June 14, 2013
by Jennifer Ibach
The House and Senate are in budget negotiations during a special session and budget proposals have been released. According to WIN:
"It is estimated that if the Senate budget prevails, approximately 20k more people will face homelessness as shelters will be closed. The Senate budget slashes funding for emergency shelters in half and greatly reduces the Consolidated Homeless Grants and the Aged, Blind and Disabled program, and provides no funding for the Housing Trust Fund (which is both a low income housing program and a jobs bill).
By calling this one line,
800-562-6000, you can get your message to your representatives and senator. Senator Sharon Nelson is critical in these negotiations so if she is your senator, please make your voice heard. Consider asking her to follow the lead of the House in both the Operating and Capital budgets that provide funding to critical programs.
Please make a one minute phone call (that's all!) and consider stating your support for:
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Housing and Essential Needs (HEN): 1,141 disabled single adults in King County will lose monthly rental supports that help keep them stably housed.
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Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG): $2.1 million at stake, supporting 40 Family emergency and transitional housing programs (with 513 families housed) and 15 Single Adult programs (housing 886 individuals.)
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Housing Trust Fund (HTF): While none of the proposed capital budgets will meet the demand, the Governor’s budget at $65 million for the HTF would do the least damage. The Senate budget at $35 million will not come close to funding the pipeline of King County projects over the two-year biennium. The proposed list of projects does not include any local projects for Seattle nor East King County, nor does it include a homelessness category recommendation.
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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MH/SA): The House budget proposes a $5 million cut to King County’s mental health system for the biennium and the Senate budget cuts $7.3 million. For substance abuse, both the House and Senate have proposed a $3.5 million cut to King County. These reductions are on top of substantial cuts already taken in the last two biennia. The budget proposals assume significant savings from Medicaid expansion, at levels far higher than can be expected. We ask that the state continue funding for essential services through the transition to full implementation of the Accountable Care Act."
