOUS
ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ME, SOMEONE
LIKE ME THAT GREW UP THE WAY I
DID TO MAKE IT OUT.
ONLY BE A 5% PERSON GOING BACK
INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM AGAIN.
A TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THE FIRST TIME I WAS PUT INTO
TENSION I WAS ONLY IN THE
FOURTH GRADE.
I WAS RAISED IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THAT IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
GIVEN UP ON.
THE PEOPLE I KNOW THAT WERE
PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IN THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM TODAY THEY ARE DEAD.
I HAVE AN AMAZING -- A GREAT
PAYING JOB.
THAT'S WHAT THREE YEARS OF A
CONSISTENT STAFF MEMBER CAN DO
FOR SOMEONE.
HONESTLY, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS
WHAT KIDS NEED IS RIDICULOUS.
BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW WHERE THEY
ARE'S KIDS MIGHT END UP AND WE
KNOW THERE'S A WAY TO STOP IT
WHY ARE WE NOT PUTTING OUR
RESOURCES THEY ARE?
TOWARD OUR CHILDREN.
TOWARD OUR FUTURE.
I THANK GOD JOE WAS THERE FOR ME
. I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS
CAUSE AND THESE HUMAN RESOURCE
AGENCIES SO ALL YOU CAN HAVE
SOMEONE LIKE JOE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE WERE WONDERING, IS JOE
HERE?
>> I WISH.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
SHARING THAT STORY AND THINKS
TO JOE AS WELL.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBER
AND COUNSEL INC.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHEN I HEARD
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE
TO SHARE MY STORY.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY
THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT OF A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS
AT CATHOLIC COMMITTEE SERVICES
AND OUR SISTER HUMAN SERVICE
AGENCIES THAT SERVE SEATTLE'S
POOR, HOMELESS, VULNERABLE, AND
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE.
MY NAME IS TONY BURKETT.
THE MARKETS ARE LONGTIME
SEATTLE-BASED FAMILY AND WE
LOVE OUR CITY.
THERE WAS A TIME NOT SO LONG
AGO THAT I WAS LOST, DISTRESSED
, AND LIVING IN HOMELESSNESS
WITH NO BOUNDARIES AND SELF-
CONFIDENCE.
I WANTED TO FIND PURPOSE IN MY
LIFE AGAIN.
I WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH MY LIFE WITHOUT LIVING IN
HOMELESSNESS.
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES
ASSISTED ME IN FINDING HOUSING.
I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FIND A
STABILITY AND TURN THINGS AROUND
. AFTER GETTING SETTLED INTO
MY HOME I WAS ACCEPTED AND
GRADUATED FROM CATHOLIC
COMMITTEE SERVICES ASPIRING
SOCIAL SERVICE EMPLOYEE TRAINING
ASSET PROGRAM.
I LEARNED ABOUT TRAUMA INFORMED
CARE, STRUCTURAL RACISM,
IMPLICIT BIAS, PROFESSIONAL
BOUNDARIES, AND MORE.
ASSET PREPARERS CCS CLIENTS WHO
WANT TO RETURN TO WORK BY
GIVING BACK TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
ONE OF THE MANY ASSET CLIENT
GRADUATES LIKE ME HAVE BEEN
HIRED AT CCS.
ONCE I GRADUATED I APPLIED FOR
EMPLOYMENT AT CCS AND WAS HIRED
. I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR
NEARLY A YEAR NOW.
I RECEIVED A PROMOTION LAST
WEEK.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE I
WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I
WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY
ADVOCATING FOR HUMAN SERVICES
IF HUMAN SERVICES HADN'T BEEN
THERE FOR ME.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED UNDER
TRAUMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND ARE
IN NEED OF SERVICES, IT TAKES
TIME TO BLOSSOM AND REBUILD
THEIR LIVES.
AND BEGINNING CONFIDENCE. WE
WANT TO BE HEALTHY IN FAITH, WE
WANT TO BE PART OF THE GOODNESS
THAT MAKES STRONG FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITY
>> SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEES HELP THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE THAT HAVE WALKED IN THE
SAME HOMELESS SHOES THAT I HAVE
TO PREPARE AND LEAD TO
PRODUCTIVE LIVES.
I LOVE MY JOB AND I'M PROUD TO
BE WORKING FULL-TIME, PAYING
RENT, FEEDING MY FAMILY,
MAINTAINING A CAR AND
INSURANCE.
EVEN WITH GOOD BENEFITS AT CCS
I'M LIVING REAL CLOSE TO
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND THE PASSION YOU HAVE FOR
OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TODAY
TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANT WORK
HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES PROVIDE.
THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT US
WHO ARE DEDICATED TO SKILLFULLY
PROVIDING SERVICES WITH A
PASSION FOR OUR HUMAN SERVICE
AGENCIES NEEDS ABILITY TO DO
THAT.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT TO HELP PROVIDE THAT
STABILITY BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR
THE WORK AND THE LEADERSHIP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELL. DMA'S NAME IS TONY AS
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
WELCOME TO SAUNA.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO BEND THAT
MICROPHONE JUST AS MUCH AS YOU
WANT TO.
>> OKAY.
HI, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS SUSANA STRAYER.
I AM A CAREGIVER FOR MY SON,
MICHAEL.
HE IS 19 YEARS OLD.
HE HAS A DISABILITY. I WANT TO
JUST SAY MY FIRST LANGUAGE IS
SPANISH.
I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY IN
ENGLISH AND I HOPE -- I'M HERE
BECAUSE A LOT OF PARENTS, THEY
NEED SUPPORT, THE PARENTS WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS NEED A LOT
OF HELP.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE
THEIR VOICE.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS FOR PARENTS
IS BECAUSE THEIR LANGUAGE OR
THEY SPEAK NO ENGLISH AND THEY
DON'T KNOW WHAT PROGRAMS THEY
CAN HAVE.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD TO HAVE
A KID WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. IS
STRESSFUL.
IT'S HARD.
NOBODY UNDERSTANDS UNTIL YOU
HAVE A SON, A KID WITH
DISABILITIES.
I'M HERE BECAUSE THEÃOKAY,
EXCUSE ME.
I WANT TO SAY MY SON, HE JUST
GETS A LOT OF SERVICES, BECAUSE
I MET MINA.
SHE WORKS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
HOUSE.
SHE IS VERY NICE.
SHE IS VERY HELPFUL.
SHE IS LIKE MY ANGEL, BECAUSE I
HAVE NOBODY TO TAKE CARE OF MY
SON.
HE JUST GETS IT.
THANKS NINA AND THANKS FOR
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE.
I HAVE A GARNER SHIP.
IT WAS HARD FOR ME, BECAUSE THE
LANGUAGE AND TO FIND THE PAPERS
IS REALLY A LOT OF PROCESS.
IT'S NOT EASY.
IT'S NOT EASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN
WE DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
IT'S DIFFICULT.
VERY DIFFICULT.
I'M GLAD I HAD HELP. WHAT I
WANT TO SAY, THEY HAVE, IS A
LOT OF SUPPORT GROUPS.
SUPPORT IS HOW I FEEL
COMFORTABLE.
THEY HAVE MANY SERVICES.
WHEN I FEEL COMFORTABLE IS WHEN
I COME TO THE SUPPORT GROUPS.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE ANOTHER
PERSON, I FEEL LIKE EVEN IF
THEY SPEAK ENGLISH, WE SPEAK
THE SAME LANGUAGE, BECAUSE WE
HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS KID.
I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I
NEVER TALK IN PUBLIC LIKE NOW.
I'M JUST TRYING.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH FOR
SHARING YOUR STORIES.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING
YOUR INDIVIDUAL STORIES AND
WHAT THAT MEANT TO YOUR FAMILY.
BEFORE YOU GO LET'S SEE IF
THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW?
>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR EACH OF YOU?
WHAT YOU SEE NEXT IN YOUR LIVES?
>> FOR ME, MYSELF, I JUST WANT
TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR MY
COMMUNITY TO TRY TO RESTORE
BALANCE TO IT.
THIS IS SEATTLE.
I GREW UP.
I HAVE NOTICED A TREMENDOUS
LACK OF SEATTLE.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT BALANCE
NEEDS TO BE RESTORED.
>> FOR ME WITH THE INFLATION
BUDGET, AS LONG AS WE GET IT, I
WANT TO STAY IN SOCIAL
SERVICES.
IT'S MY HEARTS DESIRE TO HELP
THOSE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE.
I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> FOR ME I'M HAPPY TO GET
THOSE SERVICES FOR MY SON.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH
OTHER PEOPLE.
THERE IS PLACES THAT CAN HELP
YOU LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY CAN HELP YOU.
IS SO NICE TO HAVE HELP,
ESPECIALLY FOR US.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY SEATTLE
ISN'T DYING, IT'S GETTING WOKEN
UP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I DO HOPE COMB-OVER THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR A LOT
ABOUT IS BECAUSE -- THE HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDER CONTRACT HAS
BEEN GIVEN, THERE'S TURNOVER IN
CAGE MANAGEMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
INTERESTED IN WE TALKED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AT THE
LAST SELECT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE
HEARING ON HOMELESSNESS, WAS A
NEED TO HAVE INDICATORS THAT
ARE FRIENDS IN THE HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDER ORGANIZATION
THAT CAN ACTUALLY MEET.
ONE OF THOSE ISSUES I WOULD
LOVE TO SEE US ATTRACT MORE IS
ARE WE PAYING ENOUGH TO
MAINTAIN THE SAME CASE MANAGERS?
HAVE YOU ALL HAD A SITUATION
WHERE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED CASE
MANAGERS HAVING TO CHANGE OVER
OR HAVE A COLLEAGUE AND FRIENDS
WHO HAVE SEEN CASE MANAGERS
CHANGE?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT JOE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT NINA.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THE
SAME CASE MANAGER IN PLACE SO
THAT WE CAN REALLY
CONTEXTUALIZE THAT COMMENT?
>> IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO GET
HIGHER PAY RAISES. CASE
MANAGERS ARE ADVOCATES.
THEY CAN'T BE AROUND.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO LIVE.
IT'S HARD TO LIVE WITH LOW
WAGES.
YOU HAVE TO, YOU FIND WHERE YOU
ARE LOSING THEM. MOST OF THEM
ARE FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS
THEMSELVES WERE FINDING A JOB
THAT CAN PAY THEM MORE.
JUST CHANGING THEIR WHOLE
CAREER.
THE NEED FOR HAVING SOCIAL
SERVICES IS REALLY NEAT.
WE HAVE A BIG HOMELESS
PERCENTAGE THAT IS REALLY HUGE.
UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES AND
WAGES GO UP AND SOCIAL SERVICES
WE CAN YOU LOSE LOTS AND LOTS
OF PEOPLE.
>> FOR ME, SPECIFICALLY, HAVING
SOMEBODY THERE THAT I COULD
STOP AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP
WITH IT ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE SOMEBODY THAT
I COULD TELL MIGHT DEEPEST
INTIMATE PROBLEMS WITH AND
SHARE THOSE WITH THEM THEY
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PULL ME OUT
OF THOSE BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE
BEEN HOLDING BACK FROM SOMEBODY
I DIDN'T TRUST AS MUCH.
WITH THAT OPENNESS IT MADE ALL
THE DIFFERENCE.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE SOMEBODY
THERE, LIKE I SAID THREE YEARS
MADE THE DIFFERENCE TO SEE THE
YOUNG MAN YOU GUYS SEE TODAY.
>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS
FOR ME IT'S GOOD TO HAVE PEOPLE
HELPING YOU.
THEY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL,
WHAT YOU NEED, WHAT YOUR SON
NEEDS. ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES WE GOT DEPRESSED.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T, NOT EVEN
WANT TO ANSWER THE PHONE.
FOR ME SHE IS HELPING, BECAUSE
SHE WAS CALLING AND I DON'T KNOW
IF SHE UNDERSTOOD HOW I FEEL.
SHE WAS CALLING ME OR TEXTING ME
. WHAT I TRIED TO SAY IS SHE
DID LOT.
YEAH.
SHE DID A LOT FOR ME.
I JUST WANT TO TRY TO SAY SHE
UNDERSTOOD HOW I WAS FEELING,
SO SHE IS VERY NICE.
>> IS NINA HERE?
>> YEAH.
SHE IS HERE.
>> LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR NINA.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN.
>> I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
THREE OF YOU SHARING YOUR
AMAZING STORIES.
IT'S CLEAR YOU'RE DOING AMAZING
WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
KNOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
OTHERS INCLUDING MANY IN THE
ROOM TODAY MANY OTHER FRONT-
LINE TODAY.
AS A CITY AND A COMMUNITY WE
CAN DO BETTER TO SUPPORT YOUR
AMAZING WORK.
WE WILL START THAT TODAY.
>> I JUST THINK THAT THE TITLE
OF THIS DAY OUGHT TO BE SEATTLE
ISN'T DYING, IT'S GETTING WOKEN
UP.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR
THE PANEL MEMBERS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] COUNCILMEMBER
BAGSHAW AND I WERE SITTING
SOMEONE CALLED COMO.
FEEL FREE TO TELL THEM THEY
JUST GOT NAME DROPPED.
>> EVELYN CORREA, PAUL
ROSENTHAL, -- AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE HEALTH SERVICES
MAKEUP AIR THIRD PANEL.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THESE
INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] WE REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE
WITH US.
IN WHATEVER ORDER YOU ALL
PREFER IF YOU'D LIKE TO START
DOWN HERE AND WE WILL GO TO
TERESITA AT THE END.
THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND HAVE
YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS
ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING US HERE.
IT REALLY IS EXCITING TO BE IN
FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM
SEATTLE.
WE ARE OFFERING PROBABLY THE
MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND HUMANE
INTERVENTION FOR SOME OF THE
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE.
I PERSONALLY SUPERVISE SIX CASE
MANAGERS AT TO MAKE DIFFERENT
BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.
BETWEEN THOSE SIX PEOPLE THEY
PROVIDE HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT
FOR ABOUT 162 DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE,
THE TENANTS AND OUR BUILDINGS
WERE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
MANY SUFFER FROM PHYSICAL
AILMENTS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.
THERE GOOD PEOPLE AND MOST OF
THEM NEED SOME KIND OF
ASSISTANCE.
I WAS A CASE MANAGER ABOUT A
YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
I PUT IN ABOUT 40 HOURS A WEEK.
I LIVED WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE
ON BEACON HILL AND THE ONLY WAY
I COULD AFFORD TO DO THAT WAS
THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE
PERSON THAT OWNED THE HOUSE.
HE BELIEVES IN SOCIAL ACTIVISM
AND TOOK A PERSONAL FINANCIAL
LOSS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD DECENT
HOUSING.
IT WAS A STRUGGLE EVEN AFTER WE
PASSED THE $15 SOLUTION TO MAKE
MAINTAIN A. A LOT OF THE
PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH, MY
PEERS, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT
KIND OF A LUXURY.
THEY HAVE FAMILIES, CHRONIC
HEALTH ISSUES.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH
WHAT WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A
HOME.
IT'S A PERSONAL BELIEF THAT
KEEPS US DOING THIS STUFF. A
LOT OF US ARE AFRAID OF LOSING
OUR OWN.
WE CAN EASILY JOIN THE RANKS OF
THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE
HOMES.
I HAVE MOVED INTO MANAGEMENT
AND I MAKING MORE MONEY AND
AFTER TAXES IT'S STILL A
STRUGGLE TO AFFORD A ONE
BEDROOM APARTMENT IN THE CITY.
JUST AS OUR COST OF LIVING
CONTINUES TO RISE THE COST OF
DOING THIS WORK IS CONTENT
CONTINUING TO GO UP FOR
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF THE
BUILDINGS TO UTILITIES,
SUPPLIES FOR THE PEOPLE IN IT,
HEALTHCARE, TRANSPORTATION I
HAVE A TEAM OF SIX.
ONCE AGAIN SIX CASE MANAGERS
SERVE 162 PEOPLE.
WITHOUT IMPROVED WAGES FOR
STAFF RETENTION MY TEAM
OCCASIONALLY FALLS DOWN TO FIVE
PEOPLE WERE FOUR PEOPLE. AND
IT CREATES A LOT OF CHALLENGES
OR THE FOLKS THAT WE TRY TO
SERVE AND FOR THE STAFF WHO
REMAIN AT PLYMOUTH.
WITH THE VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WITHOUT HOMES WE NEEDED SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO ASSIST THEM. IN
ORDER TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR
WORKFORCEWE NEED OUR
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO
ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THIS CRUCIAL
PART OF OUR CITY'S
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THE VARIOUS ISSUES
WHERE WE HAVE SEEN INFLATION
AND COST.
I THINK AS LABOR ADVOCATES WE
CONSTANTLY THINK ABOUT WAGES ON
THE FIRST FRONT-LINE BECAUSE WE
KNOW THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON
RETENTION AND TURNOVER.
HOWEVER, THE COSTS ARE GOING UP
ACROSS THE BOARD.
I WANT FOLKS TO THINK ABOUT
THAT.
THAT'S WHY WERE CALLING IT AN
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT, NOT
JUST A WAGE ADJUSTMENT.
THERE SO MUCH YOU ALL HAD TO DO
TO PROVIDE A HOLISTIC SERVICE.
ONE MORE HUGE ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU FOR LEADING OFF THIS
PANEL.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS EVELYN CORREA.
I HAVE HANDOUTS.
>> YES.
I LOVE HANDOUTS.
WE CAN MAKE SOME COPY FOR FOLKS
IN THE AUDIENCE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
GREAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS EVELYN CORREA.
I AM THE HUMAN RESOURCES
OFFICER AT YOUTHCARE.
I FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE THAT I
HAVE THAT JOB AT YOUTHCARE
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A LOT OF
OUR PROVIDERS CAN'T AFFORD THE
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
WE SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 12 -
24 ACROSS KING COUNTY.
AS OF TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT 300
STAFF.
WE ALSO HAVE OVER 30 OPEN
POSITIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF AN ANNUAL
INFLATION ADJUSTMENT FOR HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
SEVERAL CHARTS THAT CAPTURE
YOUTHCARE'S ANNUAL INCREASED
COST OF BUSINESS, WHICH ANYONE
DOING BUSINESS IN THIS CITY CAN
RELATE TO.
THE CITY HASN'T BECOME MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS OR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE SUBSIDIZE THESE INCREASES
EACH YEAR, YET OUR CONTRACTS
REMAIN RELATIVELY FLAT.
DUE TO TIME I'M NOT GOING TO
REVIEW EACH CHART, BUT I DO
WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO
SOME OF THE LARGEST INCREASES.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INCREASED
COST OF DOING BUSINESS IF YOU
LOOK AT THE FIRST CHART THAT
SHOWS THE COST OF UTILITIES,
THINGS LIKE WATER, SEWER
SERVICE, ETC.
YOU CAN SEE OVER A THREE-YEAR
TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAVE GONE
FROM A COST OF ABOUT $40,000 A
YEAR TO IN THREE YEARS AT
$79,000 A YEAR.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST
SUBSTANTIVE CHARGES.
IT'S THE SAME THING WHEN YOU
LOOK AT UTILITIES.
SAME SORT OF SCENARIO.
IN THIS FIRST CHART WE SEE OUR
UTILITY BREAKDOWNS.
I MENTIONED $46,000. -- IN THE
SECOND CHART YOU CAN SEE OUR
FACILITIES COSTS WERE AROUND
$67,000 IN 2015 AND THAT NUMBER
MORE THAN TRIPLED BY 2018 TO
ALMOST $350,000 YOU WILL FIND
SIMILAR TRENDS IN THE LAST TWO
CHARTS GUARDING OUR RENTAL AND
INSURANCE COSTS. SOME OF THESE
COSTS MUST SOME OF THESE
INCREASES, RATHER, ARE BECAUSE
YOUTHCARE HAS GROWN IN THE LAST
FOUR YEARS.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE NEED, THE
GROWING NEED.
EVEN IF WE REMOVE THE ADDITIONS
THE INCREASES ARE STILL
DRAMATIC.
WE STRETCH OUR BUDGETS TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN KEEP THE DOORS OPEN
AND THE LIGHTS ON.
AS A RESULT, WE HAVE LESS MONEY
TO SPEND ON RECRUITING AND
RETAINING STAFF TO PROVIDE HIGH-
QUALITY CARE.
LAST YEAR I SHARED THAT
YOUTHCARE HAD AN ANNUAL
TURNOVER RATE OF 38%.
I REMEMBER AT THE TIME THOUGH
THE RATE WAS HIGH WE WERE STILL
ONE OF THE LOWER PROVIDERS.
SADLY, THIS YEAR I HAVE TO
REPORT THAT OUR TURNOVER RATE
IS NOW AT 44%.
MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
WE WORK WITH AT YOUTHCARE ARE
IN CRISIS.
OUR STAFF DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND
SUPPORTING THEM.
THIS IS HARD WORK. TO DO IT
WELL WE NEED EXPERIENCED STAFF
WHO ARE RESPONSIVE, WHO CAN
MAKE REFERRALS, WHO CAN MAKE
QUICK DECISIONS, WHO KNOW WHEN
AND WHEN NOT TO CALL THE POLICE
. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES
WITH CONSTANT TURNOVER AND
VACANT POSITIONS.
THIS HAS HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON
OUR STAFF AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
HERE ARE SEVERAL QUOTES FROM
OUR STAFF. I'M CHRONICALLY
WORRIED THAT I'M GOING TO BE
SINGLE STAFFED.
OUR WORKERS ARE STAFF GETS
SICK.
THEY BURN OUT.
I WORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF
THERE IS A CRISIS AND I DON'T
KNOW HOW TO RESPOND.
ANOTHER EMPLOYEE SAID, I HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF
AND I'M NOW THE MOST SENIOR
MEMBER ON MY TEAM.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT ARE
TERRIFYING.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHEN THIS
WORK IS DONE WELL PEOPLE LIVE.
WHEN IT'S NOT PEOPLE DIE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] WE MUST ALSO
RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF THESE
CONDITIONS ON YOUNG PEOPLE.
AS YOU HEARD FROM TRISTAN,
HAVING A TRUSTED CONSISTENT
STAFF MEMBER IS KEY TO FINDING
STABILITY.
THAT STAFF MEMBER IS A LIFELINE
WHEN THAT LIFELINE IS CUT SHORT
WE DO DAMAGE.
IT'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE
THEY PREFERRED TO BE OUTSIDE.
WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT
WE ARE INVITING THEM INTO.
IT IS LEGITIMATE FOR A YOUNG
PERSON TO WANDER WHAT SHOULD I
COME INSIDE FOR IF I CAN'T HAVE
STABILITY?
WHY SHOULD I RELY ON SOMEONE IF
I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO LEAVE?
THE YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE
AREN'T THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT
TO SLEEP UNDER A BRIDGE.
THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY
CRAVE, THEY NEED TO COMMUNITY.
PROVIDERS MUST BE ABLE TO
REPLICATE THAT INSIDE.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE FAILING OUR
YOUTH.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS
END ON EQUITY.
12 YEARS AGO 80% OF THE STAFF
AT YOUTHCARE WERE WHITE.
WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO LIVE OUT
OUR VALUES OF DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE
NOW 84% PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING ALL
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I SHUDDER AT THE FACT THAT
OUR STAFF QUALIFY FOR THE VERY
SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE. MY LIFE'S WORK
HAS BEEN ABOUT ACCESS AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK, BROWN,
AND LGBTQ IDENTIFIED PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY I WORK IN HUMAN
RESOURCES.
MY CONSCIOUSNESS HURTS TO
INVITE THEM TO THIS REALITY.
THAT'S AGAINST MY OWN INTEGRITY
AND I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE ASKING YOU
TO SUPPORT AN ANNUAL INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT FOR HUMAN SERVICES
CONTRACTS.
IT'S A FIRST STEP.
IT'S THE VERY LEAST THAT WE CAN
DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> MY NAME IS CLENTONIA VANN.
I WORK AT SCOTT HOUSE WITH A
SPECIAL PROGRAM.
WE OFFER 45 RESIDENCY AND A
WOMAN'S SHELTER FOR 25 WOMEN
NIGHTLY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE ON
RETENTION AND TURNOVER.
STAFF TURNOVER CAN HAVE A
PROFOUND EFFECT ON CLIENT
ENGAGEMENT AND STABILIZATION.
THESE ARE THE CONSEQUENCES WE
EXPERIENCED STAFF PREPARED
CLIENTS MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
STABILITY IS DEPENDENT ON
STABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR
CARE PROVIDERS.
WE SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATION. WE SERVE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
THOSE THAT DEPEND ON SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES FOR ADEQUATE, TO
ADEQUATELY FUNCTION.
BETWEEN 2018 AND 2019 DSC
HOUSING UNITS WERE HEAVILY
DEPENDENT ON ALL,, -- ON
COWORKERS AND ROUTINELY
UNDERSTAND.
A SAFE RATIO FOR SWINGSHIFT
SHOULD BE THREE STAFF TO 70+
RESIDENTS. A SWINGSHIFT IS THE
BUSIEST SHIFT OF THE DAY WITH
THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SUPPORT.
WE ARE ENGAGING RESIDENTS,
SERVING DINNER, AND DISTURBING
MEDICATION.
OFTEN THE SHIFT IS UNDERSTAFFED
WITH TWO OR EVEN ONE STAFF
MEMBER.
BECAUSE OF STAFF TURNOVER
CLINICAL SUPPORT SPECIALISTS,
WHICH IS WHAT I AM, HAVE TO BE
PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF A
RESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR, WHICH IS
THE FRONT DESK SUPPORT FOR
PERFORMING DUAL
RESPONSIBILITIES MEANS WE FALL
BEHIND ON CASE MANAGEMENT, ONE-
ON-ONE TIME WITH RESIDENTS, AND
CRISIS INTERVENTION FOR BOTH
RESIDENTS AND STAFF SUFFER WHEN
HOUSING TEAMS ARE
OVERSTRETCHED.
WE NEED SALARIES THAT REFLECT
THE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE WE
BRING TO SOCIAL HUMAN SERVICES.
WE NEED TO STABILIZE OUR
WORKFORCE AND TO ENSURE THESE
VITAL SERVICES REMAIN STRONG IN
OUR CITY.
WE NEED OUR CITY COUNCIL
REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE
HOMELESSNESS AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES A PRIORITY AND FUND IT
ADEQUATELY.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HIGH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US
HERE.
THAN YOU SO MUCH FOR
CONSIDERING THE ISSUE OF
AUTOMATIC INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS FOR CITY CONTRACTS.
MY NAME IS TERESITA BEAU
TAYLOR, I'M THE CEO OF
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH
SERVICES.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
WITH 10 SITES IN KING COUNTY,
SEVEN OF WHICH ARE IN SEATTLE.
WE PROVIDE CARE FOR MEDICAL,
DENTAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
PHARMACEUTICAL, HEALTH
EDUCATION, HEALTH LITERACY AND
OTHER HEALTH SERVICES TO LOW
INCOME PEOPLE. ABOUT 50% OF
OUR PATIENTS ARE AT 100% FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL AND ANOTHER 25%
AT 200% OF FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL.
MOST OF OUR PATIENTS ARE
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WE
PROVIDE SERVICES IN OVER 50
LANGUAGES A YEAR FROM ASIA
PACIFIC ISLANDS, EAST AFRICA,
EASTERN EUROPE, AND, OF COURSE,
SPANISH-SPEAKING BACKGROUNDS.
WE SERVE 31,000 PATIENTS, CLOSE
TO 32,000 LAST YEAR. THOSE
WERE SERVED WITH OVER 135,000
HEALTH CENTER VISITS.
THEY TELL US ONE OF TWO THINGS.
ONE, THEIR HEALTH CONDITIONS
ARE NOT GOOD SO THEY HAD TO
COME IN FOR MULTIPLE VISITS.
TWO, WHENEVER WE CAN WE TRY
VERY HARD TO PROVIDE WHOLE
PERSON CARE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY ARE A
MEDICAL PATIENT WE ENCOURAGE
THEM TO BE A DENTAL PATIENT.
WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE PART OF
OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROGRAM
SO THEY KNOW AND LEARN BETTER
HOW TO HAVE HEALTHY FOODS.
IF THEY NEED IT THAT WE HAVE
THEM PARTICIPATE IN MENTAL
HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
POGRAMS.
AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE NOT
JUST WITHIN OUR WALLS.
WE WORKED VERY HARD WITH MANY
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
REPRESENTED HERE OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY WITH PARTNERSHIPS.
SOME FORMAL AND SOME INFORMAL
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
IN SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVE
ACCESS TO JOBS, ACCESS TO GREAT
EDUCATION, ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION AND SO ON.
IN A CITY THAT IS ENJOYING
UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC WEALTH
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TOO MANY
PEOPLE FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS
AND TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE
CAN'T FIND AND WE CAN'T SERVE.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO THE CITY,
BECAUSE THE CITY HAS
CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED
UNINSURED CARE.
I THINK IT'S AN IRONY THAT ONLY
A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD TO VISIT
SEVERAL OF YOU TO CONVINCE YOU
THAT AFFORDABLE CARE ACT DID
NOT COVER EVERYONE. THAT
HEALTH CONTINUE TO BE A
PRIORITY.
TODAY I'M SAYING TO YOU ARE
UNINSURED CARE IS GOING UP
AGAIN.
THIS IS BECAUSE -- WHETHER IT'S
IN TERMS OF FORMAL ACTIONS, A
TAX AGAINST AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
AND REMOVING THE INDIVIDUAL
COVERAGE MANDATE OR ITS IN
ATTACKING MEDICAID AND TRYING TO
CONSTRICT IT SO PEOPLE ARE NO
LONGER ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR FEAR
AND INTIMIDATION AGAINST
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.
WHAT THIS DOES IS PREVENTS
PEOPLE FROM COMING INTO CS
UNTIL THEY ARE VERY ILL.
THESE ARE DRIVERS OF COSTS.
POOR HEALTH LEADS TO HIGHER
COST.
WE HAVE AN AGING POPULATION
THAT LEADS TO HIGHER HEALTHCARE
COSTS.
WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT WE
HAVE TO TRY TO HANG ONTO WHEN
WE ARE FACING COMPETITION FROM
MAJOR HOSPITALS AND PRIVATE
PROVIDERS.
WE END UP CHURNING SOME OF OUR
FOLKS BECAUSE WE ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE THE CREAM OF THE CREAM
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO PROVIDE
CARE IN A CULTURALLY AND
HOLISTICALLY COMPETENT WAY.
LIKE MY COLLEAGUES WE WANT TO
BE ABLE TO HANG ON TO OUR
STAFF.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT
TRUSTED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE PEOPLE PROVIDING THE
SERVICE AND THE PEOPLE
RECEIVING THE SERVICE.
IT IS REALLY, REALLY VERY
IMPORTANT TO US THAT YOU
PROVIDE US WITH THAT
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT. WE
HAVE A LOT OF COSTS THAT DO NOT
PENCIL OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
GRANTS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FEE-
FOR-SERVICE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT. THE
COSTS ARE TO SUPPORT A WHOLE
PERSON'S CARE.
A WHOLE PERSON'S LIFE.
IN OUR CASE WE DON'T JUST THINK
OF THE INDIVIDUALS, WE THINK
ABOUT THE FAMILIES AND WE THINK
ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS
ISSUE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> VERY INCREDIBLE PANEL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
INFORMATION AND THE DATA YOU
PROVIDED AND THE STORIES.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES?
>> I DO HAVE ONE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
TERESITA, AND ESPECIALLY THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE WITH US IN
THE LAST DECADE.
JUST IN THE LAST WEEK WE HAVE
LEARNED THAT TWO, MAYBE THREE
FACILITIES FOR SENIORS ARE
CLOSING.
AND IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH
MEDICAID.
WE HAVE HEARD BELFAST ON ISLAND
AND ONE ON CAPITOL HILL AND
ANOTHER CLOSE.
CAN YOU IT MIGHT NOT IS ON
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT AND
WHAT YOU SEE THAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN?
THE FEAR OF PUTTING MULTIPLE
HUNDREDS OF SENIORS, VULNERABLE
SENIORS, OUT ON THE STREET
WITHOUT PLACES FOR THEM TO GO IS
ABOUT AS FRIGHTENING AS
ANYTHING I'VE HEARD.
CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?
>> ONE PHRASE, MEDICAID
REIMBURSEMENT SUCKS BECAUSE NO
TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.
IT DOESN'T PAY FOR THE REAL
COST.
IT SO HAPPENS THAT ONE OF THOSE
NURSING HOMES, IS NOT A SENIOR
CENTER, IT'S A NURSING HOME
WHICH IS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE
ARE TRYING VERY HARD TO WORK
WITH THEM TO FIND A SOLUTION,
BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
OVER 100 SENIORS WHO ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING
SOMEWHERE.
NURSING HOMES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE CLOSING.
IT'S NOT A UNIQUE TREND IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO TRY
AND FIGURE OUT COMMITTEE-BASED
PROGRAMS WHERE WE HAVE OUR
ELDERS ABLE TO AGE IN PLACE.
STARTING MARCH OF THIS YEAR I
CHS TOOK OVER ASSISTED LIVING,
ADULT DAY, AND CONGREGANT MEAL
PROGRAM FROM SEATTLE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
PRESERVATION DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY.
ONE, THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON
THEIR MAIN MISSION OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, SECONDLY, THEY
WANTED TO REALIZE THE COST OF
PROVIDING THAT KIND OF CARE WAS
JUST NOT AFFORDABLE TO THEM.
AND TO A HEALTH CENTER LIKE US,
BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO GROW AND
STRETCH AND WE ARE IN MEDICAID
PLAYER, AS LOUSY AS THEIR
PAYMENT RATE IS, WE ARE ABLE TO
SERVE THEM A LITTLE
DIFFERENTLY.
ON TOP OF THAT WE HAVE JUST
STARTED A PROGRAM OF ALL-
INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY,
WHICH IS A MEDICAID, MEDICARE
PROGRAM.
IS FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS WHO
ARE NURSING HOME ELIGIBLE, BUT
CANNOT AFFORD TO BE IN A
NURSING HOME OR DO NOT WANT TO
LIVE THERE.
THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES,
STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE
PROVIDE THEM WITH ALL THE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES, NOT JUST
THE MEDICAL SUITE OF SERVICES,
BUT ALSO SOCIAL, TRANSPORTATION
. IF HOME CARE IS NEEDED WE
WILL PROVIDE THAT.
IT IS ALL BASED ON AN
INDIVIDUAL CARE PLAN.
AND IT'S OUR MISSION.
AND INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT
JUST REALLY, REALLY HELPS US
TRY TO FILL THAT VERY NARROW
GAP THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF
WHAT WE GET IN TERMS OF
REIMBURSEMENTS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
THINK IS A MISUNDERSTANDING IS
THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT FOLKS
WHO WE SEE LIVING OUTSIDE ARE
COMING TO SEATTLE.
WE KNOW THAT AROUND 80% OF THE
PEOPLE WHO BECOME HOMELESS HAVE
LIVED IN KING COUNTY BEFORE.
BESIDES THAT, EVEN IF THEY ARE
HOMELESS AND THEY HAVE, FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE WE ARE WELCOMING
AS A CITY.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE THOSE
SERVICES AND ARE PROUD OF THE
SERVICES THAT ARE HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDER CONTRACTS OFFER.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE PEOPLE,.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
SOME OF THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH
YOU HAVE SEEN FOLKS WHO HAVE
BEEN IN THIS AREA, IN KING
COUNTY AND SEATTLE, AND THE
CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE LED THEM
THERE?
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
ANY OF THE ANECDOTES THAT YOU
HERE IN TERMS OF THE COST OF
HOUSING THAT HAVE REALLY
CREATED SOME OF THE SITUATIONS
THAT MANY OF YOUR CLIENTS HAVE
SEEN?
>> OKAY.
SO, I GUESS I HAVE BEEN WITH
PLYMOUTH FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AT
THIS POINT.
I HAVE WORKED IN A NUMBER OF
THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT
THEY HAVE.
I TALKED TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT
PEOPLE TO ALL THE ECONOMIC
STRATA EXCEPT FOR LIKE THE ONE
PERCENTILE THAT YOU COULD
POSSIBLY MEET.
I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE LIVING
IN ONE OF OUR SENIOR LIVING
FACILITIES WHO TRAVELED ALL
ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD AND 70
DEVELOPED A BRAIN TUMOR AND
FOUND THEY HAD SPENT ALL THEIR
MONEY AND THE MONEY THEY HAD
SAVED FOR RETIREMENT PUT THEM
ON THE STREET.
WITH HIS CHRONIC ILLNESS THERE
ENABLE, NEVER ABLE TO GET ON
THEIR FEET AGAIN UNTIL THEY
COULD CONNECT WITH SOMEBODY THE
GOVERNMENT PLYMOUTH HOUSING.
I HEAR A LOT OF STORIES THAT
FUNCTION IN THAT PARTICULAR WAY
WHERE PEOPLE GO FROM HAVING
LIKE A NICE MIDDLE CLASS OR
LOWER MIDDLE-CLASS LIFE, THEY
GET SICK AND, BOOM.
SUDDENLY THEY ARE ON THE
STREETS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL.
I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE ABOUT
300 EMPLOYEES IN ONE OF MY
RESPONSIBILITIES AS EMPLOYEE
RELATIONS, WHICH IS WHERE A LOT
OF THE COACHING AND THOSE KINDS
OF CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN.
I KNOW FROM TALKING TO STAFF,
AND IS USUALLY VERY
CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATIONS, OF
COURSE, THAT THEY WILL SHARE
WITH ME THAT THEY ARE IN PERIL,
BECAUSE PERHAPS WHEN THEY CAME
TO US AND GOT THE JOB HE HAD
BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR EIGHT OR
NINE MONTHS.
THAT PUT THEM IN THE HOLE, AS
WE SAY.
NOW YOU HAVE A JOB, BUT YOU ARE
WAY BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL IN
TERMS OF WHAT YOU OWE YOUR
LANDLORD, IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU
OWE OTHER LENDERS OR OH FAMILY
MEMBERS.
YOU ARE WORKING FROM A RACE
THAT ESSENTIALLY GOT STARTED,
THE WHISTLE WAS BLOWN LONG
BEFORE YOU GOT TO THE FRONT OF
THAT LINE.
SO, I HEAR THOSE STORIES ALL
THE TIME.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT KIND
OF INTERNAL SUPPORT WE MIGHT BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE. WE RECOGNIZE
THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO
PAY THE WAGES THAT WE WANT, LET
ALONE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO CLOSE SOME OF THOSE GAPS IN
STAFFS THEMSELVES ARE
VULNERABLE.
WE RECOGNIZE IT AS A HUGE
PROBLEM.
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WEIGH
IN.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY
THAT OUR CITY CONTRACTS ARE FOR
CITY RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ZIP CODES
AND WE ARE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT
THAT AND MAKE SURE OF THAT.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, YES, THE
COST OF HOUSING, THE COST OF
LIVING IN THE CITY HAS REALLY
AFFECTED NOT JUST OUR PATIENTS
AND CLIENTS, BUT ALSO OUR
STAFF.
HOWEVER, WE DO SEE PATIENTS WHO
ARE TRAVELING, WHO ARE CHOOSING
TO TRAVEL, BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC
OR SEE US THROUGH PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE
KIND OF CARE AND STAFFING THAT
WE HAVE.
THE CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IS
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
THEY TRUST US AND FEEL SAFE
WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> IT'S SO APPARENT THAT HE
WILL DO THIS WORK BECAUSE YOU
ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAY I
GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS BECAUSE
I'M REALLY LOOKING TO PROVIDE
FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR MYSELF.
WE LAUGH ABOUT THAT. YOU ARE
ALL IN POSITIONS WHERE YOU ARE
MENTORING, MANAGING,
SUPERVISING, RECRUITING PEOPLE
TO THIS FIELD. THIS IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE
NEED TO GET DONE AS A SOCIETY
RIGHT NOW.
THE ONLY WAY THAT I SEE IT
HAPPENING IS FOR THE GENEROSITY
AND KINDNESS OF INDIVIDUALS
LIKE YOURSELVES AND THE FOLKS
YOU ARE RECRUITING.
AND THE SACRIFICES PEOPLE HAVE
TO MAKE TO BE IN THIS BUSINESS
OUR ECONOMICS IN OUR COMMUNITY
ARE UPSIDE DOWN.
WE NEED TO BE SAYING THAT WE
NEED SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN
THE WORLD TO BECOMING WORKING
IN THIS FIELD AND WE ARE GOING
TO TREAT YOU FAIRLY
INAPPROPRIATELY SO YOU DON'T
HAVE TO MAKE THE PERSONAL
SACRIFICES.
WE FAILED TO DO THAT TODAY.
I'M GRATEFUL -- YOU HAVE PEOPLE
UP UNDERNEATH YOU WHO YOU MAYBE
EVEN BE ADVISING THAT THEY
SHOULD TAKE A DIFFERENT JOB
BECAUSE THAT'S THE BEST FOR
THEM.
WHEN YOU KNOW THAT MEANS THE
ORGANIZATION AND THE WORK WILL
SUFFER.
IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AS A
HUMAN BEING AND WE AS A SOCIETY
AND WE AS A CITY HAVE TO DO A
BETTER JOB SO THAT'S NOT A
DILEMMA YOU HAVE TO FACE AND
MAKE YOUR JOB A LITTLE BIT
EASIER.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE
HAVE STAFF WHO CHOOSE TO STAY
WITH US, BUT WORK PART-TIME IN
AND PART-TIME AT THE HOSPITAL
SO THEY CAN GET THE BETTER PAY
AND BENEFITS. THEY ARE MAKING
THAT SACRIFICE, BECAUSE THEY
ARE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY,
TO COMMITTING TO THE PATIENTS
AND FAMILIES.
>> THE STAFF WANTS TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE
DID TO PULL THIS TOGETHER.
>> [ APPLAUSE ] SING NO MORE
COMMENTS I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THIS PANEL AND THE
OTHER TWO PANELS THAT HAVE COME
BEFORE.
THIS IS THE CONTINUATION, IT'S
NOT THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE HIS
WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A
WHILE.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN FOR
UNVEILING AND CONTINUING TO
BRING UP THE ADDITION OF
HISTORIC UNDERFUNDING.
THIS IS BEGINNING OF OUR
EFFORTS IN 2019 TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD A
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE
INFLATIONARY INCREASES THAT YOU
ALL NEED THIS YEAR AND GOING
FORWARD.
WE WILL HAVE LEGISLATION FOR
FOLKS TO TAKE A LOOK AT
STARTING NEXT WEEK.
WE DO ALSO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS
THAT WE WANT TO GET TO.
BEFORE THAT HOW WOULD YOU ALL
FEEL ABOUT A BIG PICTURE IF WE
CANNOT THEY ARE YOU ALL STOOD
UP AND WE TOOK A PICTURE FROM
OVER HERE?
YEAH?
OKAY.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THIS PANEL
ONE MORE TIME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T HEAR
THAT LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THIS
PANEL ONE MORE TIME.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT THAT IS APPEARED
N TODAY'S PUBLIC AGENDA.
IF FOLKS CAN HELP US OUT WITH
TRYING TO KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN
SO THAT WE COULD HEAR THE FOLKS
WHO CAME TO PUBLICLY TESTIFY.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS
HEAR FROM CASEY J WORK.
CASEY, ARE YOU STILL HERE?
HI, CASEY.
THERE YOU GO.
AND THE HONORABLE CASEY, LET'S
MAKE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS
ON.
>> HELLO.
HELLO.
>> CASEY, YOU ARE A TALL GUY.
>> BEFORE YOU BEGIN LET ME TRY
TO GET FOLKS ATTENTION AGAIN.
CLAP ONCE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
CLAP TWICE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
GIVE IT UP FOR CASEY AS ONE OF
OUR FIRST PRESENTERS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
MY NAME IS CASEY J WORK.
I WORK WITH FORMALLY HOUSE WAS
PEOPLE AT DSC.
I HOPE THEM STAY HOUSED IN
PRIVATE APARTMENT.
THESE ARE MY COLLEAGUES.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT,
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT
THE BUILT-IN ADJUSTMENT FOR
INFLATION.
THIS JUST SEEMS IN ADDITION TO
BEING THE JUST AND FAIR THING
TO DO FOR OUR CLIENTS AND FOR
US IT'S ALSO SEEMS LIKE
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT AND
FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WHEN
YOU -- LATER ON.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CASEY.
>> JOHN MEADOWS FOLLOWED BY
HEATHER FITZPATRICK.
>> HI, JOHN.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY BEING
HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS JOHN
MEADOWS ON THE MAINTENANCE
COORDINATOR FOR PLYMOUTH
HOUSING GROUP.
WE'VE GOT 14 BUILDINGS AND
GROWING DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AREA.
PAUL ROSENTHAL SAID, WE'VE GOT
THOUSANDS ATTENDANCE. WE'VE GOT
NINE MINUTES TEXT AT BEST ON A
GOOD DAY BETWEEN THOUSANDS
ATTENDANCE, MULTIPLE THINGS
GOING WRONG WE HAVE JANITORIAL
SUPPORT INSIDE OF BUILDINGS,
BUT WHEN WE ARE GETTING
MULTIPLE WORK ORDERS, TENS,
DOZENS, HUNDREDS, BY THE WEEK
BUT IN AND THINGS ARE GOING
WRONG AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE
GETTING PULLED OFF OF THINGS IT
CREATES A GREAT WORK FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO
PROVIDE FOR THE PEOPLE. THAT
WE ARE TRYING NOT TO FALL INTO
THE SAME SITUATION AS WE ARE
NOT UNLIKE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO SERVICE.
A LOT OF US ARE JUST A PAYCHECK
AWAY FROM BEING IN THAT SAME
SITUATION.
WHETHER IT'S A FLIGHT AWAY
FIRE, THINGS GOING WRONG THEN
WE HAVE TO PULL PEOPLE OFF AND
NOW WORK IS STILL STACKING UP.
ANYBODY HAS NEEDS.
I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS
ADJUSTMENT.
I'M PLEADING FOR IT.
I'M IN SEATTLE TRYING TO GET
HOUSING FOR MYSELF.
I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN,
BECAUSE THINGS ARE HOW THEY ARE.
I GET PUSHED OUT TO TUKWILA AND
THEN FOR THE BACK BECAUSE OF
HOW THINGS ARE.
WE NEED TO NOT JUST HAVE THIS
FOR OURSELVES, BUT SO WE CAN
SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT WE ARE HERE
TO HELP.
SOME PEOPLE ARE WORKING DOUBLE
JOBS.
SOME PEOPLE ARE COMMUTING JUST
TO PARK IN RIGHT SO THEY CAN
CATCH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO
GET INTO WORK.
40 HOURS A WEEK AND THEN WE
STILL GET HOME AND WE HAVE TO
BE PREPARED TO COME BACK IN FOR
THE NEXT DAY.
THIS IS A TYPE OF THING WHERE
IF WE WANT HAVE SERVICE WITH A
SMILE AND WE WENT TO PROVIDE.
FOR PEOPLE SO THEY ARE HAPPY WE
NEED TO BE HAPPY AND WE NEED TO
BECOME THE IN AND OF OURSELVES.
TO DO THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED
AN ADJUSTMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WELCOME HEATHER FOLLOWED BY
DENIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
TODAY.
AND FOR YOUR CONCERN ABOUT
SEATTLE'S HUMAN SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT.
MY NAME IS HEATHER FITZPATRICK,
I'M THE CEO OF WELLSPRING
FAMILY SERVICES.
OUR AGENCY IS WORKING TO
PREVENT AND END FAMILY
HOMELESSNESS.
COUNCILWOMAN, YOU DID A GREAT
JOB OF RECAPPING A LOT OF THE
CHALLENGES IN YOUR
INTRODUCTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO REINFORCE THREE
POINTS.
THAT YOU AND MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE PANEL HAVE
ALREADY MADE.
FIRST, THE DEMAND FOR OUR
SERVICES IS GROWING.
SO ARE OUR OPERATING EXPENSES.
WE ARE LOSING, SECOND, WE ARE
LOSING KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERIENCE
, COMPASSIONATE STAFF, BECAUSE
WE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND
SERVICE CAPACITY.
MANY OF OUR STAFF ARE CLOSE TO
HOMELESSNESS THEMSELVES.
FINALLY, THAT TURNOVER HAS AN
IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO HELP
FAMILIES.
YOU HEARD THE STORY OF JUSTIN
AND JOE AT YOUTHCARE AND THE
IMPACT TRUST AND RELATIONSHIP
HAVE ON SERVICES. THAT TRUST
BUILDING TAKES TIME AND
CONSISTENCY.
HANDING OFF CLIENTS DESTROYS
TRUST, DELAYS AND SERVICES, AND
CAUSES ADDITIONAL TRAUMA, WHICH
IN TURN REQUIRES ADDITIONAL
SERVICES.
SHORTCHANGING COMPENSATION, AND
THAT'S MOST OF OUR BUDGET AS IT
IS MOST HUMAN SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS, IS PENNY WISE,
BUT POUND FOOLISH.
PLEASE GIVE US BETTER CHOICES.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WHEN THIS FOLLOWED BY LEAH
HABERMAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBER
. MY NAME IS MANASSA AND I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF -- WE
PRIDE HERSELF BY SERVING
REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FROM
CRADLE TO GOLDEN AGE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 150 STAFF IN 10
DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
WHAT WE ARE FACING IS THE SAME
ISSUES THAT THE REST OF MY
COLLEAGUES WERE REPRESENTING
TODAY AND TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE, I WANT TO URGE YOU TO
CONSIDER THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING AT HUMAN SERVICES
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO
PROFESSIONALS WITH DEGREES AND
LIVES THAT THEY NEED TO
SUPPORT.
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE TO
RETAIN THEM BECAUSE THEY ALSO
NEED TO LEAVE IT.
PEOPLE COME AND WORK FOR OUR
ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR
PASSION.
BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY SOLD ON
A MISSION THAT THEY WANT TO
WORK THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY
ARE SUPPORTING FOR THE
COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE
SUPPORTING.
I SEE THE TREND THAT THEY ARE
ALSO LIVING THE INDUSTRY
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD --
LEAVING THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE
THEY CANNOT AFFORD.
NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO
DO THE WORK, BUT BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
LIVE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
SUPPORTING THIS INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO
URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO
THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HI.
I'M LEAH WITH THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE SERVICE
PROVIDERS WITH DEDICATED,
COMPASSIONATE FRONT-LINE STAFF
WHO WORK DAY IN AND OUT TO
PROVIDE THE CARE AND SUPPORT
NEEDED FOR PEOPLE TO REACH
THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND BE
SEEN WITH THEIR FULL DIGNITY.
FRONT-LINE STAFF ARE
TRANSITIONING OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS PEOPLE, BATTLING
TO OVERCOME DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ADDICTIONS, PEOPLE LIVING SO
FAR ON THE MARGINS WITHOUT THE
HARD WORK OF HUMAN SERVICES
STAFF THEY WOULD BE OFF THE
GRID ENTIRELY.
WE DON'T ADJUST THE WORKERS
WAGES TO MATCH INFLATION.
THEIR WAGES ARE STAGNANT AS
RENTS RISE AND THE COST OF
LIVING SURGES.
IF OUR CITY COUNCIL IS
COMMITTED TO CREATING SYSTEMIC
EMPATHY WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE
VALUED AND PROVIDED THE TOOLS
TO FORGE THEIR OWN OPPORTUNITIES
WE NEED TO VALUE OUR HUMAN
SERVICES STAFF WHO ARE THE FOOT
SOLDIERS DOING THIS HARD WORK.
IF WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE GOAL
OF A SEATTLE THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE THAT WE NEED TO
SUPPORT THE WORKERS THAT MAKE
UP THE BACKBONE OF SEATTLE'S
COMMITMENT TO COMPASSION.
I ASK YOU TO COMMIT YOURSELVES
TO CREATING A LASTING SOLUTION
TO THIS YEARLY PROBLEM AND TO
VIA THE WORKERS WHO SUSTAIN THE
COMMITTEES AND PROGRAMS WE ALL
INVEST IN AND ALL BENEFIT FROM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE IN
THE ROOM WHO DOES THIS WORK.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT WE HAVE NATALIE DEGRAFF
FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA AND THEN
ALLIE ANNA SCOTT.
NATALIE?.
WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS NATALIE, MUCH
LIKE LATONIA ON THE THIRD PANEL
I A CLINICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST
AT THE DSC SCOTT HOUSE.
I HAVE HAD THE AMAZING GOOD
FORTUNE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
WORK THE SAME PROJECT IN
VARIOUS POSITIONS FOR THE PAST
2 1/2 YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP
REALLY STRONG RAPPORT WITH MANY
OF OUR CLIENTS, WHICH MEANS
THAT I SERVE THEM BETTER
BECAUSE THEY TRUST ME.
I HAVE ALSO SEEN OUR PROJECT AT
TIMES WHEN WE HAD ALMOST NO
FULL-TIME STAFF AND RELIED
ALMOST ENTIRELY ON ON CALL, WHO
ARE AMAZING AND NECESSARY, BUT
NOT STABLE.
THE DESTABILIZATION OF OUR
STAFF REALLY IMPACTS OUR
CLIENTS.
THEY DON'T HAVE CONSISTENT RULE
ENFORCEMENT, THEY DON'T HAVE
CONSISTENT ACCESS TO THE
RESOURCES WE NEED TO PROVIDE
THEM AND THEY DESERVE BETTER
THAN THAT.
THEY DESERVE STABILITY AND I
HAVE HEARD MANY OF THEM
EXPRESSED TO ME THAT WHEN A
STAFF MEMBER THAT THEY HAVE
DEVELOPED RAPPORT WITH, WHO
THEY TRUST LEAVES IT REALLY
THROWS EVERYTHING, THROWS A
WRENCH INTO EVERYTHING FOR
THEM.
THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT
AND THEY ARE AMAZING, RESILIENT
PEOPLE, BUT THEY REALLY NEED
AND DESERVE STABILITY.
THAT MEANS WE NEED TO BE PAYING
A SUSTAINABLE WAGE THAT MEANS
THAT WE CAN KEEP STAFF ON.
FOR LONG ENOUGH TO FORM THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> PATRICIA?
>> OKAY.
LET'S ALL GO TO ALLIE ANNA.
>> SORRY ABOUT MY MESSY
HANDWRITING.
I'M ALLIE I AM A MEMBER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION COALITION
AND THE CHAIR OF THE PATELLA
VILLAGE COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT AN
ANNUAL INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT
FOR HUMAN SERVICE CONTRACTORS.
AS WAS OBVIOUS FROM THE
POWERFUL TESTIMONY TODAY,
THAT'S ONLY A VERY SMALL FIRST
STEP.
AS WE HEARD AND AS I HAVE SEEN
ON THE FRONT LINES THE QUALITY
OF SERVICES PROVIDED DEPENDS ON
THOSE FRONT-LINE STAFF.
RIGHT NOW WE AS A CITY ARE
FAILING TO SUPPORT THESE KEY
PROVIDERS AND AGENCIES THERE
WORKING FOR WITH LIVING WAGES,
DECENT TRAINING, AND REASONABLE
CASELOADS.
IT'S A SHOCKING MORAL FAILURE
THAT AS THE CRISIS KEEPS
GETTING WORSE AND AS THE
STRESSES WAY EVER HEAVIER ON
THESE AGENCIES THAT WE ARE
EXPECTING THEM EVERY YEAR TO DO
MORE WITH LESS. WE NEED TO BE
INVESTING AT THE SCALE OF THE
CRISIS TO SOMETHING I KNOW
ALLISON HAS BEEN SAYING FOR
YEARS.
THAT STARTS WITH GETTING BASIC
HERE.
WE SHOULD BE COMING BACK HERE
ARGUING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE NEED
TO BE GETTING A LIVING WAGE AND
WE NEED TO INCREASE AGAIN THIS
YEAR.
IT SHOULD BE EVERY BUDGET
SEASON HAVING TO MAKE THE SAME
PLEA.
I HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING FOR MOST
OF MY LIFE.
I HAVE LEARNED MOST FROM BEING
THE MOTHER OF SEVEN CHILDREN.
IT STARTS WITH SETTING UP GOOD
PROCESS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
PUT ALL THE ENERGY INTO MAKING
THE SAME DECISIONS OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
THIS IS JUST BASIC COMMON
SENSE.
ONCE WE DO THAT WE NEED TO BE
GETTING SUSTAINABLE,
PROGRESSIVE NEW INCOME IN HERE
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY SOLVE THE
PROBLEMS.
THANK YOU.
>> JASON AUSTIN FOLLOWED BY
KATIE WILSON AND THEN DAVID
HEADLEY FOLLOWED BY MARGARET
RICHART.
>> HELLO, JASON.
JASON AUSTIN, GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
HE COUNCIL AND EVERYONE
TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THE DAY TO
BE HERE TODAY.
I'M HOUSING CASE MANAGER WITH
CATHOLIC COMMITTEE SERVICES. I
WORK FOR A STATE-FUNDED
PROGRAM.
I WANT TO REPEAT THE REFRAIN
THAT THE GENTLEMAN EARLIER SAID
ABOUT THREE YEARS I HAVE BEEN
IN MY CURRENT POSITION WITH CCS
FOR THREE YEARS.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY
PROGRAM SUPERVISOR I'M THE MOST
SENIOR PERSON WHO WORKS FOR MY
PROGRAM.
MY FORMER COWORKERS LEFT FOR A
NUMBER OF REASONS.
SOME OF THEM AND WENT BACK TO
SCHOOL TO PURSUE CAREERS IN
EDUCATION OR HEALTHCARE, SOME
OF THEM TOOK JOBS IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
WHAT THEY TOLD ME AS TO WHY
THEY LEFT WAS THE EXACT SAME
THING, I CAN'T PICTURE MYSELF
DOING THIS FOR THE REST OF MY
CAREER.
THAT'S A SHAME.
THAT IS A SHAME.
THAT'S A FAILURE OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
SEATTLE IS GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED
AS A MECCA FOR PEOPLE WITH
SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE
PEOPLE CAN BUILD LIVES AND
CAREERS DOING THAT WORK HERE.
IF WE WANT TO LIVE IN A
COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE IS
CARED FOR AND HOUSED
APPROPRIATELY AND HEALTHY WE
NEED TO MAKE THESE JOBS CAREERS
THAT PEOPLE CAN BUILD.
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO [
APPLAUSE ] I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST
TWO FORMER CLIENTS OF THE
PROGRAM THAT I WORK FOR HERE
TODAY STANDING SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER WITH ME AS MY COWORKERS
AT CCS.
I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO BE A
PART OF THEIR PROCESS AND I
WANT TO SEE THEM BUILD LIVES IN
THIS COMMUNIY DOING THIS WORK.
THEY BRING THEIR LIVED
EXPERIENCE AND THEIR PASSION TO
THIS.
IF THEY HAD TO LEAVE AND FIND
OTHER WORK BECAUSE THEY
COULDN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO
DO THIS THAT WOULD BREAK MY
HEART.
PLEASE, THINK ABOUT THIS BEING
A CITY THAT IS FOR ALL OF US.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> KASICH, KATIE WILSON,
AWESOME.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
KATIE WILSON AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION.
I WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
IS SUPER IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS
WHO WORK AT FUME, AS HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDERS IN SEATTLE TO
SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK
IN OUR CITY AND WE NEED TO
START PAYING THEM LIKE IT'S
EVERYTHING I WANT TO ADD IS
THAT WE THINK THESE WORKERS
DESERVE NOT JUST LIVING WAGES
AND INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS, BUT
WE THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE
TRANSIT PASSES JUST LIKE PEOPLE
WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
JUST LIKE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR
KING COUNTY. WE HOPE YOU WILL
WORK WITH US TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN AS WELL.
THAT SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS
NOT ONLY WORKERS, BUT ALL OF US
BECAUSE IT INCENTIVIZES PUBLIC
TRANSIT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE
MEETING OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF CARS.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT.
HONORABLE, YOUR NEXT.
I'M SORRY.
I COULDN'T REACH HER
HANDWRITING.
FOLLOWED BY DAVID AND
MARGUERITE.
>> I'M AUDIBLE MICHAEL FELIZ.
I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OUR
HOMELESS FOR SOME YEARS NOW.
RIGHT?
FOR SO MANY YEARS.
I'M LOOKING AT THE INCREASE OF
HOMELESSNESS. NOW, AUGUST 25.
NOW, AUGUST 25, 2019 IS 400
YEARS OF ENSLAVEMENT.
AT THE TIME OF SEPTEMBER 11 YOU
HAD TALK ABOUT ONE AMERICA.
YOU HAVE $338.3 BILLION --
SLEEPING ON THE STREET.
THAT IS A CONFLICT.
OUR VETERANS COME BEFORE PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THEM I
TRAVEL UNDER BRIDGES AND
ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND
WASHINGTON STATE IN THE 90s
WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS IN THE
OFFICE.
NOW THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL 10
YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS,
BUT IN 2010 11.2 --
UNAUTHORIZED, UNDOCUMENTED
ALIENS.
AND THEN OUR TAXPAYERS ARE
SPENDING -- THAT WAS IN
FEBRUARY 2015, BUT I AM
DEVASTATED THAT ALL OF YOU ALL,
YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
VETERANS, MY DAD WHO SERVED HIS
COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES
AIR FORCE, THE KOREAN WAR, THE
VIETNAM WAR, AND THAT MY SISTER
WAS IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR IN
1992 WHEN GEORGE HW BUSH SENIOR
WAS IN OFFICE.
[ INAUDIBLE ]THAT'S NOT BEING
ENFORCED BY YOU ALL.
I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU
ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATING --
>> THANK YOU YOUR HONORABLE.
WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING.
THERE ARE TWO MORE PEOPLE
SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY.
THE NEXT PERSON IS DAVID
FOLLOWED BY MARGUERITE.
>> HE WAS A PRESENT IN 1789,
1797, THE 23rd PRESIDENT --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> DAVID.
IS THAT YOU?
DAVID.
HELLO, DAVID.
WELCOME UP, DAVID.
FOLLOWED BY MARGUERITE.
>> I JUST WANT TO PROTEST THE
FACT THAT I GOT PUT SECOND TO
THE BACK BUT I KNOW I SIGNED UP
WAY BEFORE THAT.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THIS IS
SPEAKING LIST ARE FIXING TO GET
PAID OFF THE LEVY?
THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE
STATUS QUENTIN ALL THIS MONEY
WHILE NEVER HOLDING THEM
ACCOUNTABLE FOR EGREGIOUS
SUBHUMAN BANKERS HOURS EFFORTS?
IT'S APPALLING A MULTITUDE OF
PANELISTS AND MOST OF THE
SPEAKERS AND EVERYONE JUST
RECENTLY IN THE CHAMBERS ONCE
RAISES FOR ALL THE SOCIAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THIS IS MORE PROOF WE NEED AN
INVESTIGATION ON THE SIX-FIGURE
SALARIES HIRING UNQUALIFIED,
BEING OVERSEEN BY DO-NOTHING
GOVERNMENT FORCING TAXPAYERS TO
PAY TWICE, ONCE OF THE
GOVERNMENT INEPT WHOSE
CONTRACTING WITH POLITICALLY
CONNECTED NONPROFITS FEEDING
DATA DURING BAKER'S HOURS WHILE
ACTING LIKE A POLITICAL
EXTENSION FOR REELECTION OF
POLITICIANS OVERSEEING THEIR
CONTRACTS.
ON A SIDE NOTE, THE CALIFORNIA
CHRONIC HOMELESS IS GOUGING
MEDICAID.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CRIMINALS
GETTING INTIMATE AND PAID
HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE IS
MORE PROOF LIBERAL POLICIES
IMPLODE.
CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE
TO BE BETTER WITH THE
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR HOUSING
AND PETITIONING A NOBLE FIRST
WORLD 21st CENTURY ADVANCED
HOUSING DEVELOPER WHO IS
QUALIFIED TO BUILD PROPER HOMES.
A LOT OF THE GOVERNMENT
OVERSIGHT ON NONPROFITS WHO
CONTINUE TO CHEAT THE TAXPAYERS
AND THE HOMELESS INNOCENT,
SOBER AND DRUG-FREE, HAVE GIVEN
A PASS ON THEIR RACIST
DISCRIMINATIONS.
WE HAVE SEEN WRAPAROUND SERVICE
IN SEATTLE IS DYING VIDEO LET
THEM MY MOTHER HAVE ASKED
EFFORTS.
EXCUSE MY FRENCH.
SEATTLE TIMES SHOULD
INVESTIGATE THE SIX-FIGURE
SALARIES HIRING OPERATIVES TO
DO THE BIDDING OF COUNSEL FOR
REELECTION -- AT THE EXPENSE OF
INTEGRITY AND FORTHRIGHT
DILIGENT HONEST EFFORTS TO
SOLVE THE OPPRESSION. YOUTHCARE
EXECUTIVE USED TO WORK AT KING
COUNTY COMMUNITY AND
HOMELESSNESS, THE SAME EXECUTIVE
-- ONCE REALIZED IT WAS A BOGUS
ENTITY AND HE JUMPED BEHIND
YOUTHCARE.
YOUNG COLLEGE PUKES --
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE NEED A MASS FIRING AND
REHIRING, PLEASE.
>> THE NEXT PERSON WE HAVE IS
MARGUERITE SHARPE.
>> DAVID I UNDERSTAND WHY IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU SIGNED UP
EARLIER.
WE DID HAVE TWO SHEETS YOU ARE
AT THE TOP OF THE SECOND SHEET.
>> MARGARET, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THIS ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY PLEASE LINEUP.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> YES.
GOOD DAY, EVERYONE.
I BROUGHT MY LITTLE, IT SAYS
GET OUT AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS
TOLD TO DO BY TO NEIL STEFAN AT
SCHOOL THE LAST TIME I WAS
TRESPASSING HERE.
I'M DELIVERING THIS TO HIM.
HE CAN GET OUT FOR TELLING ME
WHAT TO DO.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
THESE PEOPLE HERE TODAY, THEY
WERE EXERCISING THEIR FREE
SPEECH.
WHEN YOU SPEAK ON HOMELESSNESS
I THINK IT'S A CRYING SHAME
THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE COME UP
IN HERE SAYING THAT THEY ARE
DOING THINGS TO ERADICATE IT,
BUT YET IS STILL INCREASING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE
GIRAFFE, IS IT A BLACK LEOPARD?
A TIGER, A MONKEY?
OR WHAT IS IT?
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT,
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
SAYING THAT THEY ARE ADVOCATING
FOR THIS ADJUSTMENT SO THAT WE
WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT
WE ARE GOING THROUGH.
AND WE WON'T HAVE TO SEE ALL
THE TRASH AND THE LITTER AND
STUFF.
WHAT IS THIS?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
THESE PEOPLE CALL THEMSELVES
REPRESENTING US AND THEY DON'T
EVEN COMMUNICATE WITH US.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE LIKE
JAY-Z THAT JUST TIPPED OVER THE
RICHTER SCALE BEING A
BILLIONAIRE.
ICU LOOKING AT ME.
BECAUSE, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF FINANCES
, IF THEY DID MAYBE THEY
WOULDN'T BE HOMELESS. AND THEN
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THROW THEM
OUT ON THE STREETS FOR NO
REASON AT ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO
GO GET A LAWYER THAT THEY
CANNOT AFFORD.
SO, THIS IS JUST BEYOND MY
COMPREHENSION RIGHT NOW WITH
THIS.
LIKE HE WAS SAYING ABOUT THE 10
YEAR PLAN, WE LIVED THROUGH
THAT WE STILL DIDN'T SEE A
CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU MS. WISHART.
I SEE A FEW FOLKS LINED UP TO
TESTIFY.
PLEASE GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND THEN WE WILL GET
YOU TO SIGN UP IN JUST A LITTLE
BIT.
WELCOME TO THE MICROPHONE
ALLISON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY WHO IS
STILL HERE WHO HAS BEEN PART OF
THIS INFLATION CAMPAIGN TO COME
UP AND JOIN ME.
THIS REALLY IS A WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
STAYING AND FOR HOSTING AND
MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO
TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHY WE DO
THE WORK, WHY THIS WORK
MATTERS, AND WHY IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH ALL OF US THE CITY NEEDS
TO STEP UP AND MAKE THE
INVESTMENT IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE OF HUMAN
SERVICES.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT ROADS AND
BRIDGES, ABOUT THE WALLS AND
BIKE LANES AND THE PEOPLE WHO
FILLED THIS ROOM AND THE
BUILDINGS, MOST OF THEM
CRUMBLING, THAT THEY WORK IN
EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT ARE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF WHAT
SUPPORTS FOLKS IN ALL PARTS OF
SEATTLE.
I MYSELF STARTED OUT AS A
CHILDREN'S ADVOCATE FOR KIDS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
NEW YORK CITY.
FOR 30 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE
EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE SAYING
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU
DO.
ESSENTIALLY, IMPLYING THAT THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DO OUT
OF THE GOODNESS OF THEIR
HEARTS.
THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKERS.
THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING THE MOST
VITAL WORK THERE IS.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
THAT THE CITY HAS MADE
HISTORICALLY ARE THE EFFORT
STRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT WE
ARE ASKING YOU TO PROTECT BY
CREATING A LONG-STANDING
SOLUTION TO THE NEED TO ADJUST
FOR INFLATION AS YOU BOTH KNOW
VERY WELL.
AND AS WE ALL WILL ATTEST TO,
THAT'S ONLY THE FIRST STEP IN
CORRECTING REALLY DECADES OF
DISINVESTMENT IN THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO CRUMBLE.
WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO
THRIVE.
WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD TODAY
SOME OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY
EXAMPLES OF HOW INDIVIDUAL
PEOPLE DRIVE AND HOW THAT THEN
BOLSTERS OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
I THINK YOU BOTH AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I
HOPE ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS
LISTEN TO AND WATCH THIS ENTIRE
AFTERNOON, BECAUSE IT INSPIRED
ME.
I HOPE IT INSPIRES YOU TO TAKE
THIS MODEST NEXT STEP SO THAT
WE CAN ALL GET ONTO SOME OF THE
BIGGER WORK. AS YOU SAID,
COUNCIL MEMBER BACK-CHECK, WE
NEED TO DO MORE WITH MORE.
>> THANK YOU.
MUCH MORE.
>> SING NO ONE ELSE IS SIGNED
UP TO TESTIFY WANT TO THANK OUR
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BEING
HERE.
FOR EVERYBODY WHO TESTIFIED FOR
THE INCREDIBLE TENOR, FOR THE
TURNOUT TODAY, STANDING ROOM
ONLY WE DO HAVE TWO MORE
OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT
THIS ON THURSDAY WE DO HAVE TWO
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK
ABOUT THIS ON THURSDAY, JUNE
13.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK AT 9:30.
WE WILL HAVE SOME LEGISLATION
FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER.
THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
WE WILL BRING IT BACK THE
FOLLOWING MEETING WHICH WILL BE
JULY 11 GIVEN THE HOLIDAY BREAK
FOR US TO POTENTIALLY CONSIDER
MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT THAT WE
CAN PUT INTO OUR STATUTE TO
CONCRETIZE OUR COMMITMENT TO
THIS.
>> THING TO DO EVERYBODY.
COUNCILMEMBER, I WANT TO ASK IN
THIS COMES BACK TO MY ROLE AS
THE CRANKY FINANCE CHAIR, DO WE
HAVE THE 10 YEAR LOOK BACK ON
HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE SPENT
AND HOW MUCH MONEY GOING
FORWARD THIS WILL TAKE? NOT TO
THROW COLD WATER ON ANY OF
THIS, WE KNOW WE NEED IT, BUT I
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
FROM WHAT I'M HEARING WE ARE
NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT BOWEL
WAVE GOING FORWARD, SO I WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL BEING,
I DON'T WANT A REALISTIC,
BECAUSE THAT'S NASTY, BUT IS,
WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO
DO A PEOPLE ARE REQUESTING
HERE.
>> I THINK THIS TO MAKE ITEMS
WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING.
ONE IS A HISTORIC UNDERFUNDED,
THE HISTORIC DEFICIT THAT I
THINK WE HAVE HEARD HAS
AFFECTED SO MANY OF OUR HUMAN
SERVICE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS
AND THE NEED FOR AN AND
INFLATIONARY -- JUST THE
LETTER, THE INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENT GOING FORWARD,
RECOGNIZING WE'VE GOT A LOT TO
DO TO MAKE UP FOR THE HISTORIC
UNDERFUNDED.
THAT SHOULD HELP ADDRESS THE
BOW WAVE ISSUE.
AS A CHERUB FINANCE I KNOW
THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR YOU.
GETTING THAT FIRST STEP IN
PLACE WAS THE 2% ACROSS-THE-
BOARD.
THIS WILL BE A MORE ACCURATE
REFLECTION OF THE ACTUAL COST
OF LIVING GOING FORWARD, WHICH
WE THINK WILL AT LEAST HELP
STABILIZE FOR NOW AS WE WORK ON
PARITY AND EQUITY IN THE FUTURE.
SO, WITH THAT PLEASE LOOK FOR
THE LEGISLATION TO BE ONLINE AS
OF THIS FRIDAY.
THAT WILL GIVE FOLKS A FULL
WEEK TO LOOK AT IT.
FEEL FREE TO COME BACK AND
TESTIFY ON THURSDAY NEXT WEEK.
ON MORE NOTE OF APPRECIATION
FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR EVERYONE
BEING HERE.
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA TODAY.
WE KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU DO
EVERY DAY, PROVIDED LITTLE
EXTRA WITH LESS.
LET'S DO MORE WITH A LOT MORE.
OKAY.
GREAT.
THANKS EVERYONE.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.