Songs for Shelter video

Local artist (^ Brian Prosser came to the Songs for Shelter benefit and drew some amazing images of the performers. We’ve taken the drawings and a few audio clips from the show and made a little video tribute to the performers. Enjoy!

Tenant Tip: Accessing legal services

Asserting your rights as a tenant often times may require the help of an attorney. Getting legal assistance can be costly, so we have listed legal services that are free of charge, as well as information on how to access these services. Before accessing legal assistance, tenants are encouraged to call Solid Ground’s Tenant Services Hotline first (206.694.6767 on Mon., Wed. & Fri. from 10:30am to 4:30pm) — or visit our Tenant Services website — in order to receive information about their rights as a tenant and attempt to resolve housing matters without the help of an attorney. For issues that may require consultation or the advice of an attorney, tenants who contact our hotline will be referred to legal assistance. Some of these services are listed below:

Neighborhood Legal Clinics—throughout King Co.
These clinics provide half an hour free with an attorney about any legal matter, not just housing issues. However, many attorneys at neighborhood clinics are well-versed in legal issues related to housing, as they receive a high number of tenants accessing their services. To find the nearest clinic location, go to their website.

Half an hour can go by very quickly when getting legal advice, so come prepared with the documents you would like reviewed and be prepared to describe your situation briefly, including the important details and questions you have for the attorneys. There are no income requirements, so any King County resident can access this service. Call 206.267.7070 to schedule an appointment with the closest clinic to you.

Legal Action Center
LAC provides information and legal advice to tenants facing housing issues such as deposit, repair issues, eviction, loss of Section 8 assistance, debt claims and other housing-related matters. This service is available to income-qualified Seattle residents only. You can reach Legal Action Center by calling 206.324.6890 to receive more information about income requirements and appointment availability.

Housing Justice Project
This is a free legal service for tenants facing eviction and other serious housing issues related to eviction. No appointment is required, as this is a walk-in service. Services are available at the King County Courthouse and the Kent Regional Justice Center, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 10:30am. If you need legal advice about an eviction issue or you have been served with a 3-day notice to pay or vacate as well as an Eviction Summons, you may access this service. Priority is given to tenants right before their scheduled eviction hearings, but tenants are also encouraged to access this service to get legal assistance with responding to the eviction papers and other related legal matters concerning eviction.

Seattle Location:
King County Courthouse
516 3rd Ave W
Seattle, WA 98104

The Seattle location offers additional appointments on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

Kent Location:
Regional Justice Center
401 4th Ave N
Kent, WA 98032

CLEAR—Northwest Justice Project
Provides free, non-criminal legal assistance to WA state residents over the phone — mainly for residents who do not reside in King County and are income-qualified. Call 1.888.201.1014, Monday through Friday, 9:15am to 12:15pm and Tuesday afternoons, 3:30pm to 6:15pm. More info on their website.

Other Legal Services:
Contact your local county bar association to receive information about other free legal services or low-cost attorneys who may be able to provide legal advice.

Washingtonlawhelp.org provides free legal information and self help materials.

Metro passes for seniors and disabled folks cost more

(Editor’s note: The following dispatch is from the pen of Patricia Ann, who works part-time with Solid Ground’s Volunteer Resources Department and lives on a limited income.)

Today, Robin Knudsen of Solid Ground’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) asked if I knew anything about the changes in King County Metro’s reduced fare passes for seniors and disabled folks. Evidently the Regional Reduced Fare Permit was being discontinued. One of the RSVP volunteers had asked her for information, and she asked me because she knew that I have a Regional Reduced Fare Permit. I had not heard, so I went online and found out that the Monthly/Annual Reduced pass is being replaced with the PugetPass, which will cost seniors and disabled folks $27 a month.

I am fortunate because I paid $3 for the permit and $99 for a full year of monthly passes instead of paying $18 a month, which would have totaled $216 a year. I was able to get the savings because I have a job and do not depend solely on my monthly SSDI check and because I have a credit card. My Reduced Fare Permit is yearly, ending in May. So, I will not have to pay the $27 per month until April. Many of my neighbors at Jefferson Terrace, a Seattle Housing Authority high-rise, are living on very low fixed incomes of $600 to $800 in Social Security payments with no cost of living increase for the third year in a row. This change will be a real hardship for them.

While it is true that the PugetPass will cost less than many other passes, what is missing from this is an understanding of exactly how much money many seniors and disabled folks are living on. An individual living on $700 a month ($8,400 a year) will pay $27 a month ($324 a year) or 3.8% of their income for bus transportation. The increase from $5.50 a month in 2007, to $9 a month in 2008, to $18 a month in 2010, to $27 a month in 2011 is a 409% increase in three years! Fixed incomes have not been rising accordingly!

RSVP’s low-income volunteers who cannot volunteer without transportation assistance will be most affected. RSVP provides partial mileage and bus pass reimbursement to these volunteers who need it the most. This change will stretch limited program resources further, affecting the volunteers’ ability to serve agencies such as Asian Counseling Referral Services (ACRS), Port of Seattle, congregate meal programs, adult day care programs and homeless shelters.

King County Metro Public Disclosure: 206.684.1005

Threats to food security for immigrants and refugees

(Editor: This post originally appeared on the Lettuce Link. blog, and was authored by our ace AmeriCorps member Amelia Swinton.)

Not Cool: Record numbers of Americans are going hungry. Forty-two million citizens and recent immigrants are currently receiving SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) due to persistent unemployment and rising food costs. And while $300 million in stimulus money has improved food security for those eligible for SNAP benefits, recent immigrants and refugees do not qualify for this crucial source of aid.

Thanks to the Washington’s State Food Assistance (SFA) program, those who meet the federal income criteria can receive look-alike benefits funded by the state. Formed in 1997 as a response to federal legislation that denied benefits to hungry people without permanent residency, SFA serves 14,000 people—including 1,300 children and 2,000 elders. Because immigrants must establish five years of residency before applying to SNAP, this important program tides them over while they build capacity and stability in a new place.

But this program is at risk. A dwindling state budget means severe cuts to all social service programs, and the Department of Social and Health Services has proposed that the Governor cut this program from her budget this spring. Without SFA, immigrant and refugee families would be stripped of their food security, further threatening the health and growth of their communities.

A coalition has developed that includes anti-poverty, anti-hunger, and immigrant rights organizations as well as community-based organizations of color. Leading this effort, the Children’s Alliance has made this issue one of their four legislative priorities during the upcoming session of the Washington legislature, which begins in early January. If you want to join the effort, contact their lobbyist, Jen Estroff. We’ll provide future opportunities to take a stance on this issue in support of healthy, food-full communities across our city.

Tenant Tip: Holiday resources can help prioritize paying rent

With the holidays around the corner and all the additional expenses added to your usual bills, it can be difficult at this time of year to prioritize how to best spend your money. For tenants, rent payment should be a priority. It may be possible to negotiate payment options with utility or phone companies, but it is crucial that your rent is paid on time to avoid possible late fees, or notices such as eviction. Since rent payment often takes the largest portion of financial funds, some tenants may want to access the following resources as other options for holiday celebrations to avoid additional spending. The following list is brief and restrictive to areas within King County. For more specific resources and information closest to where you are located, contact Community Information Line by dialing 2.1.1 or for alternate numbers based on the county you reside in – or you can go to this website. If you have used holiday resources and would like to add to the list below, please feel free to add your comments about services that may be of use to others.

The following resources provide basic information. It may be necessary to contact the agencies below for more information on income guidelines and eligibility requirements.

Holiday Resources for Toys/Gifts:

Hopelink-Shoreline
206.440.7300
For residents of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park area.

Queen Anne Help Line
206.282.1540
Restricted to residents with ZIP codes 98109 and 98119.

Auburn Food Bank
253.833.8925
ZIP codes 98001, 98002, 98047 and 98092.

Salvation Army
425.452.7300
Families with children living in ZIP codes 98004, 98005, 98006, 98007, 98008, 98011, 98027, 98029, 98033, 98034, 98040, 98052, 98053, 98054, 98072, 98074, 98075 and 98083.

Holiday Resources for Food Items/Gift Baskets:

Northwest Harvest
206.625.0755
Open to anyone with no requirements.
Walk in, Mondays, 9am-5pm, December 20 or December 22, 2010

University District Food Bank
206.523.7060
Resident in ZIP codes 98102, 98103, 98105, 98112, 98115 and 98125.
May also provide toys/gifts for families with children.

West Seattle Food Bank
206.932.9023
Serves ZIP codes 98106 (north of Roxbury), 98116, 98126 and 98136.
May deliver food to homes.

Multi-Service Center-Federal Way
253.838.6810
ZIP codes 98023, 98003, parts of 98001 and parts of 98032.
May also provide gifts for children younger than 14 years old.

Where to give to help families, vets and pets

Thanks to the generosity of people like you, all homeless families enrolled in Solid Ground housing programs have received gift cards and presents for their children through our Adopt-a-Family program. Together, we’ve made this season brighter for more than 250 families and 600 children and adults. At this time, we are no longer accepting holiday gift cards or presents, but we still are accepting donations to help homeless families locate and secure stable housing. Thank you!

In addition, there are a number of other programs accepting donations for families in need this winter. Below is just a sampling of ways that you can help. Please contact the organizations directly to learn more:

Project Share – Help Pay Electric Bills for Families in Need

Sponsored by Seattle City Light, 100% of your gift goes directly to people in need. For more information on Project Share call 206. 684.3000.

Mitzvah Month at Jewish Family Services

December is Mitzvah Month at Jewish Family Services. You can support the Give Hunger a Holiday program, the Jewish Family Services Food Bank, the Family Matters campaign and more.

Holiday Pet Food Drive Seattle Humane Society

Spread holiday cheer by helping to re-stock the shelves of the Seattle Humane Society food bank to help low-income seniors keep their pets. Drop-off barrels are located at Safeway stores and the Seattle Humane Society located in Bellevue.

The United Way of King County

The United Way of King County has compiled a list of 25 holiday programs seeking everything from cooked ham or turkey to pajamas and slippers benefiting veterans, homeless families, domestic violence survivors and more.

The Sharehouse

The Sharehouse makes every day a potential holiday by providing free furniture and household items to help folks moving from homelessness into stable housing. They need donations of good quality used furniture as well as financial support to keep this venerable but underfunded project alive. Each year, more than 75 families from Solid Ground’s JourneyHome program rely on The Sharehouse to help them get settled and stay stable.

The Seattle Foundation

Your gift of any amount will make a difference for families struggling in the aftermath of the recession. Choose from a number of funds to help prevent homelessness and hunger this winter.

Somali Community Services Coalition

Change the lives of refugee families in King County through a cash donation or an in-kind gift of books, computers, office/school supplies and other items to the Somali Community Services Coalition. Contact the Resources Development Coordinator Isaac Fuchs at 206. 431.5141 or isaac@somalicsc.org for more information.

Adopt-a-Refugee Family Program

The Refugee Women’s Alliance  connects sponsors from the community with families who can benefit from some extra support. Once connected, you will work independently with the family you adopt, at a level of personal and financial support that is comfortable for you, to help your adopted family meet their needs and achieve their goals. Contact Shannon Eberhart, Volunteer Coordinator, at 206. 721.0243 or Shannon@rewa.org.

New Beginnings

Download the holiday wish list benefiting mothers and children who are domestic violence survivors. Call 206.783.4520 if you have an idea or to check hours and location.

Anti-hunger crusader Billy Shore visits Solid Ground

SOS Executive Director Billy Shore chats with Claire Leamy, who directs the Cooking Matters program for Solid Ground

National anti-hunger leader Billy Shore just stopped by the Solid Ground offices to meet a few of our own anti-hunger crusaders and share some of his wisdom from 25 years of working to feed America. Shore is founder and executive director of the national organization Share Our Strength, which has partnered with Solid Ground programs for 17 years, including Cooking Matters (formerly Operation Frontline), Food Security for Children and others. Shore is in Seattle for an appearance tonight at Town Hall promoting his new book, The Imaginations of Unreasonable Men, about the quest to defeat malaria.

While hunger continues to grow (Seattle food banks served 75,000 unduplicated families this year, up 10% from the year before, and the third straight year of increases of 10% or higher!), Shore is optimistic: “the issue is not that we do not have solutions to these very difficult problems,” he said, the issue is making the solutions “affordable, sustainable and scalable.”

In addition to creating model programs and funding mechanisms that have been replicated in communities throughout the country, Shore is a vigorous advocate for utilizing the resources available through the federal government.

“I am hopeful by nature,” he said, “but this particular point in our nation’s history tests that a lot. One of the advantages that we have is that we are involved with a lot of programs that work.” While there is plenty of evidence of waste and fraud in government programs, the food programs Shore advocates for “are effective, change people’s lives and return (resources) back to the economy.” Shore specifically mentioned the school Summer Meals and School Breakfast programs, which have received bi-partisan support and funding from the federal government, but which states have not fully exploited. Money remains available to access these programs. “Even if the programs are cut somewhat, we are still far from the ceiling,” Shore said.

Songs for Shelter lineup

The lineup of performers for the Songs for Shelter benefit has just been announced and is below.

The show is Thursday Dec. 16 at Egan’s Ballard Jam House, 1707 NW Market Street from 7pm – 11pm. $10 suggested donation benefits Solid Ground programs serving homeless families.

Performers will play 15 minute sets:

Darren Smith performing at a previous Songs for Shelter show

7pm
Larry Murante
Eric Apoe
Danny Godinez
Darren Loucas

8pm
Darren Smith
Jen Busch
Sean, Tyler & Cort
Paul Benoit

9pm
Sean Kent
Mike Buchman
Jean Mann
JR

10pm
Jim Page
Annie O’Neill
Reggie Garrett
Rachel Harrington

Songs for Shelter – 12/16 benefit for housing services

The 5th Annual Songs for Shelter concert will be held Thursday, December 16 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Egan’s Ballard Jam House, 1707 NW Market Street in Ballard. Performers include internationally-known local artists Paul Benoit, Jim Page, Rachel Harrington, Eric Apoe, Larry Murante and other local favorites.

Suggested $10 donation will support programs serving homeless families at Solid Ground.

The concert series began as a CD release party for the  Songs for Shelter CD in 2005 (available on CD Baby). Paul Benoit, one of the musicians on that project, took on organizing annual encore events. This is the second time Songs for Shelter has been held at Egan’s. Over the life of the project more than $20,000 has been raised to help homeless families regain stability.

“We’ve had a blast doing these shows every year. The musicians feel honored to be contributing to such an important cause,” said Benoit.

The performers currently scheduled for the 12/16 show are:

• Jim Page
• Rachel Harrington
• Eric Apoe
• Larry Murante
• Reggie Garrett
• Danny Godinez
• Annie O’Neill
• Darren Loucas
• Jean Mann
• Darren Smith
• Jen Busch
• Sean Kent
• Will Dowd
• Mike Buchman
• Paul Benoit
• Sean Devine
• Hugh Sutton

The Difference between Guilt and Responsibility

In my growing awareness of power, privilege and oppression, I find that it is very important that I not only learn the difference between guilt and responsibility but that I also internalize that message and act on it. My own guilt about the legacy of racism paralyzes me as it does others in the racial justice movement. It does not serve me or anyone else in the pursuit of racial justice. Rather, when I can shift that attitude to one of taking responsibility for understanding racism, understanding my white privilege (the ways that I have received advantages as a white person), and taking action on causes that move us toward equity, then I can be part of real change. Tim Wise says it really well in the video below in response to the question, “Should white men feel guilty about racism?”

Solid Ground as an agency has made an explicit commitment to fight for racial justice and ending poverty. A part of that struggle has to be shedding our guilt and taking responsibility!

Detangling the Farm Bill – part 2 (a history)

Editor’s Note: The urban agriculture experts at Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program are detangling the federal Farm Bill in a series of posts. We are reposting Amelia Swinton’s post here to help get the word out.

Author’s Note: This is a macro-history of U.S. farm policy organized around the price and income support programs for farmers and conservation initiatives that have been retroactively labeled “farm bills.” Though nutrition assistance programs do account for more than half of our present Farm Bill’s budget, these are not the principle focus of this post.

Putting the "dust" in industrial farming

Our story picks up in 1933, when rural economies across the United States were caught in a downward spiral. Under conditions of extreme heat and drought, desperate farmers overworked land to squeeze out maximum yields, bringing prices down and further wrecking the land (to become the Dust Bowl). Recognizing that an unregulated market was depressing the rural sector, the Department of Agriculture proposed several safety nets to be funded by taxpayers under The Agricultural Adjustment Act (read: our very first farm bill). This act set a price floor for agricultural goods so that farmers were guaranteed fair pay for their products. It also set up a system to store grains so they wouldn’t flood the market and depress prices during harvest season. Finally, soil conservation policies funded farmers to leave land fallow and to protect finite groundwater reserves.

World War II brought enormous international demand for American food, and as market prices in the agricultural sector skyrocketed, conservation programs were abandoned to meet demand. However, the government’s main role was still to limit production and champion farming interests over big business — that is, until the 1970s and true industrialization of agriculture under the “get-big-or-get-out” mantra of Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz.

Deeming conservation policies anti-business, Butz ordered all arable land into production.  Skeptics remembered the Depression’s disastrous experience with overproduction, but Butz calmed fears through free trade agreements that opened foreign markets for the vast surpluses that American farmers were now generating. The food stamp program provided another avenue for the Department of Agriculture to unload the extras — onto the plates of hungry Americans.  Crop yields of the 70s truly dwarfed those of earlier eras thanks to noxious cocktails engineered by companies like Dow and Monsanto, who rerouted the chemicals they had produced for the Vietnam War onto American farmland. Retooled “subsidy” programs (funding from the government to make an industry economically viable) grew certain calories — namely corn and soy — cheaper than ever before. Meanwhile, funding for so-called “specialty crops” like fruits and vegetables remained minimal, and methods of cultivation devastated land and water systems. These subsidies continue to provide the animal feed to keep meat and dairy cheap and have spawned an era of foods largely processed from derivations of corn.  Small-scale, sustainable farmers are indebted and unsupported — and we’re losing them.

And so the curtain opens on the food landscape we see today. Congress authorized nearly $300 billion for the 2008 Farm Bill, which continues to favor industrial over sustainable farms, quantity over quality, and processed foods over whole ones. But at least it’s cheap, right?

Amidst compounding crises of diabetes, obesity, and environmental degradation, nearly everyone is paying dearly for low-cost food.  So next time, we ponder: Where exactly do those $300 billion go (and where do they not)??

Thanks for reading, and please consider supporting Lettuce Link this holiday season as we continue to envision a city with fresh, nourishing, and affordable food for all.

Lead in soil

Urban gardening and P-Patches have been on the rise in Seattle for quite some time. More and more city residents are enjoying the benefits of growing their own, fresh and local produce. In addition, community gardens benefit the environment, help address hunger and increased community volunteerism, to name just a few benefits. Safety has also become a concern especially in regards to the soil quality in the raised beds of many urban gardens. The following article from Science Daily.com addresses some of these concerns about lead levels in urban soils and prevention.

How lead gets into urban vegetable gardens