Stimulus Bill Provides New Funding for Housing
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FREE EACH VOLUME 28 MONTH ISSUE 3 A community-based newspaper serving the Puget Sound area since 1981 March 2009 Articles translated into six languages TheTheThe newspaper VoiceVoice of Neighborhood House Stimulus bill provides new funding for housing Seattle Housing For King County Housing Authority it will ects that will get people to work and house within three years. The Seattle Housing be $7,442,556. hardworking low-wage people, seniors, and Authority developed a list of projects like Authority will choose The stimulus package included $4 billion disabled people,” said Tierney. this totaling more than $45 million. This for building projects by housing authori- Of the $4 billion, $3 billion is being list became part of the agency’s annual from projects ready to go ties across the county. By comparison, the distributed to public housing authorities plan as “possible projects that SHA may annual amount provided by Congress for by the Department of Housing and Urban submit” for stimulus funding. The Board BY SHA STAFF the Public Housing Capital Fund was $2.3 Development. HUD announced on Feb. 25 of Commissioners approved this addition billion in 2007. how much each housing authority will re- to the agency’s annual plan at their meeting Housing authorities received a much- At a press conference on Feb. 17, Seattle ceive. The decision was arrived at by using on Feb. 17. needed boost to their building programs Housing Authority Executive Director Tom the same formula used for regular capital The list of possible projects included when President Obama signed the Ameri- Tierney joined Senator Maria Cantwell (D- fund amounts. improvements in public housing high-rise can Recovery and Reinvestment Act into WA) in praising the effects of the stimulus In order to be eligible, projects must be buildings—Bell Tower, Denny Terrace law on Feb. 17. For Seattle Housing Author- on affordable housing. “This funding will “shovel ready.” This means that they must ity, this will result in a grant of $17,069,888. allow us to get started right now on proj- be started within 120 days and completed Please see “Stimulus” on Page 3 Ron Sims Hundreds gather in Senator Cantwell visits Rainier Vista named to HUD Olympia for Housing Advocacy Day BY TYLER ROUSH The Voice editor BY LYNN SEREDA Section 8 Tenant Ron Sims announced Feb. 2 that he was accepting the No. 2 position at the On Feb. 24, more than 500 people from Department of Housing and Urban De- all over the state came to Olympia for Hous- velopment (HUD), leaving his position ing and Homelessness Advocacy Day. as King County Executive to join the Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Obama administration. day is sponsored by the Washington Low Sims, who had served as county Income Housing Alliance (WLIHA) and executive since 1996, would become The Washington State Coalition for the HUD’s deputy secretary. His nomination Homeless. The morning part of the program is pending confirmation by the Senate. was held at the United Church of Christ, “Ron’s track record as an innova- near the State Capitol buildings. PHOTO BY RAY LI tive leader with an exciting vision for This year, Advocacy Day organizers pre- Senator Maria Cantwell (at lectern) visited the Neighborhood House Rainier the future of our nation’s communities sented a three-person panel of people whose Vista Center to present the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. She is makes him the perfect deputy secretary personal stories were directly related to the backed by (left to right) Jacob So, HomeSight client, Jon Okada of Marpac candidate as we tackle the nation’s hous- types of action that sponsoring organiza- Construction, Tony To, HomeSight executive director, and Heyward Watson, CEO ing crisis amidst the biggest economic tions urged the legislature to take. of Impact Capital and chair of Washington Affordable Housing Advisory Board. downturn in decades,” HUD Secretary One panelist talked about how Wash- SHA residents may turn to the related story on Page 1 of SHA News. Shaun Donovan said in a statement. ington’s General Assistance Unemployable Sims made the announcement after (GAU) program (a state program providing charge foster children into homelessness. emergency room care, or they are swept into nearly two weeks of speculation that $339 a month to adults unable to work, A similar request is also being voiced in the criminal justice system, where a bed in he would leave his post for a job in the primarily due to a disability) provided him regards to the Department of Corrections jail costs much more money. Obama administration. a safety net that literally kept him off the discharging felons who have served their GAU, which is in danger of being elimi- “There is no leader more commit- street. With housing stability provided, case sentences directly to the streets, where nated due to the budget shortfall, seemed ted to our communities than President management is able to work on long-term chances are more likely that they will re- to be one of the top priorities of the day. Obama; and no champion superior to solutions. enter the prison system again. The fact that GAU is a state program that Secretary Donovan, who is charting a A young woman on the panel then talked While GAU funding might not seem receives no federal funding makes it very new, aggressive course for HUD,” Sims about her experience as a foster child. At directly tied to creating affordable housing, precarious. said in a statement. “I am truly humbled 18 she had to suddenly fend for herself many people noted that it does function Nancy Amidei, an emeritus professor to be asked to join this team.” because she was no longer under the care as a program literally keeping many from from the University of Washington School At the same time he lamented leaving of the state. falling into homelessness. of Social Work gave an introduction to his role as executive. WLIHA is urging the state to ensure the A discussion of the importance of GAU advocacy training. Amidei gave a very “Leaving King County government success of the Homelessness Housing and noted that once a person becomes homeless, detailed presentation on how to talk to a will be very difficult for me,” Sims said. Assistance Act to develop plans and policy it often becomes more expensive for the Please see “Housing Day” on Page 5 Please see “Sims” on Page 4 changes to ensure that DSHS no longer dis- state, as people often become ill and seek In this issue Quotable Neighborhood House Nonprofit org. Jesse Epstein Building U.S. postage PAID Health Notes Page 2 “Some healthy snacks, such as a bag 905 Spruce Street Seattle, WA HPV VACCINE CAN SAVE LIVES of raw almonds or carrots, require no Seattle, WA 98104 Permit #8887 One to grow on Page 3 preparation. Five nuts are a snack for FIND SEEDS FOR THE people who need energy but want to NORTHWEST lose weight.” Advocacy training Page 4 — Miranda Taylor writes in her article on A HOW-TO GUIDE how to eat healthy while on a budget. Read Translations Page 8 the story on Page 2. FREE TAX-PREP SITES IN KING COUNTY 2 – locAl AND NAtIoNAl NewS MARCH 2009 Health Notes Enjoy healthy and inexpensive A column devoted to your well-being options for snacks and dinner Pap screening, HPV vaccine BY MIRANDA TAYLOR One container in our refrigerator should SHA Resident have a cooked grain that we can quickly prepare into a snack with olive oil, organic prevent cancer and save lives Inexpensive homemade meals and snacks butter, vegetables, beans or organic meat. involve preparation time, but taking the time Like all foods, whole grains taste better New campaign will make us look, feel and act better! if fresh, which is why storage-tolerant white More information Cheap fast foods and snacks are poor rice is cheaper. Yet quinoa, millet, wild rice, promotes prevention Public Health’s campaign: food choices: we will pay later. Whole, amaranth and teff are some grains that con- www.kingcounty.gov/health/cancer organic good food choices allow our bodies tain more healthful nutrients and fiber than for women with higher to heal faster from daily wear and will truly white rice. Quinoa is the most protein-rich Cervical cancer: nourish us. grain, for example. rates of cervical cancer www.cancer.gov/ If we are truly nourished, we will not Legumes are the protein staple for veg- cancertopics/types/cervical feel as intensely interested in dangerous, etarians, though eggs offer excellent protein BY PUBLIC HEALTH-SEATTLE & KING packaged snacks. Dry, packaged snacks for pregnancy or nursing. Any animal prod- COUNTY HPV vaccine: are hard on our bodies. The body prefers ucts in the United States should be organic A new public education campaign www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/ moist, whole foods. or we will be consuming higher levels of launched by Public Health-Seattle & King Some people think that wholesome or- toxins and hormones that are not recom- County is aimed at reducing cervical ganic food is for people with lots of money. mended for children through reproductive- cancer rates among local Vietnamese and vision public service announcements in Not true! age people. Latina women. These populations suffer Spanish. Especially if we do not have money, sick- Organic cheese, like organic butter, from higher rates of cervical cancer and In addition to the campaign, Public ness in the family is difficult. Healthy food is healthy and affordable when used as lower rates of screening for the illness. Health continues to work with community will keep our motors well tuned, helping us a flavorful condiment.