Homelessness in King County

Homeless Veterans Resources & References:

Homeless Veteran's Resources:

Healthcare for Homeless Veterans, Puget Sound: Seattle Veteran’s Center, 2030 9thAvenue, Seattle, Wa, 98121; 206-277-3260

King County Housing Authority, 600 Andover Park West, Seattle, WA 98188; 206-574-1100  http://www.kcha.org/home/home.aspx

King County Veterans Program, 123 - 3rd Ave S. Suite 300, Seattle, 98104; 206-296-7656 http://cvcwashington.org/Legislation.htm

King County Veteran’s Services:http://www.kingcounty.gov/socialservices/veterans.aspx;

Seattle office: (206) 296-7656 Renton office: (206) 205-3501

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans:http://www.nchv.org/

US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Homeless Veterans: http://www1.va.gov/homeless/

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (n.d.) Homeless Veterans Action Plan, Retrieved June 1, 2010, from:   http://www.dva.wa.gov/

How Can I Help the Homeless?

The Problem
Over the course of a year, about 24,000 people are homeless in the suburban cities, urban centers and rural towns in King County. Each night, more than 8,300 people are homeless, including approximately 5,600 single adults (of which 2,500 are considered chronically homeless). The fastest-growing group of homeless is families; a family in King County must earn about 2.5 times the minimum wage to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

Some Solutions
King County’s ten-year plan to combat against homelessness includes:
    •     Creating a new collaborative leadership structure.
    •     Implementing research-driven best practices.
    •     Increasing homelessness prevention resources.
    •     Developing support-enriched programs for King County’s homeless.
    •     Enhance community-based access points to services.
    •     Increasing affordable housing options.

Meaningful ways you can help
Partner with an organization in various different ways to support homeless women, youth, families, or downtown Seattle residents at the following organizations:
 
Urban Rest Stop
1924 9th Ave, Seattle 98101
Website: www.urbanreststop.org
Contact: Ronni Gilboa, 206/332-0110
Need/Mission:  Urban Rest Stop is committed to serving the downtown homeless individuals and families. Volunteer for the check-in counters, cleaning, site monitors, or pick-up donations.
 
Noel House
205 2nd Ave N, Seattle 98109
Website: www.noelhouse.org
Contact: Director Eileen McComb, 206/441-3210
Need/Mission: Provides direct shelter, referrals, evening meals and services to women. Volunteer to help with dinners or donate shampoo, reading glasses, clippers, new socks & underwear, blankets, first aid items, paper plates & cups.

Sacred Heart Shelter
232 Warren Ave N, Seattle 98109
Website: www.shshelter.org
Contact: Resource & Volunteer Coordinator, 206/285-7489
Need:  Volunteer opportunities include children’s programs, office support, dinner cooks, board members, cleaners/repair, and other misc. Volunteer making dinner on a Saturday night for the homeless families and women residents of the house!

Elizabeth Gregory Home
P.O. Box 45310, Seattle 98145
Website: www.elizabethgregoryhome.org
Contact:  Kanti Mani, 206/729-0262
Need/Mission: Serves single adult homeless women in the U District. Bake breads and special desserts, bring fresh flowers, stitch quilts, pick up and deliver food, office work, serve on the board of directors or program committee, mentor residents and alumni, give a party for the residents, and provide transportation to appointments.

YWCA Working Zone
4512 University Way NE & 5516 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle 98105
Website: www.ywcaworks.org
Contact:  YWCA Volunteer Services Office, 206/490-4376
Need/Mission:  YWCA is committed to help women in need. Become a mentor and peer educator for women to develop good health and success in life. Multiple locations.

New Horizons Ministries – Downtown Seattle
PO Box 2801, Seattle 98111
Website: www.nhmin.org
Contact:  206/374-0866
Need/Mission: Serve the homeless youth of downtown Seattle! Partner with New Horizons to respond to the growing problems of youth involved in street activity in downtown Seattle. Serve food, office help or work directly with youth.

Downtown Emergency Service Center
515 3rd Ave, Seattle 98104
Website: www.desc.org
Contact: Janelle Rothfolk, 206/515-1517
Need/Mission: The Downtown Emergency Service Center works to end the homelessness of vulnerable adults, particularly those with serious mental and addictive illnesses. Provide shelter support, meal assistance, clothing room, bingo leader, drop-in center assistance.

Real Change
2129 Second Ave, Seattle 98121
Website: www.realchangenews.org
Contact: Polly Jirkovsky, 206/441-3247
Need/Mission: Publishes the Real Change weekly homeless newspaper featuring articles about solutions to poverty and homelessness, plus writing and poetry by the homeless themselves. Cost of the paper is $1 and the homeless vendors keep $.65 and $.35 goes to support the newspaper. Make a difference by buying a paper each week for only $1! Ongoing need for sleeping bags and personal toiletries.

University District Youth Center (UDYC)
4516 15th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
Website: www.ccsww.org 
Contact: Brynn Fitzer, BrynnF@ccsww.org, 206/526-2992
Need/Mission: Creates a safe, nurturing environment for homeless and at-risk youth. Assist at afternoon drop-in center.

ROOTS (Rising Out of the Shadows)
1415 NE 43rd St, Seattle 98105
Website: http://rootsinfo.org
Contact: volunteer@rootsinfo.org
Need/Mission: Delivers services to homeless young adults and low-income persons, advocates for policies that foster dignity, builds community partnerships. Overnight or evening shift volunteers, meal cooks and servers.

45th Street Homeless Youth Clinic
1629 N 45th St, Seattle 98103
Website: http://www.neighborcare.org/index.php?page=Clinic_Detail&clinicID=2
Contact: Charlotte Tucker, 206/633-7650
Need/Mission: Offers evening drop-in clinic for homeless and at-risk youth, providing personalized physical/mental health services. Volunteer as an RN or front-desk staff.

University Family YWCA
5003 12th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
Contact: Eleaszar Juarez, 206/524-1400
Need/Mission: Sponsors a youth drop-in and meal program on weekends. Assist with meals and programs for homeless youth.

Angeline's Centers for Homeless Women/YWCA
1118 5th Ave, Seattle 98101
Website: https://www.ywcaworks.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=389
Contact: Volunteer Services, 206/490-4376
Need/Mission: YWCA is committed to helping women in need. Help with office work, child care, transportation, meal programs, relief program advocacy.

Youth Care Support Services
2500 NE 54th St, Seattle 98105
Website: http://youthcare.org/
Contact: 206/694-4500
Need/Mission: Builds confidence and promotes self-sufficiency for homeless and underserved youth by providing shelter, support and hope. Opportunities include meal preparation, therapeutic recreation, and mentoring.

University St. Ministry/Teen Feed
4740B University Way NE, Seattle 98105
Website: www.teenfeed.org
Contact: Alexis, teenfeedalexis@gmail.com
Need/Mission: Offers support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth. Cook and serve meals, provide outreach services and youth advocacy.

One4One
Website: http://joinone4one.com/
Contact: Dustin Cross, bro_cross@yahoo.com
Need/Mission: Currently working to support homeless in Nickelsville, providing shelter and clothing. Monetary donations may be made on-line; to donate items, e-mail contact person.

New Life Clinic
Location: First Presbyterian Church Homeless Shelter, 1013 8th Avenue, Seattle
Every Wednesday night, 7-10 pm
Contact: Martha Goedert, ARNP, goedertm@seattleu.edu or Rachel Allen, alleni@seattleu.edu
Come lend a hand in the nurse-run wellness clinic, or support through donations of health supplies! Needs are: men's socks and shoes, footcare supplies (epsom slats, Vick's vaporub, and antifungals), skin preparation, vitamins, wraps, bandages, and nebulizer supplies. Men's clothing donations are also welcome.
 
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