EASTSIDE INTERFAITH SOCIAL CONCERNS COUNCIL MINUTES

P.O. Box 662, Bellevue, WA 98009-0662

June 8, 2010

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order and conducted by EISCC Co-President Lloyd Van Vactor.

OPENING PRAYER: Sally Wing of Grace Lutheran Church provided the opening prayer.

SELF-INTRODUCTIONS: Self-introductions were made by 27 members and guests.

MINUTES: Minutes of the 5-11-10 meeting were approved as printed.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Will be distributed when ready.

CONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS: CFH Executive Director Steve Roberts (206-295-7803 or stever@cfhomeless.org) reported that the big news this month is that Shelter Director David Johns Bowling is a new father.

The shelter is currently full and is at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

CFH is planning its first ever fundraiser and recognition lunch for September. Additional details of this event will be forthcoming.

THE SOPHIA WAY: Helen Leuzzi, (425-417-7575, Director@sophiaway.org) reported that the program has helped four more ladies from the shelter move into new housing and three additional clients have been accepted into a new program of Worksource called Rapid Re-Housing. So, with the help of all of those who support the Sophia Way, seven formerly homeless Eastside women have recently been helped to transition from the street into a fully-decorated home of their own.

Needs: Helen would like a contact for each EISCC congregation. This would enable her to keep congregations better informed on an ongoing basis. If you are interested in being your congregation’s Sophia Way contact person, please contact Helen. This is particularly crucial for the next six months or so as the Sophia Way is working very hard to keep the program on its successful course as they wait for the scheduled release of funds they have been granted by the City of Bellevue.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Lloyd Van Vactor, Nancy Bent & Betty Spohn have agreed to serve as the nominating committee to identify candidates for EISCC Board of Directors elections that will take place in October.

EISCC BY-LAWS REVISION: The Executive Committee of the Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council has been working for some months on revision of its governing document. A copy of a proposed by-laws revision was distributed to membership at the meeting as well as after the meeting by email.

These revisions include several new items:

• The present EISCC Executive Committee will change to a Board of Directors comprised of a President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary and Treasurer serving as the Executive Committee and 2 to 4 at-large directors
• The proper use of the EISCC membership list has been clarified and the privacy of the list protected
• Specific provisions have been added to govern the management of EISCC agencies (CFH, Sophia Way, CFK, and any future agencies).

A vote on these revisions will be held at the July 13, 2010 meeting. All congregations in good standing (due up to date) are encouraged to send delegates to this meeting to vote on these changes.

Should your delegates wish to cast a vote but are unable to attend the July meeting, you may email your yes or no vote to EISCC secretary Brian Anderson at brian@emergencyfeeding.org or write to:

Brian Anderson

9531 168^th Ave NE

Redmond, WA 98052

Please send your correspondence to Brian no later than July 5, 2010.

PROGRAM: Alex O’Reilly, City of Bellevue Human Services Planner presented findings from the 2009-2010 “Human Services Needs Update.”

Public funding for human services in Bellevue comes from:

• City Human Services Fund: These awards are made based on amounts received in the previous funding cycle, a funding formula based on inflation, and population growth.
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): This is a Federal entitlement that had decreasing since 2003 until this year when it was learned that Bellevue would be receiving an 8.6% increase in 2010.
• Funds from other sources: King County, State, Foundations (just as need is increasing in this troubled economy, these sources of funding are decreasing).

The Needs Update:

• Guides the recommendations for allocation of the 2011-2012 Human Services Fund/CDG by the Human Services Commission to the City Council.
• Directs the work of Bellevue Human Service Division staff.
• Provides information for other City departments, community groups, agencies, and regional planning efforts.

Sources of Data - The Needs Update is based on:

• Surveys of residents, consumers, providers, faith communities, city employees, and businesses.
• Focus Groups (older adults, multi-cultural, low-income, homeless, parents, unemployed)
• Key Informant Interviews
• Other Data: review of numerous reports, American Community Survey data, studies, and web sites.

Findings: Key Indicators of Need:

• Unemployment: Unemployment in Bellevue is at 7.2%, up 3.3% in 2007 (New data 2/10: 6.9%)
• Affordable Housing:
• Bellevue School District reports that students in the Homeless Program almost doubled between 20098-2009.
• Phone survey respondents rate lack of affordable housing as the number one community problem in Bellevue.
• Home Foreclosures: The number of “Notice of Trustee Sales” in Bellevue for the 2^nd quarter of 2008 stood at 30. By the second quarter of 2009 that number had increased to 131, an increase of 337%.
• Emergency Financial Assistance: 49% increase at Hopelink between January 2008 and January 2009.

Funding Timeline:

• The Human Services Commission discussed funding strategies in January and February of 2010.
• A call for proposals from the community went out in March of 2010. This is the first time that 17 cities in North, East, and South King County released a common application through eCityGovAlliance.
• Proposals were due April 29, 2010; received 103 requests from 60 agencies.
• $3.3 million in requests, with between $2.3-$2.8 million available
• Timeframe for review: May-August 2010
• Recommendations to Council for 2011-2012 funding will come in Fall 2010.

Funding Strategy Considerations:

• Funding for human services is needed now more than ever – one of the primary services addressing impact of the economic recession on residents.
• By policy, Bellevue currently funds broad spectrum of human service programs to meet the needs of all Bellevue residents.
• Funds help leverage dollars from other sources.
• Concern that safety net has been weakened by reductions in funding by other sources

Areas of Focus: The Human Services Commission identified the following areas of focus for 2011-2012:

• Primary focus: intervention programs helping those most affected by the recession, such as emergency financial assistance, employment, including child care and training; services threatened by significant funding reductions from other sources
• Secondary focus: programs where funds are used to leverage dollars from other sources/most cost-effective; programs that have significant formal partnerships outside the agency.

Summary:

• The Human Services Needs Update guides the Human Services Commission’s 2011-2012 funding review process.
• It is important to preserve human infrastructure
• Other strategies for consideration:
• Gaps in services
• Effects of the recession
• Impact of funding reductions on services
• Accountability and outcomes

The 2009-2010 Human Needs Update is available online at http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/humanservices_needs_update.htm.

Food for Thought: During the question and answer period that followed her presentation, Alex pointed out that a single adult with two children in day care living in Bellevue would have to make $25.00 an hour in order to pay all of the family’s expenses without subsidies. The unavailability of such jobs is only one reason why Human Services Funding is so vital to our community.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

EISCC EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTORY – EISCC is looking for volunteers to help update the EISCC Emergency Services Directory. This brief directory (available on the EISCC website at www.eiscc.net) helps EISCC congregations and agencies direct needy individuals and families to the local resources they need when they are in crisis. The work will primarily consist of calling the agencies currently listed to verify that the directory information is correct and reviewing the directory to see if information about additional resources should be added. If you are interested in helping please contact EISCC secretary Brian Anderson at info@eiscc.net or 206-329-0300.

BRIDGE DISABILITIES MINISTRIES will hold an SEC Picnic for people living with disabilities and friends July 18^th, 4-6pm, at Game Farm Park, 3030 R St, Auburn 98002, WA 98040. Dinner will be served, and everyone is welcome. Call (425)885-1006 or email enrichs@bridgemin.org for more information.

SALVATION ARMY CRAFT FAIR: The Salvation Army will be holding a huge craft fair on Saturday, June 26^th from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This is not only a great opportunity to buy crafts, but also to sell your own crafts. If interested in displaying our crafts for sale, register now by contacting Micki at 425-452-7300, ext. 203 or Micki.bizek@usw.salvationarmy.org. Table space is available for a minimum contribution of $45.00. A large community turnout is expected.

CLOSING PRAYER: Closing prayer was offered by Marilyn Rands of the Bellevue South Stake of the LDS Church.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.,

PROGRAM: Child Care Resources (Promoting equity for children, community stability and school readiness) and Vote on Proposed EISCC By-Laws Revision,

LOCATION: BRISTOL HALL, ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 4228 FACTORIA BOULEVARD SE, BELLEVUE (ACROSS FROM NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL)

Brian Anderson, EISCC Secretary