Advocacy

“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 in 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 2023 legislative measures and agenda include the following.

Priority Agenda

Local

  • Parent Child Plus funding to keep up with inflation and meet community need.
  • Raising Wages for Changing Lives (Seattle Human Services Coalition) – Wage equity movement to increase human services wages in government contracts and vendor rates.
  • $160K funding from King County for prevention coalitions for 7 communities (Southeast, Southwest, White Center/Nort Highline, Central, Auburn, Enumclaw, Vashon), leveraging $2m.

State

  • Continue funding for State CSBG Match at $15,446,684 for the biennium (matching fiscal year 2022 levels) prioritizing BIPOC and rural communities.
  • Not Sanctions For Our Kids Campaign, aiming to reduce tobacco use and sales among minors.
  • Campaign for 20 (Brave Commitments) asking that government contracts with human service organizations in Washington cover the full cost of the services we are asked to deliver.

Federal

  • CSBG Modernization Act would reauthorize CSBG for 10 years, increase income eligibility for services funded by the programs to 200% of the federal poverty line, and authorize $1 billion per year for 5 years.
  • Head Start Hold The Line – Although the 5.4% COLA in the House and Senate appropriations bills is well below the actual rate of inflation. Both bills would increase Head Start funding and NHSA priorities by roughly $1 billion over FY22.

Support Agenda

We support the priorities of the following advocacy groups across Seattle, King County, Washington, and the US.

Local

State

Federal

Other advocacy and legislative measures supported by Neighborhood House:

Neighborhood House
1225 South Weller Street, Suite 510
Seattle, WA 98144
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