Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council Minutes

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.

PROGRAM: COMMUNITY COUNTS: QUALITY OF LIFE IN KING COUNTY—THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S TRACKING OF INDICATORS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH COMPARATIVE DATA FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.

Location:
Bristol Hall,
ST. Margaret's Episcopal Church
4228 Factorial Blvd. SE
Bellevue (Across from Newport High School).

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Lloyd Van Vactor at noon at St. Luke's Lutheran Church.

OPENING PRAYER: Sonneva Woods gave the opening reading.

SELF-INTRODUCTIONS: Self-introductions were made by 30 members andguests.

MINUTES: Minutes of the December 9, 2008 meeting were approved as distributed.

TREASURER'S REPORT: EISCC Treasurer Pat McDermott (pmcdermott@amnis.com) reported although year-end statements were not yet available, with $225,000 in cash and accounts receivable “everyone should feel good about EISCC and its programs. He also reported that an independent review of the financial statements will take place shortly and that EISCC dues statements will be going out this month. Yearly EISCC dues are $40 for member congregations and $25 for member agencies.

CONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS:
Congregations for the Homeless Director Steve Roberts (206-295-7803 or stever@cfhomeless.org) began his report by remembering EISCC member and CFH founding supporter Nadine Shannon, a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church where now we hold EISCC meetings. Steve reported that the CFH shelter is going strong, that the housing program has 20 men in permanent housing and that the program has received funding for an additional 18 permanent housing units. A new intern will be starting shortly as well to help provide case management services and grant money has been received that will enable CFH to hire an additional case manager.
CFH is looking for a 5 to 6 bedroom house that they can lease for a few years, perhaps up to ten. If you know of such a house, please let Steve know.

EISCC EMERGENCY SERVICES FUND REPORT: Hopelink's Jessica Ivey (425-943-7558 or jessicai@hope-link.org) presented a report of the EISCC Emergency Services Fund. This fund is composed of donations from EISCC member congregations, administered by Hopelink, that funds services that are not available through other Hopelink programs. For the period July 1 through December 31, 2008 the fund shows only a total of $183.00 donated by EISCC congregations. Jessica reported that she is quite confident that EISCC member congregations actually donated well in excess of this amount, but that donations made to Hopelink that do not specify Bellevue Emergency Services Fund on them, are not applied to this fund, but rather are directed to other Hopelink programs where there is need. Jessica asks that if your congregation made contributions that were intended for the EISCC Emergency Services Fund between July and December of 2008, they contact her at their earliest convenience. It is very important that Hopelink is able to show that they are being funded for these crucial services. Despite the small amount of money actually credited to the fund, a total of $7,839.50 was dispersed, serving 136 households or a total of 296 people:

This fund represents Hopelink's only undesignated funds and is vitally important to help struggling households with rent subsidies, bus tickets, utility bills and prescription drug expenses. Congregations seeking to refer individuals in need to the Bellevue Emergency Services Fund can call Jessica at 425-943-7558.
Congregations seeking to refer individuals in need to the Bellevue Emergency Services Fund can call Jessica at 425-943-7558.

Congregations seeking to refer individuals in need to the Bellevue Emergency Services Fund can call Jessica at 425-943-7558.

PROGRAM: THE SOPHIA WAY—SERVICES FOR EASTSIDE HOMELESS WOMEN:
A presentation was made by Sophia Way Executive Director, Helen Leuzzi (425-653-5893 or director@sophiaway.org).

The Sophia Way is dedicated to changing the lives of single homeless women in East King County providing a pathway from life on the street to life in a home of their own. Through providing life changing education, support and access to resources, the Sophia Way is dedicated to providing women in need with an opportunity to make life sustaining changes.

How Prevalent is Homelessness on the Eastside? According to the Committee to End Homelessness, since 2005 homelessness has decreased overall in King County, but has increased on the Eastside. Seventeen percent of all those single and homeless in King County reside on the Eastside. The Eastside YWCA has seen over 225 different women who are homeless since opening their Angeline's Eastside Women's Drop-in Center (which operates during the day) in December of 2006. Before the creation of the Sophia Way, there were no beds available on the Eastside for single homeless women.

Who are these women? They are people just like us who have been subjected to economic hardship, catastrophic illness, have mental health issues, addictions, have been victims of abuse, or have suffered profound personal loss. For most of these women, becoming homeless has meant living outside. Some spend nights in cars if they are fortunate to own one and are able to find a safe place where they are allowed to park. Others ride buses all night, if they are fortunate enough to have a pass ticket, while still others sleep and live wherever they can, for example in underbrush.

The Sophia Way is uniquely designed to provide education and resources to homeless single women while providing participants with a safe overnight environment. Applicants first meet with a case manager to determine and set goals. Once being accepted into the program, a participant enters the overnight educational program for supportive services, life skills training, and a safe place to stay. Upon completing the program, a participant continues to receive support from case manageme nt for us to two years while living independently in a subsidized apartment, preparing for a home of her own.

The Sophia Way offers women a structured path to independent women and is the only overnight program for single adult women in East King County. It operates as a part of the Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council, a 501(c)(3) organization.

There are currently 7 women in the program. The Sophia Way is currently funded to accommodate up to 8 women at a time.

• Making a tax-deductible donation
• Preparing a meal
• Sharing a talent
• Donating materials
• Toiletries
• Clothing
• Bedding

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
EISCC members may share announcements pertaining to their congregations/agencies. If you wish these announcements to appear in the minutes, please make them well in advance of any event that you are publicizing and to help insure accuracy please provide them in writing to the recording secretary. Among the announcements at the January 13, 2009 meeting:

THE EMERGENCY FEEDING PROGRAM: The Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle & King County is asking congregations to join them in their Winter Baby Food Drive. Your congregation's donations of jars of baby food (1st and 2nd foods only, please) will help ensure that struggling young families are able to provide vital nutrition to their young children. For more information, please contact Brian Anderson at 206-329-0300 or brian@emergencyfeeding.org or visit them on the web at www.emergencyfeeding.org.

LEGISLATIVE TABLING: Nancy Bent of Bellevue's First Congregational Church and the Bellevue Crop Walk shared information about a process called "legislative tabling." This is a way for congregations to examine a legislative issue that is pertinent to their mission and to voice their opinions to decision makers. Using this process, congregations:

1. Choose legislative issues
2. Set up a calendar of such issues
3. Prepare on a large poster key talking points regarding one specific issue at a time.
4. Provide postage paid postcards at table.
5. Provide name and address of particular politicians who are appropriate to connect with for that topic (i.e. local or state).
6. Encourage parishioners to write a postcard message in their own words regarding the issue. They may simply use talking points.
7. Ask congregation members to add organizations such as "member of Bellevue First Congregational . . ."(Legislators track when an organizations is writing to them as they realize where they are hearing one voice in a group there are others who are voters leaning in the same direction).
8. Mail postcards for participating congregation members (basket of completed cards).
9. Potentially put out a basket to collect a dollar to offset costs or postage.

ONE NIGHT COUNT: The 29th annual One Night Count of people who are homeless in King County will take place on Friday, January 30th at 1:30 am, (or very late Thursday night if you prefer) a few dozen volunteers will venture out to count the number of unsheltered homeless in Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to participate in the process of gathering data to better serve the homeless in our community and, ultimately, to use this information to end homelessness. Here's what to expect on the night of the count: