By Jeff Arnim
Seattle Housing Authority
Faced with decreasing revenues, rising expenses, and a slumping economy expected to increase the number of residents requiring services, Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire unveiled in December a proposed budget addressing a projected $5.7 billion shortfall for 2009 through 2011.
While the proposed cuts would impact all Washington residents, several funding reductions would uniquely affect the state’s low-income population.
Most notable among these cuts is $252 million — 42 percent — from the budget for Washington’s Basic Health Plan, which provides state-sponsored health care coverage at an affordable price. Though the specific impacts of such a reduction have yet to be determined, the state may further reduce enrollment in the plan. It currently covers about 97,000 people, down from nearly 107,000 enrollees just six months ago.
Savings may also come from reductions in administrative costs, and by requiring plan enrollees to cover a greater share of the costs. Enrollees now pay fees based on how much they earn. The most a person can make to qualify is $22,800 per year. The average cost to taxpayers for each enrollee is about $220 per month.
The governor’s budget proposes further health care service changes. These include a $251 million cut that would eliminate a $339 per month stipend for medical coverage for people in the General Assistance-Unemployable (GAU) program. The program helps roughly 21,000 people, many of whom suffer from mental illness and are waiting
for coverage from the Social Security Administration.
In addition, $11.4 million would be
saved through the reduction of chemical
dependency treatment funding for adult
outpatient and residential services. The
cuts would eliminate addiction treatment
to 13,000 low-income patients and reduce
detoxification services for an additional
2,700 patients with low incomes.
Though the cuts would negatively impact
many low-income residents, Gregoire
insisted they are necessary.
“Our state is facing significant economic
turmoil,” said Gregoire. “The deepening
national recession is already the longest in
a quarter century and has resulted in budget
shortfalls in 42 states across the nation.
“We cannot cut the almost 60 percent of
the budget devoted to items we are required
to provide, such as basic education, federally
mandated Medicaid, pensions, and
debt service,” she explained. “This forces
us to balance the budget through cuts in the
remaining 40 percent of the budget.”
Gregoire admitted the difficulty of being
forced to reduce important state services.
“There is no way I can love this budget,”
she said. “We have to give up or shrink too
much. There is something for everyone not
to like in this budget.”
While many services will be reduced as
a result of the budget shortfall, others would
see their funding remain mostly intact
under the proposed budget. In some cases,
their funding would increase.
More than 90,000 people would still
receive medical coverage through the Basic
Health Plan. In addition, the Medicaid program
would make use of state and federal
funds to continue to provide more than
300,000 low-income Washington adults
with dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
The Apple Health for Kids program would
still offer subsidized coverage to more than
600,000 children.
Funding to local public health agencies
would be maintained at existing levels. An
additional $40 million would be directed
to community clinics to help offset reductions
in the Basic Health Plan and the GAU
program.
Many support services for elderly, physically
disabled, and developmentally disabled
residents would also remain in place.
State-funded long-term care and personal
care services used by more than 40,000
people would retain their funding. So
would nursing homes, adult family homes,
and boarding homes providing residential
services for more than 28,000 people.
Food programs would not be negatively
impacted by the proposed budget. Recently expanded
eligibility for the Basic Food
Program would stay in place for households
with incomes below 200 percent of the
federal poverty level.
Nearly 650,000 people in Washington
now receive food stamps through this
program.
Funding for food bank programs would
not be cut, and an additional $5 million
would expand the Emergency Food Assistance
Program, which provides funding
and food for local meal providers and food
banks.
WorkFirst grants and services used by
53,000 low-income families would also be
funded at existing levels.
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance gets ready for Advocacy Day
The rescheduled open house on Jan. 7 provided a great opportunity to meet the staff of WLIHA, find out more about this organization, and meet other community partners. WLIHA has over 200 organizational and individual members, including both the Seattle and King County housing authorities as well as housing providers, advocates, faith-based groups and low-income individuals. The mission of WLIHA is to work toward a day when everyone in Washington State lives in safe, decent, supportive and affordable housing.
To support its members and work toward this goal, the alliance focuses on advocacy, communication and mobilization. Through their state legislative committee and federal legislative committee, they develop strategic plans to sponsor or help various housing legislation get passed.
One of the best-known ways the Alliance accomplishes this is by sponsoring Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day in Olympia. On this day, hundreds of people from all over the state come to meet with legislators, attend workshops and rally on the steps of the Capitol.
This year, Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day is Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Some of the agenda for the lobby day includes: maintaining the Housing Trust Fund at $200 million; improving access to housing by prohibiting source-of-income discrimination; expanding foreclosure prevention assistance and creating protections for renters impacted by foreclosure; and ensuring that new communities being planned around transit such as the light rail stations (called transit-oriented development) include housing affordable to low-income individuals and families.
It is easy to participate in Housing Advocacy Day. One can register online at www.wliha.org or call Michael Kelly at 206-442-9455, Ext. 203.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us this legislative session, to improve and protect access to affordable housing. We are looking forward to working with a wider range of people to get our message to our leaders in Olympia,” Kelly said. “It is exciting to reach out to a much wider audience and engage people who care about social justice and housing.”
Although a donation to defray costs is welcome, no one is turned away for lack of money. To find out
about buses and carpools going to Olympia,
contact Kelly at the number listed above.
There’s another way to get involved without
even going to Olympia. Right now, the
alliance is collecting people’s housing stories
online and sharing these stories with those
in power in Olympia.
Just go to the WLIHA Web site, click on
the link “Share Your Story,” and follow the
instructions.
The Alliance is also sponsoring some
Introduction to Advocacy Trainings, which
will be held on Feb. 10 and 17 from 10 a.m. – noon at Center Park. Once again, contact
Kelly if you want to sign up. (See the related
article in the SHA News section.)
The Web site has much more that is worthwhile
to those who want to know more about
housing issues or even to become a housing
advocate.
There are many links to articles as well
as statistical information about low-income
housing. You can even sign up for action
alerts and get on WLIHA’s mailing list.
During important election years like
2008, the Alliance has a “voterization”
project where they offer trainings in voter
registration, including providing detailed
information on registering homeless or
transient people.
The Alliance also provides information
on groups working to restore voting rights
to those who have lost them because of
incarceration.
In addition to registering people to vote,
the Alliance is involved in ways to develop
messages that will mobilize people to
actually vote.
For more information on the work of
WLIHA or to find out how you can get
involved, go to www.wliha.org or call
206-442-9455.
Incidentally, the theme for this year’s
Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day
is “Stand Up for Housing.”
Lynn Sereda is a Section 8 tenant who
has participated in Housing and Homelessness
Advocacy Day with groups such
as the Tenants Union and Real Change.
Ringing in Year of the Ox
Residents marked the dawning of the Year of the Ox with celebrations last month.
The Lunar New Year began Jan. 26. Rainier Vista residents played bau cua
ca cop, a dice game, at a Lunar New Year celebration at the Neighborhood House
Rainier Vista Center Jan. 23.
Ethnicity matters when preventing colon cancer
By Pam McGaffin
Special to The Voice
African Americans run a greater risk
of developing — and dying from — colon
cancer than any other U.S. racial or ethnic
group, according to the American Cancer
Society.
That’s why it’s particularly critical
that African American men and women
get timely and regular screenings, which
can prevent the disease or catch it at a
stage when it is easily treatable, says
the Washington Comprehensive Cancer
Control Partnership, a coalition of organizations
dedicated to cancer prevention
and education.
Each year, colon cancer kills nearly
60,000 Americans, making it the second
leading cause of cancer death among
all groups in the U.S. That’s why the
Partnership advises men and women age
50 and older to start getting checked for
colon cancer.
Screenings should start at an earlier age
if a person has a family history of colon
cancer or other risk factors.
Tests are critical because colon cancer
can develop long before any signs
or symptoms occur. Even then, the
symptoms are often vague and mistaken
for more common illnesses. Signs of
colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or
rectum) include unexplained weight loss,
abdominal pain, blood in the stool and
changes in bowel habits.
African Americans, Native Americans
and some Asian/Pacific Islanders and
Hispanics are 10 to 60 percent more likely
to be diagnosed with advanced disease
compared to non-Hispanic whites, according
to a 2005 report by researchers from
the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center in Seattle.
In addition, African Americans, Native
Americans and some Hispanic whites
have a 20 to 30 percent higher risk of
dying from colorectal cancer, the report
found.
Colon cancer is usually preventable
with timely screenings to detect and
remove colorectal polyps, grape-like
growths in the lining of the colon and
rectum that can become cancerous.
African Americans face the greatest
risk, in part, because they are less likely
to get tested, according to the Cancer
Research and Prevention Foundation.
Dietary habits, tobacco use, genetic factors
and disparities in access to health care
also may increase their risk, according to
the Foundation.
The Cancer Control Partnership offers
these tips for older African American
adults and others:
Get screened starting at age 50 or
younger if the disease runs in your family.
In such cases, doctors advise that testing
begin at age 40, or 10 years before the
youngest affected family member.
Ask your doctor about the different
tests that exist for detecting polyps and tumors — including a colonoscopy, barium
enema, stool testing and a sigmoidoscopy — and which is best for you.
Discuss your family history with your
doctor. Always let your health care provider
know if a parent, brother, sister or
child has had colorectal cancer or colorectal
polyps.
Stop smoking. About a third of all colon
cancer deaths could be prevented by
not using tobacco, say experts. Another
third could be prevented by maintaining a
healthy weight and eating a healthy diet.
The Washington Comprehensive Cancer
Control Partnership is a coalition of
not-for-profit, public and private organizations
dedicated to decreasing the burden
of cancer in our state. It is staffed and
funded by the Washington State Department
of Health through a federal grant
from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. For more information, call
360-236-3784 or visit www.doh.wa.gov/
CCC/wcccpartnership.htm.
Saying it’s “imperative” that Americans “understand what it takes to be a responsible homeonwner,” HUD Secretary Preston has launched a “My Money, My Home, My Future” Web site to promote financial literacy, accessible at http://portal.hud.gov by clicking the corresponding link on the left sidebar.
It includes information about the nine steps to buying a home, establishing good credit, refinancing, and avoiding foreclosure and a self-assessment tool that allows users to link directly to resources that may help them resolve issues the tool identifies.
The site, said the secretary, will help families “plan ahead to make smart choices about their finances.”
By Kristin O’Donnell
SHA Resident
The history exhibit at the State History
Museum in Tacoma is not limited to the
wonderful achievements of the explorers,
old settlers and railroad-builders.
Instead, with short films and a series of
life-sized models that “speak” to us, the
museum tells us about Hoovervilles, labor
disputes, Japanese relocation, cannery and
farm workers, Chinese exclusion riots and
the contributions of women to the state’s
history. It is a museum that will make you
think and could break your heart.
The First People’s History is especially
disturbing, especially a section where a
group of masks made by artists “speak” the
history of the epidemics from smallpox to
alcoholism that have destroyed and taken
the lives of so many.
In addition to the state history exhibit,
the museum has the largest permanent
model railroad exhibit in the state, with
little trains running from the white-painted
Cascades to the glass-surfaced bay of the
Tacoma waterfront.
They also have a series of visiting exhibits.
Opening this month, and free on Feb.
28 is Women’s Votes, Women’s Voices, a
celebration of 100 years of women’s votes
in Washington state. The opening day celebration
will have music, refreshments and
a costumed Suffrage Parade.
Admission: $8 adult/$6 youth/$7 senior (60+). The museum has free days on the third Thursday of each month from 2-8 p.m. On President’s Day this year, if your first or last name is the same as that of any of America’s Presidents — or their wives — you get in free!
Lunch: Some under-$7 possibilities:
Freighthouse Square, across the street
from the Tacoma Dome Link Streetcar
stop, has a food court with lots of options,
and there are many affordable chain and
ethnic restaurants around the University of
Washington’s Tacoma Campus, across the
street from the museum.
Because museum
admission is good all day, taking a lunch
break works.
Getting there and back: Sound Transit
buses 590, 592 or 594 leave from downtown
on Second Avenue approximately every 30
minutes, seven days a week from 6 a.m. to
11 p.m.
Schedules are available on the buses; fare
is $3 adult, $2.50 youth, $1.50 senior/disabled.
The Tacoma Link free streetcar runs
every 10 minutes from the Tacoma Dome
transit center to the museum. The streetcar
stop is reached by going up the elevator on
the south end of the Tacoma Dome Station
(next to Greyhound) and following the signs
through a parking garage.
Other ways to travel: It costs a little
more ($4.75 adult, $3.50 youth, $2.25 senior/
disabled), but train rides are special. The
Sounder Train leaves Tacoma from the far
side of Freighthouse Square at 4:45 and 5:35
p.m. and goes by fields and towns and along
rivers through Puyallup, Sumner, Kent and
Auburn on the way back home.
(You can also go to Tacoma in the morning
on the Sounder if you get to the Seattle
train station by 6:45 a.m. — you can get
started that early, if you want to).
And yet another way home: If you are
at Point Defiance at 3:40 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
and want to try out the long adventure route,
the Tahlequah ferry connects with the 118
Metro bus, which connects to the Vashon-
Seattle ferry ($4.30 adult, $3.45 youth, $2.15
senior/disabled), and from there it is Metro
55 to downtown — it is a pretty trip, though
it takes a while.
The trip across Vashon also works going
to Tacoma — best connections start on the
55 from Third Avenue and Union downtown
at 9:30 a.m. Because the bus from
Tahlequah to the Vashon landing runs very
infrequently, there are no mid-day ferries
and there is neither shelter nor restroom at
the south ferry dock — don’t try this without
a 118 bus schedule, a ferry schedule and
an accurate watch.
No Vashon bus service on weekends,
and the Tahlequah ferry is not ADA accessible.
Accessibility: All buses and streetcars
have lifts or flat floors, and downtown
Tacoma has curb cuts in the right places.
Freighthouse Square is an old building built
on a slight slope with multiple levels and
stairs — it is possible to navigate between
the levels by going outside and going up
(or down) the slope to the entry on the next
level.
The museum exhibits are on multiple
levels and are connected with ramps or elevators.
These are not easy to find, but there
are a lot of museum guides to ask.
The ‘‘talking” exhibits (which are close
to each other) and the film narration are
often hard to hear because the sound tracks
play at the same time. The films are subtitled,
but the exhibits are not.
More possibilities in Tacoma: There is
a special Chihuly glass exhibit through Feb.
22 at Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park
(which is wonderful for the building and
flowers, even without the glass); $5.
(Transfer from Link to Pierce transit Rt.
1 ($1.75 Adult/$0.75 Senior, disabled and
youth) at 19th and Pacific — Pierce Transit
has a great schedule book with maps.
Point Defiance Park — From Link,
transfer to Pierce Transit RT 11 at 10th
and Commerce. Woods, walking trails,
gardens, an outdoor pioneer history exhibit
(which is closed Monday and Tuesdays but
free on Wednesdays until April 30) and a
small zoo and aquarium (both are quite
nice but charge more than Seattle’s zoo
and aquarium).
Adult peak and off-peak Metro fares increase 25 cents Feb. 1. New adult fares will be $2 for peak times and $1.75 for off-peak times.
Fares for senior (65+) and disabled riders will remain 50 cents for both peak and off-peak trips. Youth fares (6-17 years) will remain 75 cents for both peak and off-peak trips.
Dear Be Safe:
Dear Be Safe:
My neighborhood is out of control with
drugs and gangs. I know of five houses
where people are selling drugs. Kids bother
neighbors on the street corners, shouting
at people in their cars. There is loud music
playing at all times of the night. Last month,
there were three fistfights on my street and
last week we had a drive-by shooting two
blocks away. This kind of activity goes on
all the time.
We have complained to the police by
calling 911 and contacted our Community
Police Team officer several times. But the
police have done little. Sometimes a police
car drives by and the drug dealers just take
off, then come right back after police leave.
On the rare occasion anyone is arrested, we
see them back in the neighborhood right
away. We are frustrated, scared and angry.
Why can’t the police get a handle on this
problem?
Signed,
Barbara
Dear Barbara,
Problems with drugs and gangs in your
community can be frustrating to deal with.
Police officers can’t be everywhere 24/7.
So they need help from the communities
they serve. Cleaning up a crime problem
in a neighborhood takes time, patience and
perseverance. There are strategies you can
use to improve your results.
First, it is crucial to work with your neighbors
to respond effectively. Communicating
with each other is important. Every time a
suspicious or criminal incident occurs, call
911. Provide police with the information
they need most. Be sure to tell the police the
date and time the incident occurred. Telling
the police that it is “happening all the time”
is not helpful. Be very specific about what
you observed. After calling 911, update
your precinct’s community police team officers
about new criminal activity.
Next month, we will discuss keeping a log
of criminal activity in your neighborhood.
“Be Safe” is a Seattle Neighborhood
Group program dedicated to educating,
seniors, refugees and immigrants and low-income communities about public safety issues.
We provide four presentations: Calling
911, Personal Safety, Identity Theft and Witnessing
and Reporting Crime. If you have
any questions, comments or are interested
in scheduling a presentation, contact Allan
Davis (206-323-7094 or e-mail allan@sngi.
org) or Kelly McKinney (206-323-7084 or
e-mail kelly@sngi.org) at Seattle Neighborhood
Group.
By Claire McDaniel
Seattle Housing Authority
Have you been buying and drinking
bottled water because you think it is better
than tap water? It turns out that tap
water may be a better quality as well as a
less expensive way for you to meet your
hydration needs.
The disposal of the plastic water bottles
is bad for the environment because billions
of them wind up in landfills every year.
And finally, the water itself may contain
contaminants. The quality of the water sold
in bottles is often questionable because it
is not held to the same testing standards
as tap water.
Recent laboratory tests conducted by the
Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) indicate that the purity of bottled water
cannot be trusted. Ten popular brands
of bottled water were found to contain an
average of eight chemical contaminants.
These included disinfectant byproducts, urban
wastewater pollutants such as caffeine
and fertilizer residues. Since laws require
that local tap water be tested and the results
made publicly available, you can verify the
safety of your tap water. You cannot verify
the quality of most bottled water.
The quality of tap water varies from
city to city and every year consumers are
provided test results from the water in
their area. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU)
regularly tests Seattle’s water for 179
compounds including metals, chemical
contaminants and disease-causing organisms.
None of the monitored compounds
were found in SPU’s testing. Mayor Greg
Nickels is encouraging Seattleites to give
up bottled water.
“Seattle offers the ‘gold standard’ in
water quality,” Nickels said in his May
2008 press release. “What flows from our
taps is some of the finest-tasting, purestsource
water in the world. That’s why it
makes little sense for Seattleites to waste
their money on bottled water — which
costs 2,400 times as much as tap water and
creates thousands of tons of greenhouse
gases.”
As an alternative to bottled water, consumers
may choose to filter their own tap
water. Numerous companies sell filtration
systems. Some attach to the faucet and
filter the water as it comes through the tap.
Others are containers that filter the water in
them. Among the best-known manufacturers
are PUR (www.purwater.com) and Brita
(www.brita.com/us/).
“Drinking water every day is important
for good health,” said Lee Dorigan,
supervisor in the Environmental Health
Division of Public Health - Seattle & King
County. “We are fortunate to have an excellent
quality drinking water supply that
you can drink straight from the tap. Fill up
a reusable container each day with fresh
water and save money while benefiting
your health.”
Some other tips for making wise choices
concerning the water you drink include:
• Always drink from the cold water
tap.
• Get a canteen. Carry your plain or
filtered tap water in a reusable stainless
steel or glass container and clean it between
uses.
• Shop smart. When you must have bottled
water, look for brands that have been
certified by the National Science Foundation
(NSF) or belong to the International
Bottled Water Association (IBWA). Check
out the lists at nsf.org or bottledwater.org,
or look at the bottle for the NSF logo.
• Keep it cool. Don't drink from a bottle
that's been subjected to high temperatures
(sitting in your car, for example), don't store
it anywhere it will be exposed to heat or
chemicals, and don't reuse plastic bottles.
Garden tips for community gardeners
By Anza Muenchow
Special to The Voice
This month, many gardeners are getting
really anxious to start some crops
as they dream of the fresh foods of the
spring and summer.
The first to come to mind is peas.
Yes, plant this month, preferably (and
traditionally) on George Washington’s
birthday, which is Feb. 16.
Select your varieties carefully. There
are three types of peas: snow, snap and
shelling. Some varieties, like Oregon
Sugar Pod II, are technically a snow pea,
but they will bulk up and stay tender and
crunchy like a snap pea.
The caution here is that you don’t want
to plant the shelling peas intermingled
with the edible podded types. If you must
plant them in the same row, be sure to
mark where the shelling peas end and the
edible podded ones begin.
Peas need trellises; usually string
types work best. Peas should never be
planted near where you planted them last
year. The pea weevil is a determined pest.
Its larvae will eat the pea as they germinate
in the soil, and, well, you’ll wonder
why you got poor germination as you are
simply feeding the larvae.
The adult weevil comes out at night and
eats the tender pea shoots and leaves. So,
it is difficult to get a good crop of peas.
Usually just moving the pea rows every
year keeps this pest under control.
Birds and voles love eating pea seeds
as they swell and sprout. Protect seeds
from birds with a barrier (netting or floating
row cover). Good luck controlling
rodent damage. Cats, dogs and raptors
can be good predators to stop voles.
Reduce your vole habitat by eliminating
tall grassy areas near your garden. A
two-foot-tall fine wire mesh fence, like
hardware cloth, can exclude the voles
from your pea patch also. Bury the base
of the fencing six to eight inches below
the soil as these pests like to tunnel.
As you plant, plan for how the area
should look in June when you harvest.
Peas like a cool area, not where they will
be stressed by too much drying sunlight.
They tolerate being crowded, but not so
crowded that you can’t see to pick them.
I have enjoyed the Maestro shelling
pea because it is so easy to pick. Though
it only produces for a few weeks, Maestro
has pod stems that drop away from the
vines and are easy to see and pick.
Now is a good time to plant parsley,
too. The seeds need a cold period to
germinate. It still takes 3-4 weeks for
germination, but they are reliable sprouters
with minimal pest damage.
We consider parsley a food crop, not
just an herb. It is very nutritious and we
have many recipes to which we add a cup
of chopped parsley.
Try it in tabouli, pasta salads, meat loaf
or salmon loaf, pesto, and many more.
There are new more upright varieties
of parsley in the seed catalogs that I am
considering this year, though I have saved
a ton of seed from last year too.
Spend some time getting your indoor
seed starting kits in order. Set up a grow
light and start planting onion and shallot
seeds. I love the Ambition shallots we
grew from seed last year. We still have
15 pounds of them in the shed and they
are proving to be great keepers.
Start some of the early Brassicas too,
like broccoli, gai lan and choys.
They can be planted out in mid-March
with some protective row cover. Though
as I say that, I am reading that we may
be in for another cooler than normal
spring.
So, keep planting the Brassicas all the
way till June.
Expect lots of greens from
your local farmers again this spring and
early summer. The garden fruits may be
late again.
Anza Muenchow is a farmer and a volunteer
with P-Patch. You can reach her
by e-mail at mahafarm@whidbey.com or
on the Internet at www.mahafarm.com.
By SHA Staff
Housing authorities across the country
are seeking new funding for building projects
through the economic stimulus packages
Congress is now considering.
If case funding does come through,
Seattle Housing Authority is preparing
a number of much-needed projects to be “shovel ready.”
In order to be eligible for
this funding, Seattle Housing must make
changes to the 2009 Moving to new Ways
(MTW) Plan. An amendment to this plan
is currently out for public comment.
The amendment adds a list of possible
projects to SHA’s capital projects list, in
the event that additional federal funding
becomes available.
According to SHA Executive Director
Tom Tierney, “I want people to understand
this as a list of potential projects, not a
definite commitment on our part. I am
not confident that new funding would be
enough to do all of the projects on this list.
If we do get some stimulus money, we will
then have to decide which projects we can
afford to tackle.”
Projects on the list for amending the
MTW plan include major systems rehabilitation
at Bell Tower, Denny Terrace and
Jefferson Terrace similar to homeWorks;
upgrades to the three high rises just mentioned,
plus Tri Court and 28 scattered sites
units to increase the number of units that
meet the Uniform Federal Accessibility
Standard (UFAS) for people with disabilities;
new rental housing and infrastructure
at Rainier Vista; and development of High
Point parks.
Projects on the list will be selected based
on the funding criteria and the amount of
money Seattle Housing Authority ultimately
receives. The Board of Commissioners
will be responsible for choosing which projects
will go forward.
If sufficient funds are
not provided in 2009, SHA will continue to
look for funding for these projects.
The amendment can be reviewed at
www.seattlehousing.org. Comments will
be accepted through Feb. 15 and may be
submitted by contacting Andria Lazaga
at alazaga@seattlehousing.org or 206-
615-3546.
By United Way of King County
United Way of King County will operate the Free Tax Preparation Campaign at 15 sites throughout King County from January 13 to April 15, 2009. The program is designed to help low and middle-income families prepare their income tax forms, take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax credits while avoiding fees associated with commercial preparers.
Customers will be able to sign up for public benefits such as financial education, utility assistance and the Washington Basic Food Program, which has recently widened eligibility requirements making it available to more residents.
“United Way of King County offers the Free Tax Preparation Campaign because we understand that when people are able to establish savings, it creates a cushion that stabilizes their lives and can help them from falling into crisis, even homeless-ness,” said United Way of King County President and CEO Jon Fine. “Given the current economic climate, this campaign provides an excellent opportunity to help low-income families save money.”
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a federal tax program that reduces the amount of income tax owed by low-to moderate-income workers. The credit ranges from $438 to $4,824 depending on income and the number of qualifying children in a family.
“In some cases, the EITC alone can account for a 30 to 40 percent boost in annual household income,” said Fine. “Yet nationwide, 15 to 20 percent of families eligible for the EITC do not claim it.”
Last year, United Way’s Free Tax Prep Campaign filed 12,330 returns and brought back $14.4 million in refunds to the community; 4.6 million of which came from the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Tax preparation services will be provided in multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian and Samoan by more than 300 IRS-certified volunteers.
Taxpayers must bring photo identification and Social Security cards (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers) for themselves, spouses and dependents.
They should also bring wage and earnings statements (Forms W-2), interest and dividend information concerning their income and expenses for the year of 2008.
Tax locations are available in downtown Seattle, North Seattle, Beacon Hill, Central District and Rainier Beach, and in Auburn, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent,
Renton, Seatac, Shoreline and White
Center.
For site locations, maps and more information,
visit unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxcampaign, call 2-1-1 or 1-800-621-4636.
Find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families.
The EITC, which Congress approved in 1975, helps offset the expense of social security taxes and provides an incentive to work.
A person whose personal tax amount exceeds that of the EITC will qualify for a tax refund.
Taxpayers who qualify must file a tax return, even if they didn’t earn enough to be obligated to file one, and must meet certain requirements.
The EITC doesn’t affect certain welfare benefits and, in most cases, 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.
To receive the Earned Income Tax Credit on a 2008 tax return, you must:
• Have a valid Social Security number
• Have lived in the United States for
in Auburn, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent,
Renton, Seatac, Shoreline and White
Center. For site locations, maps and more in-more than half the year
• Made less than $2,900 from investment income
In addition, a taxpayer's earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) must each be less than:
Maximum credit:
For more information about the EITC, go to www.irs.gov and search for “Earned Income Tax Credit” or call 800-829-1040 from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Nearly 70 percent of student financial aid is provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) program. To apply for government financial aid, you must fill out a free application known as the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
The FAFSA form should be filled out as soon as possible because it determines your eligibility for federal, state, local, and college scholarships, grants, and loans.
What you’ll need
Quick tips
Difficulty: Not very difficult, just read the questions carefully and do not submit your form until you have checked everything. If you make mistakes you can change them later, but it could delay your application process.
Time required: 180 minutes
Note: You can also apply early for your PIN. Your PIN can be used each year to electronically apply for federal student aid and to access your Federal Student Aid records online. If you receive a PIN, you agree not to share it with anyone. Your PIN serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records, so you should never give your PIN to anyone, including commercial services that offer to help you complete your FAFSA. Be sure to keep your PIN in a safe place.
O.K., here's how to do it:
Get the forms
Many schools have paper forms on hand and will assist you in the application process. However the FAFSA is also available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov Applying online is recommended because the process is both faster and easier. The FAFSA website has an excellent help section that will guide you through the entire form and the schools that you list on you application will receive your processed information more quickly.
Gather your documentation
The FAFSA requires information in five categories:
Once you have decided between the electronic form and the paper form, gather the documents you will need, including identification, records of earnings (income tax returns, bank statements, investment records, etc.) Dependent students will need their parents’ information. An exact list of documentation can be found at www. fafsa.ed.gov.
Answer the questions
The form should be filled out as completely and accurately as possible. If you are having trouble understanding any of the questions, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov or call 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243).
Double-check your application
Proofread your form and make sure everything has been answered correctly. Make sure that you have provided the necessary signatures. If you are applying online, you will be given a PIN number, which acts as your electronic signature.
Submit your application
If you are submitting your application on line, follow all instructions very carefully. Before transmitting, print a copy for your records. If you are mailing a paper application, do not send any additional documentation in the envelope. Make copies of the entire application before sending it. An envelope will have been provided in your application packet. Use this envelope to submit the application.
Wait for the results
The Department of Education will evaluate your application and calculate an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for you. The results will then be sent to the schools listed on your application form. A copy will also be sent to you.
By City of Seattle
Mayor Greg Nickels announced the launch of an innovative toll-free hotline for non-English-speaking victims of domestic violence. The 1-888 number offers one-call access that connects limited-English-speaking domestic violence victims to services they need in their language. It is the first such service in the country.
The “Peace in the Home” Toll-Free Helpline — 1-888-8477205 — links to a menu of 14 languages and directly connects callers to a community-based agency that can serve their language and service needs.
The Multilingual Access Project (MAP), a group of community agencies providing domestic violence services to non- and limited-English-speaking immigrants and refugees, came up with the idea. A single-line phone access system has been a long-standing priority for MAP.
Calls to the Helpline are connected to multilingual domestic violence advocates at one of seven community agencies in the Seattle/King County area, including Asian & Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center, Chaya, Consejo Counseling and Referral Service, Domestic Abuse Women’s Network, Eastside Domestic Violence Program, Refugee Women’s Alliance and the YWCA of south King County.
The Helpline offers services in 14 languages: Amarinya or Amharic, Japanese, Khmer, Lao, Mandarin, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrinya, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. Hindi will be added soon.
Developed and funded by the city of Seattle’s Human Services Department, the Helpline costs about $6,000 per year to operate.
In 2007, 493 immigrants or refugees used city-funded programs for victims of domestic violence. In Seattle, foreign-born persons make up 17 percent of the city’s population but access city-funded domestic violence services at a much higher proportion.
The city of Seattle has a long-standing commitment to addressing domestic violence. The city’s investment to fight domestic violence and to provide services and support for victims has steadily increased over the years, reaching $16 million in 2007.
Most of the city’s investment — 75 percent — is spent on criminal justice (through the Police and Law Departments and the Municipal Court). Twenty-five percent of funding is spent in the Human Services Department, mostly for contracting with community-based agencies for victim services, batterer intervention programs, prevention programs, and homelessness.
In addition to the helpline, the city will increase interpreter services to assist limited-English-speaking immigrant and refugee victims of domestic violence in accessing needed services.
Here are a few of the many lobby days scheduled in February. Most ask for some money (sometimes a lot, since the lobby day may also raise money for the organizations involved) to pay for transportation, workshops and lunch — most will probably offer a reduced rate to a low-income participant if they are asked. The Low Income Housing Institute (www.wliha.org, 206-442-9455) has a longer list of lobby days for just about every issue you might imagine (and maybe some you might not)
There used to be newsletters with information on the legislature and lobbying. If you don’t have internet access, it might be discouraging to see that almost all the event information is on the internet. However, phone numbers are included here. Give the lobby day sponsors a call. When you call, ask about bus/carpool information and what, if any workshops, are involved.
Feb. 5
Asian Pacific Islander Advocacy Day, sponsored by ACRS and others
Issues: Immigration, health, economic
Web site: Acrs.Org
206-695-7600
Feb. 9
Service Employees International Union
Issues: Home/health care and nursing home wages
Web site: SEIU.org
206-815-3700
Feb. 10
Refugee and Immigrant Legislative Day, sponsored by ReWA and others
Issues: Immigration, health, econonomic
Web site: REWA.org
Phone: 206-721-8442
Feb. 12
WashingtonCAN Lobby Day
Issues: Healthcare, social justice
Web site: Washingtoncan.org
Phone: 206-389-0050
Feb. 16
African-American Legislative Day
Issues: Jobs, health, kids
Phone: 206-770-7697
Feb. 17
Senior Citizen's Lobby Day
Issues: Health, housing
E-mail: seniorlobby@qwestoffice.net
Phone: 360-754-0207
Feb. 19
Environmental Lobby Day
Issues: Clean water, clean air
E-mail: people@pugetsound.org
Phone: 206-382-7007
Feb. 24
Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day, sponsored by the Low-income Housing Alliance and others
Issues: Housing
Web site: www.wliha.org
Phone: 206-442-9455
Feb. 24
Transportation Advocacy Day
Issues: Bikes, transit, walking
Web site: www.transportationchoices.org
Phone: 206-329-2336
Feb. 27
Have a Heart for Kids Day, sponsored by the Children's Alliance
Issues: Health, schools, DSHS, daycare
Web site: www.childrensalliance.org
Phone: 800-854-5437
By Robert Canamar
SHA Resident
In today’s political scene, there is a new
politician — the activist.
It doesn’t matter what your reason is for
becoming an activist. Maybe you are fed up
with the way things have been going, and
you have seen enough that you want to get
involved, but you do not know how.
Maybe I can help. The first step is to
decide that if you want something done
right, do it yourself.
This means you are ready to get out of
that chair, stop complaining to the wrong
people, and do something that you are passionate
about.
And that is the next step — deciding what
you wish to focus on, be it health care, the
homeless, or ADA issues.
One of the best ways to learn about being
an activist is to get involved with your
building’s community council. Or perhaps
you would like to go up a step and start going
to RAC meetings.
This will give you an idea of how things
are done in a positive way.
If you feel that you would like some
training, then I would recommend that you
speak to the community builder for your
building, since they do get a lot of information
about community activism.
For community leaders and prospective
community leaders, there is a way for you to
go to workshops presented by the Nonprofit
Assistance Center.
These are excellent ways to get your feet
wet. Just speak to the community builder
for your building.
There are plenty of organizations that
you can volunteer for, even if all that you
do is join a rally, march or write to your
legislators.
Opportunities for activism
The following are a few of the many organizations that may have volunteer opportunities available.
Washington Coalition of Activist Network — www.washingtoncan.org
Alliance of People with Disabilities — 206-663-6637
Washington Public Campaigns — 206-784-2522
People of Color Against AIDS Network — 206-322-7061
Nature Consortium — 206-923-0853
Puget Sound Millennium Goals Project — mgoals@Q.com
Resident Action Council — 206-322-1297
Sustainable Seattle — www.sustainableseattle.org
Solid Ground — 206-694-6700
Nonprofit Assistance Center — 206-324-5850
B-Sustainable — www.b-sustainable.org
The Marketplace of The Voice
Three wheel Nova rollator. No seat, snap-on pouch. Hardly used. $60. 206-708-7932
Boys 20” bike. Good condition, orange color. $25/OBO. 253-852-5045
Brown leather Lazy Boy recliner. Brown leather couch. Matching bookshelves. 40” round table with leaf & two chairs.
Do you have a couch or other item you want to sell? Take advantage of the free person-to-person classified advertising in The Voice by filling out your 24-word ad below. Remember, write only one word per line and don’t forget to include your telephone number in your ad! Mail your ad before the 18th of the month and it will be included in the next month’s issue.
Write your ad here (one word per line)
check the classification: ❑ items for sale ❑ autos for sale
❑ items wanted ❑ services
Mail to: PPC, 4000 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133 fax: 206-461-1285 e-mail: classmgr@nwlink.com w/subject line “The Voice”
Translated Articles from The Voice
MỨC LƯƠNG TỐI THIỂU TĂNG LÊN $8.55 MỘT GIỜ
Mức lưong tối thiểu ở tiểu bang Washignton tăng lên 48 xu nữa tức là $8.55 một giờ kể từ ngày 1 Tháng Một. Việc gia tăng được đòi buộc bởi dự luật thông qua 10 năm về trước.
Bộ Lao Động và Công Nghiệp mỗi năm vào tháng Chín đều qui định mức lương tối thiểu do dự luật I-688 mà người dân đã bỏ phiếu thông qua vào năm 1998. Điều luật đòi buộc mức lương được điều chỉnh lại mỗi năm dựa vào sự thay đổi của bản chỉ dẩn Liên Bang trong Giá Cả Tiêu Thụ (CPI-W) trong vòng 12 tháng qua tính đến ngày 31 tháng Tám.
Bảng Chỉ Dẫn Giá Cả Tiêu Thụ dựa vào giá cả sản phẩm và dịch vụ cần thiết cho cuôc sống thường ngày. Giá cả này tăng 5.9 phần trăm trong 12 tháng qua tính đến hết tháng Tám, so với mức tăng 1.8 phần trăm cùng thời gian năm 2007, do đó dẫn đến việc tăng 14 xu một giờ cho mức lương tối thiểu của năm 2008.
Mức tăng 5.9 phần trăm, áp dụng vào mức lương tối thiểu ở Washington là $8.07 một giờ cho ra con số tăng là 48 xu. Mức lương tối thiểu ở tiểu bang Washington đuợc áp dụng cho công nhân làm việc trong cả hai ngành nông nghiệp và không nông nghiệp, tuy nhiên, các em 14 hay 15 tuổi, thì mức lương qui định là 85 phần trăm mức lương tối thiểu của người lớn, tức là $7.27 một giờ.
Muốn biết thêm thông tin về mức lương tối thiểu ở tiểu bang Washington, xin vào trang mạng Wages. Lni.wa.gov. Những người làm chủ, hay người làm công, có thể gọi cho số (360)902-5316 hoặc số 1-866-219
7321
Mushaarka ugu saacaddiiba in lagu shaqeeyo gobolka Waashington oo la kordhiyey lagana dhigey $8.55 saacaddiiba.
Mushaarka la ogol yahay in lagushaqeeyo saacaddiiba oo la kordgiyey 48% lagana dhigey $8.55 saacaddiiba laga bilaabo 1da bisha Janaayo. Arintaani waxay ka mid ahayd middey codeynta ku dareen vodeeyayaashu toban sano ka hor. Wasaaradda shaqada iyo warshadaha ayaa waxay dib u xisaabisaa lacagta ugu yare e lagu shaqeyn karo gobolkan marka lagaaro bisha Sebteembar taasoo uu dhigayo qodobka 688, kaasoo ay ansixiyeen codeeyayaash gobolkan Wahsington. Sanadkii 1998. sharcigaan ayaa qaba in lacagtan ugu yare e lagu shaqeeyo in sanadkasta la badelo iyadoo loo eegayo sicir bararka dawladda dhexe eedadka magaalooyinka ka shaqeeya iyo kuwa ka shaqeeya shaqooyinka clerikaalka ah (CPIW) in ta lagu jiro 12ka bilood oo ku eg Agoosto 31.
(CPI-W) waa liisto dowladda dhexe soo saarto oo ka hadlaysa qiimaha cuntada iyo adeega ee maalinkasta.. qiimahaasi waxay kor u keceen 5.9% 12kii bilood ee lasoo dhaafay. Oo ku ekayd Agoosto,marka la barbar dhigo 2007kii oo ay korortay 1.8% taasoo keentay 14 cent in lakordhiyo lacagta ugu yare e lagu shaaqeeyo saacaddii.
5.9%ku waxay keentey in 48% la kordhiyo lacagtan sanadka 2009. Lacagtaanu waxay taabanaysaa beeralayda iyo shaqaalaha aan beeraleyda ahaynba. Inkastoo laga yaabo in carruurta jira14 iyo 15ka sano la siinkaro mushaar le’eg 85% marka la barbar dhigo kan dadka waaweyn. Ama $7.27.
Wixii warbixin dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan lacagt ugu yare e la ogol yahay in lagu shaqeeyo kala xiriir webka Wages.lni.wa.gov shirkadaha iyo shaqaaluhuba waxay wici karaan 360-902-5316 ama 1-866-219-7321.