“There have been times when the immediate needs of the public housing communities have been so great that the total energy of the agency has had to be devoted to the delivery of services. But the social conditions that create problems for low-income people must be dealt with if the condition of the poor is to change rather than [be] patched up.”
A Neighborhood House staff member wrote these words in the Holly Park Grapevine newsletter, published March 10, 1977.
Our agency has a legacy of not only running programs to increase access to health, education, and economic opportunity but also supporting policy changes that affect us all. We have always known that solely focusing on one without the other will not do true justice to our communities.
The Neighborhood House Board of Directors stands behind policies and investments that support the health and well-being of low-income people and communities. Learn about the positions we’re taking up today and how you can take action. Specific 2025 legislative measures and agenda include the following.
Priority Agenda
Staff, clients, or board member activities on priority agenda could include: strategizing with others to advocate, calling, emailing, visiting legislators, providing testimony, communications (via email, twitter, Facebook, website, op-ed), educating staff, and attending lobby days.
State
- State CSBG Match at $5.275 million for 2024-25 (Matching FFY22 Levels) prioritizing BIPOC and rural communities.
- 2025 OSPI Budget Request OSPI Includes $20 Million for Youth Development in their 2025 Budget Proposal. The biennium budget would span 2-years with $10M designated to youth development grants each year. This is a huge leap forward in our efforts to advocate for significant and sustainable funding for the field. If included in the Governor’s budget, legislators are more likely to approve this funding in the final operating budget in the 2025 Legislative Session. Click here to read the full decision package from OSPI and more details on funding for youth development.
- Flavors Hook Kids – ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, which are fueling the youth nicotine addiction crisis in our state.
- Housing and Homelessness – Stabilize rent so that rent/fees cannot increase by 7%, $430 million to backfill Document Recording Fees (DRF) and maintain operations for all affordable housing, funding for Consolidated Homeless Grant.
Federal
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) – Retain CSBG funding at the FY 2023 level for FY 2024 and raise CSBG eligibility level to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Head Start funding – Head Start issued new Head Start Performance Standards. One new requirement is to raise teacher salaries to parity with public school pre-school and Kindergarten teachers within 7 years.
- The full enrollment initiative (FEI) was intended to ensure that programs were exhausting every possible resource for recruiting and enrolling eligible children. However, work force, not lack of applicants, is what has been driving low enrollment nation-wide. The Office of Head Start has been urged to employ maximum flexibility when implementing the FEI and we ask that Congress supports this request.
- The federal poverty guidelines no longer reflects the needs of families as cost of living and minimum wage have increased. This is especially significant in the area where we operate programs for families where cost of living is much higher than most other places in the country. Updating income eligibility should be a priority in order to reach those children and families who most need services in the areas we serve.
- Support for Immigrants – Join with other allies to advocate for/with clients, staff, and community members impacted by anti-immigrant policies and actions. Develop work plan to support immigrant community members and educating our clients about their rights.
Support Agenda
Neighborhood House is a member in multiple advocacy coalitions. Activities conducted to further support agenda could include: Sign on to letters, communications via email, Twitter, Facebook, website, op-ed, educating staff, and attending lobby days.
Local
- Seattle Human Services Coalition Priorities
- King County Alliance for Human Services Priorities
- Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness Priorities
State
- Washington State Community Action Partnership (WSCAP) Priorities
- Children’s Alliance/Early Learning Action Alliance Priorities
- Washington State Association of HS/ECEAP
- Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
- Progressive Revenue (Balance Our Tax Code)
- Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot
- Support legislation and investments that further the 10 year plan to dismantle poverty
- Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)
- Tri-County Refugee Planning Committee
- BIPOC ED Coalition
- King County Behavioral Health Legislative Priorities
- Washington Health Coalition for Children and Youth (HCCY)
- Washington State Public Health Association
- Washington State Nurses Association
- Washington Workforce Alliance
- Washington Economic Justice Alliance
Federal
- National Community Action Program NCAP
- National Community Action Foundation NCAF
- National Head Start Association (NHSA)
- Children’s Thrive Action Network