FREE EACH VOLUME 28 MONTH ISSUE 1 A community-based newspaper serving the Puget Sound area since 1981 January 2009 Articles translated into six languages TheTheThe newspaper VoiceVoice of Neighborhood House Noted housing activist from Winter, but not so wonderful New Orleans visits Seattle BY LYNN SEREDA of disaster preparedness along with civic Section 8 Tenant engagement. He stresses that one cannot assume that government agencies will be Malik Rahim is well known as an activ- immediately able to provide relief. ist with the group Common Ground Relief, When the hurricane devastated New which organized neighborhood-driven Orleans, Rahim was part of a small group of disaster assistance in New Orleans after people who pooled $50 and started distrib- Hurricane Katrina. uting food, water and medical supplies in Rahim, who recently received the Thom- the low-income neighborhoods of the city. as Merton Social Justice and Humanitar- It took weeks for FEMA to show up, ian award, came to Seattle to speak about yet word soon spread about this neighbor- current efforts in New Orleans. He also hood-based effort. Volunteers from all took time to promote a social justice trip over America started arriving with skills that 14 students from Seattle’s Nova High and money and became part of Common School will take to New Orleans’ Lower Ground’s rebuilding effort. Ninth Ward. Rahim estimates that there have been During his visit, Rahim spoke at Nova 20,000 volunteers serving 180,000 residents High School, at a fundraiser in a private as part of Common Ground in the three residence with King County Councilman years since Katrina. Larry Gossett and in an art gallery down- Among their accomplishments, vol- town that was showing an exhibition of unteers have built a free medical clinic, photos from New Orleans. rebuilt an elementary school and an his- Rahim has been to Washington state toric church, started a free legal clinic and several times since Katrina, including a trip a women’s homeless shelter and opened PHOTO BY TYLER ROUSH Icicles cling to a lamppost at Kerry Park, overlooking the Space Needle and to Carnation two years ago after the Tolt community kitchens and food distribution Seattle Center. A wintry blast of snow and ice pummeled the Puget Sound area, River flooded. In his talks since Katrina, with slippery conditions keeping many indoors. Rahim has repeatedly stated the importance Please see “Activist” on Page 4 NYC Housing Financial aid for college Minimum wage Commissioner continues despite economic crisis increases to $8.55 tapped to head HUD BY COLIN SEXTON college: per hour BY SHA STAFF Neighborhood House 1. Apply for Federal Financial Aid. Nearly all students attending college BY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES Last month President-elect Barack Obama Are you or someone you know getting complete the Free Application for Federal named New York City ready for college? Completing a college Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is used by Washington’s minimum wage in- Housing Commission- degree can make the difference to you and all colleges and universities, to determine creased 48 cents to $8.55 an hour Jan. er Shaun Donovan to your family between just barely getting by what support you need and what they will 1. This increase is required by a voter head the Department and enjoying a stable, comfortable life. provide. The FAFSA will allow you to initiative that passed 10 years ago. of Housing and Ur- The current financial troubles in this receive financial aid in the form of grants, The Department of Labor and In- ba n Development country have people wondering if financial loans and work-study funds. dustries (L&I) recalculates the state’s (HUD), saying in a aid is available to new students. Be assured • The FAFSA should be completed and minimum wage each year in September radio address that few that funding continues to be available submitted by all students as early as pos- as required by Initiative 688, which was departments would be through government, public and private sible, after January 1 and before June 30. approved by Washington voters in 1998. “more essential” in sources. Our political and business leaders Tax information for your family is required, The law requires that the state minimum stemming “the rising recognize how important a college educated but estimating your family’s taxes for the wage be adjusted each year according tide of foreclosures Shaun Donovan workforce is to our future economy. previous year is acceptable and sometimes to the change in the federal Consumer and strengthen our This time of year is very important for better than waiting until March or April. Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and economy. those planning to attend college soon, since • For more information, visit www.fafsa. Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the 12 “Shaun will bring to this important post January is the time to apply for financial ed.gov. aid. Here are some steps you can take to Please see “HUD” on Page 2 help you secure the funding you need for Please see “College” on Page 2 Please see “Wage” on Page 3 In this issue Quotable Neighborhood House Nonprofit org. Jesse Epstein Building U.S. postage PAID Health Notes Page 2 “Public housing is a critical 905 Spruce Street Seattle, WA KNOW THE RISKS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE resource for low-income Seattle, WA 98104 Permit #8887 One to grow on Page 3 households and low-wage workers, EXTEND THE GROWING SEASON THIS the populations that are most WINTER seriously affected by the current Health Night Page 4 financial crisis.” NH HELPS HEAD START PARENTS — SHA Executive Director Tom Tier- WITH HEALTH EDUCATION EVENT ney on the need for a federal stimulus Translations Page 8 package to fund public housing. See ALCOHOL AND CANCER story on Page 4. 2 – local AND NAtIoNAl News JANUARY 2009 In March 2008, Bush’s second HUD sec- HUD retary, Alphonso Jackson, resigned from his Continued from front page Health Notes position in the face of ongoing probes by a A column devoted to your well-being fresh thinking, unencumbered by old ideol- federal grand jury, the Justice Department, ogy and outdated ideas,” said Obama. the FBI and the HUD inspector general. Housing advocates and politicians hailed Under Jackson, the nation spiraled into the Alcohol and cancer: Before Donovan’s nomination, which needs to be worst housing crisis since the Great Depres- confirmed by the Senate. sion, though Jackson insisted that increasing “Shaun Donovan is a brilliant choice for mortgage failures were simply a short-term you drink, know the risks HUD. He is an expert on the full range of “correction.” housing issues and has a proven track record When Jackson resigned, Bush appointed BY PAM MCGAFFIN • While drinking small amounts of of getting things done,” said Sheila Crowley, then-chief of the Small Business Adminis- Moore Ink alcohol, such as a daily glass of wine, has president of the National Low Income Hous- tration (SBA) Steven Preston to replace him. been shown to reduce the risk of heart ing Coalition. Preston still heads HUD. The holidays have come and gone. attack and stroke, the benefit goes away “Thankfully, President-elect Obama has Donovan was appointed Commissioner of Time for family and friends, gifts and with the second or third glass. If you can’t chosen a HUD secretary who is uniquely the New York City Department of Housing good cheer... drinking and more drink- stop at one, it’s probably safer for you to qualified to take on this task,” said Sen. Patty Preservation and Development (HPD) in ing. get your health benefits from eating right Murray (D-WA), who chairs the subcommit- March 2004 by Mayor Michael R. Bloom- Like it or not, alcohol has become a and exercising. tee that controls HUD appropriations. berg. fixture of the season, as traditional as • Avoid alcohol altogether if you are: a If he is confirmed, she said, Donovan will Until March of 2001, Donovan was Deputy fruitcake (which is often soaked in the recovering alcoholic; pregnant or lactat- be a lead player in addressing “the worst Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing stuff). ing; under legal drinking age; driving economic climate in decades” as “American at HUD. It’s important to remember, now and or doing an activity that requires atten- homeowners are reeling from plummeting Donovan served at HUD in the Clinton every day, of the hazards of drinking. tion, skill and coordination; or taking a home values and rising unemployment.” administration as both acting federal housing Here’s a sobering fact to keep in mind: medication that can interact with alcohol In his announcement, Obama explicitly commissioner and deputy assistant secretary regular alcohol consumption and/or (including sleeping pills, antihistamines, tied the housing crisis to the financial crisis, for multifamily housing. He ran housing sub- binge drinking can be hazardous to your anti-anxiety drugs, and medications for saying that “expanding access to affordable sidy programs that provided over $9 billion health. diabetes, high blood pressure and heart housing isn’t just about caring for the least annually to 1.7 million families and oversaw “Moderation is always the key when disease). fortunate among us and strengthening our a portfolio of 30,000 multifamily properties it comes to alcohol,” says Heidi Lucas, a The good news for concerned drink- middle class — it’s about ending our housing with over two million housing units. naturopathic physician at Seattle Cancer ers is that quitting will reverse the risk mess, climbing out of our financial crisis, and Donovan, who holds master’s degrees in Treatment and Wellness Center.