Stability of Vulnerable Washingtonians

JFS can’t meet the needs of our clients alone. State government programs are vital to the stability of vulnerable Washingtonians.

Thank Washington Legislators

Here are five state-funded programs that matter for JFS clients who are trying to achieve housing and financial stability. It’s time to thank legislators who continue to champion these important programs. You’ll find a summary of the program, ideas about what to say and contact information for legislators.

When regular people contact elected officials, they listen — so pick an issue or two that you care about, then pick up the phone or send an email to the each of the legislators listed for that issue. And remember to let them know you are a Jewish Family Service supporter!

Aged, Blind and Disabled Program (ABD)

Need to Know
ABD provides housing support to ensure a temporary mental or physical disability does not result in homelessness for very low-income adults. ABD ensures access to essential basic needs, including transportation, rental assistance and health and hygiene products.

What to Say

  • Thank you for all your hard work protecting and increasing funding for the Aged, Blind and Disabled Program. We know you understand this program is an invaluable lifeline for those on the margins.
  • Without the Aged, Blind and Disabled Program, elderly immigrants Jewish Family Service serves (including Holocaust survivors) will be more vulnerable to the impacts of serious illness and at greater risk for homelessness.
  • Please keep up the fight to fund the Aged, Blind and Disabled Program Grant in the final budget.

Who to Thank

Document Recording Fees

Need to Know
Document recording fees are a one-time real estate transaction fee. These fees provide about 60 percent of state funding to combat homelessness. Rep. Nicole Macri sponsored a bill to maintain the document recording fee and allow counties to add an additional $50 to the current $40 fee. If document recording fees are not maintained, an estimated 4,000 additional Washingtonians will fall into homelessness from 2019 to 2021.

What to Say

  • Thank you for your work to combat homelessness. Please continue to advocate to maintain document recording fees.
  • As you know, these one-time fees are the single-most valuable state resource to help people affected by homelessness.
  • Please continue your support for the document recording fees during the special session.

Who to Thank

Housing and Essential Needs Program (HEN)

Need to Know
HEN provides housing support to ensure a temporary mental or physical disability does not result in homelessness for very low-income adults. HEN ensures access to essential basic needs, including transportation, rental assistance and health and hygiene products.

What to Say

  • Thank you for your work to preserve and strengthen the Housing and Essential Needs Program.
  • As you know, the Housing and Essential Needs Program is a lifeline to keep vulnerable adults housed and help them with other essential human needs.
  • Please keep up the fight to preserve and strengthen the Housing and Essential Needs Program.

Who to Thank

Housing Trust Fund

Need to Know
The Housing Trust Fund creates affordable homes that help fill the gap between what low-income households can afford and what is available on the private market. The fund provides homes for families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and more. Two-thirds of households in homes created by the Housing Trust Fund are extremely low-income.

What to Say

  • Affordable housing is one of the most challenging issues Washington families face today.
  • Thank you for your hard work to make sure the Housing Trust Fund is in the capital budget.
  • The vulnerable clients of Jewish Family Service need the Housing Trust Fund and your continued support of it through the budget negations.

Who to Thank

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Grant (TANF)

Need to Know
TANF provides critical, flexible resources for families in financial hard times. TANF allows families to afford necessities like rent and unexpected expenses like car repairs, extra high utility bills or an unplanned doctor’s visit.

What to Say

  • Thank you for your hard work to protect and increase the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Grant. We know you understand the importance of TANF in the lives of children and families across our state.
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a lifeline for refugees and the other very-low income families Jewish Family Service helps.
  • Please keep fighting to increase the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant in the final budget. We’re with you!

Who to Thank

 

You can find more legislative contact information here.
You can find bill information here.

 

Photo by Jim Bowen / CC BY 2.0

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