KCHA NEWS - February 2009
A resource for King County Housing Authority residents
KCHA took an innovative step toward ending homelessness in King County last month with the purchase of a new property in Tukwila: Pacific Court Apartments.
The 32-unit property, which has one-and two-bedroom apartments, will become home to chronically homeless individuals with serious mental illness. Those residents will have access to on-site supportive services from two highly experienced community mental health agencies that are part of the King County Regional Support Network.
The $3.5 million in funding to purchase Pacific Court came from King County’s Mental Illness and Drug Dependency program.
Pacific Court was an especially attractive purchase for KCHA because it’s vacant and just finished a complete interior and exterior remodel. Also, it costs significantly less to buy the property now in its existing condition than it would for KCHA to construct or remodel the same number of units.
“To be able to provide 50 bedrooms of new, permanent supportive housing is very exciting,” said Kristin Winkel, KCHA Director of Homeless Housing Initiatives. Each resident living in a two-bedroom unit will have a roommate.
KCHA will subsidize the tenants’ rent with public housing subsidies that have been inactive since the conversion of the former Springwood Apartments (now Birch Creek Apartments) in Kent to a Tax Credit, Project-Based Section 8 property.
“It’s an awesome opportunity because we’d been looking for a way to use some of our ‘dormant’ public housing subsidies,” said Bill Cook, KCHA’s Director of Public Housing.
However, the property will operate very differently from most public housing sites. The two nonprofit organizations offering supportive services at Pacific Court will refer all of the residents for the building.
Prospective tenants cannot apply to live at Pacific Court by going through the public housing waiting list process.
“This is not regular public housing,” Cook said.
KCHA’s two nonprofit partners at Pacific Court are Sound Mental Health and Navos, which both offer mental health services to individuals and families. The site includes a basketball court and a community room, where there could be programming such as classes or workshops. A pea patch garden also may be added to the property.
“All of that contributes to the residents living in a therapeutic environment,” Winkel said.
Pacific Court happens to be adjacent to KCHA’s Riverton Terrace property and office. That allows Pacific Court to be efficiently managed and maintained by existing KCHA staff.
“I’m excited to be managing this building and starting a new adventure with the Housing Authority,” said Lisa Hall, the Riverton Terrace Property Manager.
Free assistance with preparing tax returns is available through April 15 at several locations through the United Way of King County’s Free Tax Preparation Campaign. The free service is available to households making less than $42,000 a year.
You don’t need an appointment. But because many sites get very crowded, you should arrive as close to the site’s opening time as possible for the best chance of getting served. The tax preparation help is provided by multilingual volunteers who have been certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Here’s what you should bring with you:
• Any W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and other end-of-the year income statements that you received from all of your employers and sources of income
• A copy of last year’s tax return, if you have it
• Social Security card number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and birthdates for every person to be claimed on your tax return
• Childcare provider name, address, and tax ID number
• Anything else that you think might affect your return, even if you’re not sure
• If you want your refund deposited directly into your bank account, you’ll need to bring your bank account number
For more information about free tax prep assistance, please call 2-1-1 or 1-877211-9274 or go to unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp.
Below is a list of free tax prep sites near you. If services are available in additional languages besides English, those languages are listed in parenthesis.
Auburn Valley YWCA
Address: 1620 Perimeter Road S.W.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (Chinese) and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish)
Hopelink
Address: 14812 Main St.
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays (Chinese), 1 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (Spanish), and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (Russian/Spanish)
Multi-Service Center
Address: 1200 S. 336th St.
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Alliance Center
Address: 515 W. Harrison St.
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays (Vietnamese) and Thursdays (Vietnamese) and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays (Vietnamese)
SeaTac International Airport, Airport Jobs Office
Address: Take Elevator 1 from the ticket counter level to level M
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
The Village at Angle Lake Community Services Building
Address: 4040 S. 188th St.
When: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays (Spanish) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish)
SHORELINE
Hopelink
Address: 15809 Westminster Way N. (Next to Marshall’s in the Aurora Square Plaza)
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
WHITE CENTER
Salvation Army Community Center
Address: 9050 16th Ave. S.W.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays (Spanish) and Wednesdays (Spanish) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish)
White Center Assembly
Address: 10237 16th Ave S.W.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (Samoan) and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays (Samoan)
February is African-American History Month
“I have a dream that my four little
children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color
of their skin but by the content of their
character.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
The next two RAC meetings will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 17 and Feb. 18. The Feb. 17 meeting for North and Eastside residents will be at Kirkwood Terrace, 11925 N.E. 81st Circle, Kirkland. The Feb. 18 meeting for all other committee members will be at KCHA’s Administrative Office, 600 Andover Park W., Tukwila.
If you have questions about either meeting, please contact Tiffany Ngo at 206-5741299 or at tiffanyn@kcha.org.
News for Families Living in KCHA Communities
As part of a new partnership with the King County Housing Authority, the Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) has scheduled several workshops in February for women and their families in the Somali/Somali Bantu Community. The workshops are part of a new effort called the ReWA Somali/Somali Bantu Outreach Project.
In addition to ReWA and KCHA, the Kent Fire Department and the nonprofit Kent Youth & Family Services are assisting with some of the workshops.
ReWA provides the following services to women and their families in the Somali/Somali Bantu Community: life skills, translation, housing, medical, job referrals, mental health referrals, and home maintenance.
Those services are now available to residents living at the following KCHA properties: Birch CreekApartments (including relocated families living off site), Valli Kee, CascadeApartments, Burndale Homes, Evergreen Court, Firwood Circle, Green River Homes, and Kings Court.
For more information about this effort or a specific workshop, please call ReWA at 206-957-2029. The workshops also are open to the public.
Anab Abdi is a case manager with ReWA.
February Workshops
Valli Kee Topic: How to Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3
Where: Valli Kee Recreation Center
Valli Kee Topic: Nutritional Facts and Diabetes
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 11
Where: Valli Kee Recreation Center
Cascade Topic: How to Perform First Aid
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 18
Where: Cascade Recreation Center
Birch Creek Topic: Nutritional Facts and Diabetes
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 26
Where: Kent Family Center in the ESL classroom on the second floor
WIC assists women, young children with nutrition, access to medical care
By Public Health – Seattle & King County
If you’re pregnant or a new mother, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) might be able to help you. WIC is a preventive health and nutrition program that provides short-term assistance to young families to promote optimal growth and development.
Am I eligible for WIC services?
You are eligible if you:
What are the income guidelines?
Eligibility for WIC is based on gross monthly income and nutritional need. Your family may still be eligible even if you are working, a single parent, or receiving food stamps.
Household size — maximum gross monthly income
One — $1,604
Two — $2,159
Three — $2,714
Four — $3,269
Five — $3,824
Six — $4,379 Seven — $4,934 Eight — $5,489 If you receive Medicaid or Healthy Options, you are automatically eligible for WIC even if your income is above these guidelines.
Getting WIC does not affect your immigration status.
What are the benefits of WIC?
Through WIC, you can receive:
Where are WIC services provided?
To find a the WIC clinic closest to you, go to www.withinreachwa.org/wicsearch.
How are WIC foods provided?
Many local grocery stores and some pharmacies accept WIC checks. WIC checks are valued at about $45 per month and are exchanged for nutritious foods – foods that are high in protein, calcium, iron, or vitamins A and C, such as:
If you or your child want to go to college in the fall, you should be working now to find scholarship money to help you pay the often hefty costs. Here are three financial aid opportunities that you might want to explore:
1. The Unmet Need Scholarship Program is available to low-income families with a combined income of less than $30,000. This scholarship ranges from $1,000 to $3,800. It’s available to students who are U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time as undergraduates at an accredited college or university, and have at least a 2.5 grade point average (or a General Educational Development average test score of between 42 and 52). More information: 507-931-1682.
2. The Opportunity Grant program allows low-income students attending community or technical colleges and studying particular fields to receive funds to cover tuition and mandatory fees up to 45 credits and up to $1,000 for books and supplies per academic year. Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average. Interested students should contact the Opportunity Grant Coordinator at the community or technical college they would like to attend. More information: scopeland@sbctc.edu or 360-704-4397.
3. The Washington College Bound Scholarship is a four-year scholarship that covers the cost of college tuition, fees and books for low-income students who sign a pledge in seventh, eighth or ninth* grade promising to graduate from high school and demonstrate good citizenship. Students are eligible if they are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, their families receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), they are foster youth, or their families meet the program’s income guidelines. More information: 1-888-535-0747, www.hecb.wa.gov/ collegebound, or CollegeBoundScholars@ hecb.wa.gov. *Ninth-graders (during the 2008-09 school year) have until June 30, 2009, to sign up.
Here are some additional tips about how to find other scholarships:
Check with your school counselor. If you have a special talent in athletics, the arts, or a subject area, check with your coach, counselor or teacher.
Contact local organizations. Many community organizations, foundations, corporations, clubs and civic groups offer scholarships to students.
Contact groups such as the Elks or Jaycees, ethnic and religious youth groups, college fraternities, sororities and alumni groups. Ask employers or labor unions. Many companies and labor unions offer scholarships to employees, members or their children. Also, check with professional organizations related to your career interests, such as the American Bar Association or the American Medical Association.
Look for more scholarships offered in your area. Check with local department stores, grocers, credit unions and banks – many offer one or more scholarships annually.Contact your local chamber of commerce to see if they have a list of local businesses offering scholarships.
Visit free online search services. Many search services allow you to input your academic, ethnic and personal interest information and receive regular updates on scholarships that might apply to you. Beware of any company that wants you to pay for a scholarship search! Instead, try these free services:
• Washington Financial Aid Association – www.wfaa.org
• Project Opportunity – www.projectopportunity.net
• College Board – www.collegeboard.com
• SallieMae College Answer – www.collegeanswer.com
• University and College Accountability Network – www.ucan-network.org
Federal income tax returns are due April 15, and as you’re filing your taxes, you may want to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Low-income working individuals and their families may be eligible to receive a tax refund between $428 and $4,716 if they apply for the EITC.
Eligibility
To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you didn’t earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return.
You may be eligible for the EITC if you earned income in 2008 and:
• You have two or more children and earned less than $38,646 (or $41,646 if married and filing a joint return) in 2008
• You have one child and earned less than $33,995 ($36,995 if married and filing jointly) in 2008
• You do not have children and earned less than $12,880 (or $15,880 if married and filing a joint return) in 2008
In addition, you must have no more than $2,950 in investment income for the year, and you must have a valid Social Security Number. If you are filing a joint return, your spouse also must have a valid Social Security Number, and all qualifying children you use to claim the EITC also must have valid Social Security Numbers.
In order to qualify, you cannot file your taxes under the “married and filing separately” status.
The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits.
In most cases, EITC will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing, or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.
EITC history
Congress originally approved the tax credit in 1975 as a way to offset the burden of social security taxes on low-income people and to provide an incentive to work. When the EITC is more than the amount of taxes that you owe, you will get a tax refund if you claim and qualify for the credit.
Snow delays Birch Creek re-occupancy
Birch Creek Apartments in Kent was blanketed in snow along with the surrounding
region for nearly two weeks in December. The winter storms delayed re-occupancy
of the first three buildings. Residents had been slated to move into the renovated
units in mid-January. The completion of future buildings should remain on
schedule.
By Natalia Arredondo – YWCA Learning Center
Special to The Voice
Are you in need of a job and don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips to get you going.
• A great place to start your job search is at your local career center or Work-Source center. These centers offer plenty of resources such as Internet access, on-site trainings (usually free), updated job openings, and résumé, and cover letter help.
• Local newspapers, employment guides, and the Internet are great tools to find local job openings along with instructions on how to apply for positions in which you are interested.
• Attend job fairs and hiring events when possible. Often, you can meet with the actual hiring manager and receive an on-the-spot interview that day.
• Remember to always keep an updated résumé on hand.
• When applying in person for a job, remember to present yourself in a positive manner and be respectful to any staff with whom you might come in contact.
• Always check on the status of your application by contacting the employer or stopping by again. This shows your determination and desire to find employment.
• When offered a job interview, do not stop applying to other jobs until you are offered the job position.
• Before your interview, research the company you where are going to interview. Find out what they do, their mission and vision statements, and how long they have been in business. This will prepare you for some of the questions the employer might ask you and may raise questions you might want to ask the employer.
• On the day of your interview, arrive to the interview about five to 10 minutes early, dress professionally, and maintain good hygiene. Shake the interviewer’s hand and maintain eye contact.
• During the interview, stay confident, talk highly about your achievements, and why you would be a great asset to their company.
• After the interview, remember to thank the interviewer and ask when the hiring decision will be made.
These are just a few of many tips that can help you get closer to your dream job.
More help
From noon to 3 p.m. every Friday, the YWCAGreenbridge Career Development Center offers a job readiness class that helps individuals with job search assistance, résumé and cover letter writing, and many other crucial skills to help you look for employment. For more information, please call 206-336-7000 or stop by the YWCACareer Development Center at 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W., Seattle.
For a complete list of YWCA job help locations in King County, go to www. ywcaworks.org, click on the link to “Programs & Services” and then click on the link to “Employment.”
Did you know there’s a phone number you can call for non-emergency social services? 2-1-1.
With the increase in the number of agencies and help-lines, you may not know where to turn for help. Dialing 2-1-1 will connect you to trained information and referral specialists who can help you determine the service you need.
The 2-1-1 system represents a public-private partnership, with ongoing financial support from United Ways, city and county governments, existing crisis line providers, and businesses.
4-H: Giving youth tools to grow
By Caitlin White – WSU King County Extension Youth D evelopment
Special to The Voice
What do you think of when someone says 4-H? I pictured ribbon-endowed horses at the county fair and walking through a barn trying to adjust my ears to the sounds of livestock. When I accepted my AmeriCorps position with Washington State University King County Extension’s 4-H program, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! What I have discovered is far more exciting than I ever expected.
I was surprised to hear that 4-H has projects such as hip-hop poetry, robotics, outdoor adventures, entrepreneurship, and media arts that are attracting youth with diverse interests. The King County program honors its roots in animal and family science while embracing exciting new programs and ideas.
King County has a large, urban population that is greatly benefiting from the wide range of projects currently available in 4-H. King County 4-H appears across the county with the largest programs – outside Seattle – running in Auburn, Redmond, and SeaTac. To join a 4-H club, it costs $10 per year per youth but most new 4-Hers participate in after-school activities that are free or offer scholarships. In fact, many of the programs offered by 4-H are free.
If you’re interested in getting involved in 4-H or would just like some more information, please contact me at Caitlin.White@ kingcounty.gov or at 206-205-3184.
In 4-H, there really is something for everyone. I am thankful for the opportunity that the KCHA AmeriCorps Program and King County 4-H have given me to develop my own leadership and program planning skills. I look forward to being a champion for both 4-H andAmeriCorps because they both offer a rich environment for people to grow and become positive community leaders. Fostering this positive involvement is part of making the world a better place for everyone, one person at a time.
Upcoming events
• One way to find out more about 4-H is to come to a workshop series we fondly call Super Saturday. This is a family event and will have a variety of fun and educational workshops geared toward all ages, including: map and compass navigation, Lego robotics, art, and adult leadership training. The full-day event will be at Seattle Public Schools’ John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence at 2445 Third Ave. S., Seattle. The cost is $5 per person or $12 per family. For more information, go to king.wsu. edu/4h/SuperSaturday.html.
• Right now, I’m also developing partnerships with local organizations to build gardens in our communities that are planned, planted, take care of, and harvested by youth. In times like these, learning the skills to provide nutritious food for themselves, their families, and their communities while building their own skills in leadership and project planning is powerful. If you’d like to be a part of this project, we’re offering a free educational workshop about 4-H including how to use our gardening with youth curriculum and positive youth development from 6 to 9 p.m. March 11 at our office at 200 Mill Ave. S., Suite 100, Renton.
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News for Seniors and Disabled Residents of KCHA Communities
Nearly 500 angels in all different styles and colors adorn Lynn Toyer’s apartment at Paramount House. And that’s just the beginning.
She has hundreds more Santa Clauses – including ones that sing and ones that snore – and countless other holiday figurines, snow globes, and ornaments that line her walls and shelves from floor to ceiling. Twinkling lights and tinsel make the entire apartment sparkle. There’s even a Santa Claus shower curtain in the bathroom.
“I just love to decorate,” said Toyer, who begins her annual tradition in the fall and usually leaves everything up through January. “This is my most wonderful season.”
Toyer’s mother, Elva Toyer, always did a lot of decorating during the holidays when her five children were growing up. Lynn Toyer kept the tradition going when she got her own apartment in Olympia in the 1960s. Now, Lynn and Elva, who both live in north King County, help one another decorate their respective homes every year.
“It’s a two-person job,” Elva Toyer said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
“We get our music going and we start singing,” Lynn Toyer said. “It really gets you in the spirit.”
While a healthy diet is the cornerstone
to good health, meeting that
goal can be a challenge. The recipe
below conforms to the recommendations
contained in the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Food
Guide Pyramid. We hope you find it
easy, tasty, and economical.
Southwestern Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 to 15 minutes
Serves four.
Ingredients:
½ cup onions, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons dry oregano
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup canned kidney beans,
drained
1 15-oz. can of canned garbanzo
beans, drained
1 medium tomato, diced
2 cups lettuce
½ cup cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Cook the ground beef and onions
in a large skillet until the beef
no longer remains pink. Drain.
2. Stir chili powder, oregano, and
cumin into beef mixture; cook for 1
minute.
3. Add kidney beans, garbanzo
beans, and tomatoes. Mix gently to
combine.
4. Combine lettuce and cheese in
large serving bowl. Portion lettuce
and cheese onto four plates. Add
beef mixture on top of lettuce and
cheese.
Nutrition facts per serving
Calories: 485
Total fat: 22 grams
Saturated fat: 9 grams
Cholesterol: 98 milligrams
Sodium: 411 milligrams
>Public Health – Seattle & King County
Grabbing a quick bite to eat at
fast-food or other chain restaurants
can be tempting and relatively inexpensive.
In fact, research shows
that many people eat a third of their
calories and spend nearly half of
their food budget on food eaten
away from home.
However, many of these foods
are high in sodium, fat, and calories – all contributors to chronic health
issues like obesity, heart disease,
and diabetes.
In King County, more than
719,000 residents are overweight
or obese. Heart disease is the second-
leading cause of death, and in
a recent 10-year period, the rate of
diabetes nearly doubled.
That’s why a new nutrition menu
labeling program that went into
effect Jan. 1 in King County is so
important.
Nutrition menu labeling allows
you to make more informed food
choices. Chain restaurants with
15 or more national locations now
must post calorie, saturated fat, carbohydrate,
and sodium information
on menus and menu boards at or
before the point of ordering.
“Having nutrition information
available to customers is an important
step in reducing the obesity
epidemic in King County,” said Dr.
David Fleming, director and health
officer for Public Health – Seattle
& King County. “This campaign
informs consumers that one way
they can take charge of their health
is by reading menu labels and making
healthier choices when they eat
out in chain restaurants.”
King County is among the first
jurisdictions in the nation to provide
nutrition menu labeling to
customers at chain restaurants.
Since the Board of Health approved
the new regulation in April
2008, Public Health and stakeholders
from the restaurant industry
have worked closely to make the
transition as seamless as possible.
There are more than 1,550 restaurants
representing 160 chains in
King County.
“The restaurant industry has been
working diligently with the Board
of Health and Public Health staff to
ensure we can meet the regulation
requirements,” said Anthony Anton,
president and chief executive officer
of the Washington Restaurant
Association. “I’m pleased to see
this sort of effort and collaboration,
and our industry is hopeful this will
have a positive health impact on the
lives of King County residents.”
Please look for nutrition information,
including calories, at many
chain restaurants in King County
to make healthier food choices. To
make sense of the new nutrition
labels, it’s important to remember
that most adults need 2,000 calories
a day.
For more information, go to
www.kingcountygov/health/healthyeating.
Residents with disabilities can seek
Reasonable Accommodations
The King County Housing Authority is committed
to providing accommodations to qualified
persons with disabilities so that their living
arrangements are, as a whole, comparable to that
of other applicants and residents.
Requests must be medically necessary and
sufficiently tied to the individual’s disability.
To request a reasonable accommodation, please
talk to your property manager or resident services
coordinator. Also, a copy of the reasonable
accommodation request form for public
housing applicants and residents is available
on the KCHA Web site at www.kcha.org/currentresidents/sh_reasonable.aspx.
By Serguei Nikitine and Heather Miller
King County Housing Authority
Linda Frank arrived in Washington state in 2005 with one suitcase and the clothes on her back. Born and raised in New Orleans, Frank lost everything when Hurricane Katrina devastated the only city she’d ever called home.
She moved in temporarily with a daughter living in the Olympia area. As she began searching for a permanent place to live, Frank quickly discovered she could not afford the region’s apartment rental prices. Then, she heard about Casa Madrona – a KCHAproperty in Olympia – and she applied for a unit there.
“Everyone was so helpful,” Frank said of KCHA staff. “It just went boom, boom, boom, and I’ve been here ever since.”
Reflecting back on her experience immediately following Hurricane Katrina, Frank said she feels truly blessed to be where she is today.
“It seemed horrific in the beginning,” she said. “I was in a shelter in Dallas, and I didn’t know what would come next. There were thousands of people, and it was like everyone was in a maze.
“Coming here, I’ve been able to get restarted and connect with resources to get restarted. … It’s amazing.”
Frank has been particularly impressed with how relatively easy it has been to link up with social service agencies and other resources that have helped her get back on her feet, especially the Thurston County Food Bank. She’s even become a regular volunteer at the local organization.
“That’s one of the ways I can give back,” Frank said. “I really enjoy it.”
Now, Frank thinks Olympia may become her permanent home.
“At 61, I don’t need to be a nomad,” she said.
She likes the quiet community with its easy access to stores and services, and she says she doesn’t experience the same level of prejudice that she grew up with in New Orleans.
“Here, you are just accepted for you; I have not met a mean person yet,” Frank said. “You are just treated as another human being. I’ve never been taken to lunch as many times as I have been here. It’s really, really cool.”
Frank also emphasized that she’s extremely grateful to the KCHAstaff members who have helped her get settled in her new surroundings.
“I appreciate everything they’ve done to make me feel welcome,” she said.
More and more services that may be helpful to you are offering useful tools on their Web sites. Below, you’ll read about two online tools that can help you connect with transportation options that fit your needs and determine if you may be eligible for additional benefits.
Get help finding a ride
FindARide.org offers a way for individuals with special needs to explore transportation options in the Puget Sound area. This Web site is a project of Sound Transit. It provides a searchable database for you to find the special needs transportation option that’s right for you. You can find information about transit agencies and other transportation providers. You can look up which agencies arrange for rides and which agencies pay for rides.
You also can explore rideshare and vanpool information, home delivery, and programs that lend, rent, or purchase vehicles for people with special needs.
When you go to FindARide.org, you’ll need to choose the type of search that you’d like to perform, answer a few questions about your specific situation, and then select the ride provider that fits your needs.
For more information or questions about using the site, please call 1-800-201-4900 or TTY: 1-888713-6030.
Check if you’re eligible for additional benefits
Nearly 1.2 million seniors in America qualify but don’t receive Supplemental Security Income. Three million never receive the Medicaid assistance they deserve, and 3.7 million qualify but don’t receive food stamps. In King County, the number of seniors who qualify for but don’t receive Medicaid assistance is estimated to be almost 14,000, and 20,000 seniors in the county qualify for but do not receive food stamps.
BenefitsCheckUp.org, a service of the National Council on the Aging, allows older Americans, their families, caregivers, and community organizations to quickly and easily determine what federal and state benefit programs a senior qualifies for and how to claim them.
Benefits Checkup asks visitors to take a few minutes to fill out a free, online survey. Benefits Checkup then issues a report describing programs for which they are likely eligible. The personalized report also details contact information for the applicable government agencies, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to proceed, what materials are required for the application, etc.
The site is confidential. Users don’t enter their name, social security number, or any other identifying information.
For more information, visit www. seniorservices.org, click on the link to Senior Information and Assistance, then click on the link to Benefits Checkup or call 206-448-3110, and request a benefit screening.
Translated Articles for Our Residents
QÚI VỊ CÓ THỂ ĐƯỢC HỢP LỆ CHO VIỆC BỒI HÒAN TIỀN THUẾ (EITC)
Cá nhân hay người có gia đình mà có lợi tức thấp có thể hợp lệ để nhận lại tiền thuế bồi hòan từ $428 đến $4,716 nếu họ nộp đơn khai thuế lợi tức trước ngày 15 Tháng 4.
Để hơp lệ, qúi vị phải có các điều kiện sau ngòai việc khai thuế, và ngay cả qúi vị không kiếm được tiền nhiều đủ để bị bụôc phải khai thuế.
Qúi vị có thể hợp lệ nhận lại tiền thuế bồi hòan trong năm 2008 và :
Có 2 con hoặc nhiều hơn, và lãnh lương ít hơn $38646 (hoặc $41,646 nếu có gia đình và khai thuế chung trong năm 2008
Có 1 con và có mức lương ít hơn $33,995 (hoặc $36,995 nếu có gia đình và khai thuế chung trong năm 2008.
Họặc qúi vị không có con nhưng có mức lưong ít hơn $12,880 (hoặc $15,880 nếu có gia đình và khai thuế chung trong năm 2008.
Thêm vào đó, qúi vị không thể có hơn $2,950 lãnh được từ tiền đầu tư trong năm qua, và qúi vị phải có Số An Sinh Xã Hội.
Nếu khai thuế chung, thì người vợ hay chồng phải có số an sinh xã hội, để lãnh tiền thuế bồi hòan, các con trong nhà cũng phải có số an sinh xã hội hợp lệ.
Để hợp lệ, qúi vị không thể là người có gia đình mà khai thuế riêng.
Tiền Thuế bồi hòan EITC không ảnh hưởng gì đến một số chương trình Trợ Cấp Welfare.
Trong số lớn trường hợp, tiền thuế bồi hòan EITC không thể được căn cứ vào đó cho việc xét hợp lệ trong trợ cấp Y Tế , trợ cấp SSI, food stamp, nhà ở, welfare TANF.
Waxaa laga yaabaa inaad xaq
u leedahay in aad hesho canshuur
cafiska dakhliga ee carruurta. Dadka iyo qoysaslka dakhliga
yar soo galo waxaa laga yaabaa
in ay xaq u leeyihiin in ay helaan
lacag dhan $428 iyo 4,716 haddii ay codsadaan lacagtaas looga soo
celinayo waxaa loo yaqaan Federal earned income child Tax credit. Inta aan la gaarin April 15keeda.
Si aaxaq ugu yeelato lacagtaan, waa inaadbuuxisaa shuruudo gooni ah aadna buuxisaa canshuurta sanadkii lasoo dhaafay xataa had-dii aadan sameyn lacag badan. Oo lagaa doonayo inaad ku cadeyso canshuur celinta sanadka.
Xaqbaad u leedahay in aad codsato heshana lacagtan Haddii aad shaqeysay sanadkii 2008 aadna:
• Leedahay labo carruur ama ka badan aadna sameysay lacag gaareysa $38,995 (ama $41,646 waa haddii aad isqabtaan wadjirna ku xareysataan)
• Aad leedahay hal cunug aadna
sameysay lacag ka yar 33,9995 ($36,995 haddii aad isqabtaan una xareysanaysaan wadajir.)sanadka 2008
• Aadan carruur lahayn aadna sameysay lagac ka yar $12,880 ($15,880 haddii aad isqabtaan wadajirna u xareysanaysaan) sanadka 2008
Intaas waxaa dheer inaadan sameyn maalgelin ka badan $2,950 sanadka 2008. waana inaad leedahay lambarka soshalka oo sax ah.
Haddii aawadajir u xareysanaysaan, waa in xaaskaaga ama saygaaga iyo carruurtiinuba haystaan lambarro soashal oo sax ah.
Si aad xaq ugu yeelato lacagtaan kuma xareyn kartaan waan isqabnaa waana kala xareysanaynaa canshuurta.
Qaadashada caydhu wax uma dhimayso xaq u yeelashada lacagtaan.
Ogow inta badan helitaanka la
cagtaan macaneheedu maahan xaq
u yeelashada caawimaadaha kale
sida MEdcaid,SSI, karaka cuntada guryaha iyo lacagta cayrta.
Translated Articles for Our Residents
KHAI THUẾ MIỄN PHÍ
Đã có việc giúp khai thuế miễn phí từ nay đến hết ngày 15 Tháng 4 ở một số địa điểm, nhă72m trong Chiến Dịch Khai Thuế Miễn Phí của cơ quan United Way. Dịch vụ khai thuế miễn phí này dành cho các gia đình kiếm được mức lương dưới $42,000 một năm.
Qúi vị không cần làm hẹn. Nhưng vì ở nhiều nơi có đông người đến khai, do đó qúi vị nên đến sớm trước giờ khai thuế để được phục vụ.
Việc giúp khai thuế được cung cấp bởi các nhân viên tình nguyện nói đuợc nhiều ngôn ngữ và được xác nhận bởi Sở Thuế Vụ.
Sau đây là các giấy tờ qúi vị phải đem theo khi đi khai thuế:
Mẫu W-2, mẫu 1099 và các giấy tờ chứng minh mức lương nhận được từ sở làm và các nguồn lợi tức khác
Bản sao giấy khai thuế năm trước nữa, nếu có
Số An Sinh Xã Hội hay số thuế vụ , ngày sinh của tất cả mọi người trong mẫu đơn khai thuế
Tên người giữ trẻ, địa chỉ, số nhận dạng thuế vụ.
Các giấy tờ khác mà thấy cần cho việc khai thuế
Nếu qúi vị muốn tiền bồi hòan gở thăng vào trương mục ngân hang của qúi vị, phải đem theo số trương mục ngân hang.
Để biết thêm thông tin về việc khai thuế miễn phí, xin gọi cho 2-1-1 hoặc gọi số 1-877-211-9274 hoặc vào trang mạng unitedwayofkingcounty. org/taxhelp. Để xem danh sách các nơi có khai thuế miễn phí gần nhà qúi vị, xin vào phần tiếng Anh của số báo này ở Trang X trong mục tin tức về KCHA.
Ma rabtaa in Canshuurtaada
laguugu xareeyo Bilaash
Hay’adda United Way of King County waxay qaadey olole ku wajahan sidii ay qofafka iyo qoysaska sameeya in ka yar $42,000 sandkii ay lacag la’aan gug xareeyaan canshuur cleiska sanadka 2008. Caawintu waxay ka socotaa dhamaan goobaha ay xafiisyadda ku leedahay United wey ee degamada King County.
Uma baahnid in aad ballan dhigato, laakiin maadaama ay goobaha qaarkood buusxaan, isku dey inaad horey u imaato si aad u hesho adeega aad doonaeyso.
Canshuuraha waxaa idinka caawindoona shaqaale billash waqtigooda u hurey kuna hadla luuqado kala duwan ayna shahaado siisay Hay;adda canshuuruhu (IRS).
Waxaad soo qaadataa:
• FoomamkaW-2ga,1099ka iyo dhamaan cadeymaha helitaanka dakhli eed ka heshay goobaha
aad ka soo shaqaysay iyo ,meelaha kale ee lacagi kaa soo gashay.
• Soo qaado koobigii canshuurtii aad sanadkii hore xareysay, haddii aad weli hayso
• Xanaanda carruurta cinwaankeeda, tax ID-gooda iyo magacooda intaba waa lagaa rabaa.
• Iyo waxkastoo aad isleedahay saameynbey ku yeelan karaan canshuurtaada, xataa haddii aadan hubin.
• Haddii aad rabto in la
cagta kuu soo noqoneysa laguugu
shubo akoonkaaga, waa inaad
keentaaa lambarka akoonkaaga.
Hadii aad u baahan tahay war-bixin dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan caawimaada canshuur celiska, fadlan laxiriir ama wac:2-1-1 ama1877-211-9274 ama aad aaladda interneetka oo cinwaankeedu yahay: Unitedwayof kingcounty. org/taxhelp. Si aad u aragto liiska goobaha gurigaaga u dhow, fadlan soo org bogga Ingiiska x ee KCHA qaybta wararka.
News About the Greenbridge and Park Lake II Communities
Nia resident Catherine Cross has known how to knit for years, but she decided to come to a new, ongoing Greenbridge knitting class to get some inspiration. “I wanted to find some new ideas,” she said.
The class, which meets two Thursdays each month, kicked off in January and is led by instructor Julie Axberg, from the Seattle Knitters Guild. Ax-berg arrived wearing a purple, hooded sweater that she made herself. She said she’d been knitting regularly for about five years and finds it to be a relaxing hobby and useful for making gifts for herself or others.
“It’s a really good skill to have,” Axberg told the class, which was composed primarily of residents who speak English and Vietnamese.
“All of you are neighbors, but you
might not be able to talk to one another
because you all speak different languages,”
Axberg said. “Even if people can’t
speak to each other, they can talk to one
another in the language of knitting.”
Though the class is open to knitters
of all levels, Axberg plans to gear the
first few sessions toward those who
have never picked up knitting needles
before. The class’ first assignment was
making a dish cloth from various patterns
of multi-colored yarn.
Cross said she’s hoping to learn how
to knit with double-pointed needles as
the class moves on to more advanced
techniques.
“Knitting keeps me busy,” she said.
“I like it because you know you’re creating
something.”
Get involved!
You can join in free knitting classes
twice a month at Nia Apartments at
Greenbridge, 9935 Eighth Ave. S.W.,
Seattle. The classes are from 7 to 8:30
p.m. the second and fourth Thursday
every month.
The classes are geared toward beginners
but are open to knitters of all levels.
Yarn and needles provided.
For more information, please call
206-574-1167.
By Mina Amin
Special to The Voice
Are you looking for work? Do you need help creating a résumé and/or cover letter or getting ready for a job interview? Please stop by the YWCA Learning Center so that we can assist you!
Within that new building, the YWCA Greenbridge Career Development Center can set job seekers on the right path to success through its employment and training programs. Programs at the center include free basic computer training, keyboarding, and typing skills as well as access to the Internet. A special computer program is available to assist English as a Second Language students in learning English.
In addition, there is job readiness training on an individual basis that works to help job-seekers develop a résumé and cover letter and learn good interviewing techniques. Individuals also can receive help with online job applications and job searches from noon to 3 p.m. every Friday.
Free services are available for food stamp recipients, residents of Greenbridge, Park Lake Homes II, and the surrounding community, and Housing Choice (Section 8) voucher holders in King County. The career center is located at 9720 Eighth Ave. S.W. in White Center. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
The computer training class is offered from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The job readiness training is from noon to 3 p.m. every Friday.
For more information, please stop by the YWCA Learning Center or call 206-336-7000.
Nia open house planned for
February
Residents of Nia Apartments
are invited to an upcoming open
house to celebrate the new building’s
completion.
Nia is an 82-unit mid-rise apartment
complex that’s home to
seniors and individuals with disabilities
located within the Greenbridge
community at 9935 Eighth
Ave. S.W., Seattle. The building is
completely smoke free.
The open house is scheduled
for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 19 and will
feature refreshments and building
tours.
At 10 a.m., immediately prior
to the open house, the results of a
report about future needs for affordable
senior housing in King
County will be unveiled during
a press event in the building’s
second-floor activity room. Nia
residents are welcome to attend
that event as well if they are interested
though it is not part of the
open house festivities.
You can join your neighborhood
block watch
Both Nia and Greenbridge have
started their own neighborhood block
watch organizations in an effort to
prevent crime and increase safety in
the area.
The King County Sheriff’s Office
and Burien Police Services also are
supporting the newly formed block
watches.
If you’re interested in getting involved,
contact Melisa Keskin at 206-574-1167 or at melisak@kcha.org.
News Notes
Community Fair
A Greenbridge Community Fair is planned from 5:30
to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Southwest Boys & Girls
Club, 9800 Eighth Ave. S.W., Seattle.
The event will feature food, prizes, and games, and
is free and open to the public. For more information,
please contact Melisa at 206-574-1167.
Peace, Love and Chocolate Celebration
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 21, the KCHA AmeriCorps team, in conjunction with the Southwest Boys &
Girls Club, will host a Celebration of Peace, Love, and
Chocolate in the Wiley Community Center to promote
peace and bring the community together in these challenging
times.
There will be food, entertainment, arts, and crafts in
a fun, family atmosphere.
Admission is free.
For more information, please call 206-574-1167 or
e-mail melisak@kcha.org.
Greenbridge Library
• Family Story Time: 2 p.m. Feb. 4, 11, 18, and 25.
Join us for 30 minutes of books, songs, rhymes and
silliness!
The Greenbridge Library is at 9720 Eighth Ave.
S.W., Seattle. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Wednesday, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, and
from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information,
please call 206-762-1682.
White Center Library
• Study Zone: 5 p.m. Feb. 3, 10, and 24; 6 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, and 25. Children in grades K-12 can drop
in during Study Zone hours for homework help from
volunteer tutors.
• Family Story Time: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 11, 18, and
25. Stories, songs, finger plays, and fun for families
to enjoy.
• World Language Story Time: 6 p.m. Feb. 10, and
24. Join us for Vietnamese stories, songs, rhymes,
dances, and more!
• Game On!: 2:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 11, 18, and 25. Teens
in middle and high school can play their favorite
multi-player video games on GameCube, Xbox 360,
and the Wii.
The White Center Library is at 11220 16th S.W., Seattle.
It’s open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through
Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For more information, please call 206-243-0233.
Highline Public Schools
• Feb. 6: K-12 Waiver Day (No School)
• Feb. 16: President’s Day (No School)
• Feb. 17-20 Mid-Winter Break (No School)