Report from the frontlines of social justice

Editor’s note: Cody Fenton-Robertson is a law school student at Seattle University. He spent this past summer interning with Solid Ground’s Family Assistance Program, which provides free legal assistance regarding public benefits. This account of his time with us is taken, with Cody’s permission, from SU’s Public Interest Law Foundation Journal Project website.

Cody

Cody Fenton-Robertson was one of two legal interns who worked alongside Family Assistance’s attorneys during summer 2012 to provide free legal assistance to people regarding public benefits. The interns at Solid Ground do much of the same work that the attorneys do: They conduct intake interviews, research issues, request and comb through discovery (i.e., material which may lead to admissible evidence), and represent clients in administrative hearings. Cody was extremely excited to have the opportunity to intern at Solid Ground because of his larger desire to work in public interest law and provide legal assistance to groups of people who have been marginalized by our society. The internship at Solid Ground also allowed Cody to gain experience working and communicating with clients, a skill that Cody believes to be invaluable to his future career goals.

June, 2012
Early on in my internship at Solid Ground, I discovered a single sentence in the Washington Administrative Code that killed a case I was working on. Because of this particular WAC, my client had no argument to make to prevent DSHS from cutting his family’s benefits. After discussing the case and my research with a supervising attorney, the attorney agreed with my analysis.

“Now you have to call the client and tell him that his case has no legal merit and that we will not be representing him in his fair hearing,” said my supervising attorney.

I knew coming into this internship that I would be working with people who were truly in a state of need and desperation. I did not realize how frequently I would have to tell people in such a state that there is nothing I or anyone else could do to help them.

On that particular day, it was not only my first time making such a call, but it was my first time calling a client through an interpreter service. My first attempt at calling the client was cut short when the client was dropped from the conference call. I tried again, and again found myself in a two-way call with only myself and the interpreter. Eventually I got both the client and an interpreter on the phone at the same time, and I told him the bad news.

Of course, he did not understand. He didn’t understand because the law does not make sense, and because the application of the law feels unfair. I empathized with him and apologized, and then I heard the interpreter apologize in my client’s language. I didn’t need the interpreter to understand the client’s last word before the conversation ended: “Okay.”

It was the sound of a man’s frustration at realizing his only choice was to accept the unfair answer. I thanked the interpreter and hung up the phone. I left the internship that day feeling defeated.

I want to work in public interest law because I want to help people. Before starting this internship, I didn’t realize how often that would entail telling people that I could not help them. For every five calls I get on our intake line, one, maybe two, are cases that our office can accept. The rest are cases that I either have to refer elsewhere or are cases where I can immediately tell there is no legal merit. Of the cases our office accepts, at least half of them turn out to be unwinnable once we get discovery from DSHS. If the case looks like there is legal merit, there is still the possibility that the ALJ will disagree.

It can be depressing to think about.

But even so, I have found this internship incredibly rewarding. Aside from the value derived from the immense amount of practical experience I am getting in speaking with clients and drafting letters to adverse parties and requesting discovery and conducting investigations of sorts, there is another kind of value to this internship. The clients are incredibly thankful. I have had clients call in and, after listening to their story and determining what their legal issue is, I have had to tell them there is nothing we can do and explain why. Even so, those clients have still been immensely thankful and just happy to have someone explain the reason behind what was happening.

So I guess one of the things I have taken from my internship at Solid Ground so far is that “helping people” has a broader definition than I originally thought. Sometimes helping can just be listening.

July, 2012
Opposing DSHS in fair hearings is a lot like playing blackjack with a dealer who can rewrite the rules as he likes. We can call out DSHS for cheating, but if we do it enough times, they will just rewrite the rules to make it so what they are doing is no longer cheating.

The Washington Administrative Code states that DSHS must supply a petitioner with his or her hearing packet (the evidence being used against them) no later than five days before their hearing. Time and time again, this rule is broken. Pro se litigants are given their hearing packets as they step into the hearing, and they have no idea that they were supposed to get the evidence days earlier, or that they have a right to ask for a continuance. Instead, they go through the hearing without any knowledge of the laws or evidence being used to deny or terminate the benefits they rely on to survive. It is truly infuriating.

This summer, our office at Solid Ground has adopted a new policy: We are no longer smiling and being friendly while the DSHS hearing representatives break the law in ways that are prejudicial to our clients. We have begun aggressively filing motions to compel discovery and holding prehearing conferences with ALJs in order to get DSHS’s misbehavior on the record. We want the Office of Administrative Hearings to understand that if a client with representation has to make such aggressive gestures just to get the hearing packet that is required by law, then the 98% of petitioners who are appearing pro se have absolutely no chance at a “fair hearing.”

This new policy has allowed for me to gain some great experiences. I have written, argued, and won motions to compel discovery. I have been able to inconvenience the lives of people who seem to be bending backwards to incorrectly apply the law and break the rules. However, our office is working under a constant fear. If we make too big a stink, if we make DSHS work too hard, the department might just rewrite the rules. The department will amend the WAC to say that that the department does not owe our clients discovery until 30 minutes before the hearing.

So there is a tightrope we are walking. We want to stir up enough dust to encourage a change in behavior, but not enough dust to catch Olympia’s attention.

Meanwhile, my caseload has expanded to over 20 cases. I have a hearing next week that I have yet to get discovery for (surprise, surprise), and a massive hearing the week after that I have been preparing for nonstop for the past week.

This work is infuriating, frustrating, never-ending, and I really enjoy it.

Tenant Tip: Housing barriers for people living with disabilities

Editor’s note: This post was submitted by Jennifer Valente, a case manager with Solid Ground’s Homeless Prevention Programs. Thanks also to Jeanne Winner for her help with the article.

Imagine, you have just lost your housing – not to any fault of your own, you’ve been an excellent tenant – but your apartment is being renovated. You are wheelchair bound, you have no family or friends to help you, and you’re out of resources. You need housing immediately. As a last resort, you call King County 2.1.1 and are directed to Solid Ground’s Housing Stabilization Services program. You ask for help.

Basic knowledge of social services would lead one to believe, to hope even, that between the many Fair Housing Laws and benefits of the Americans with Disabilities Act, someone in the above situation would have a number of options available to them – that they would not end up in this predicament.

Unfortunately the above scenario is far too common, and the case managers with Housing Stabilization Services at Solid Ground are often faced with trying to help clients secure housing against unfavorable odds. Specifically with regard to handicap-accessible apartments, it is not that suitable apartments do not exist – but there are too few to support the growing demand, and long waiting lists act as barriers for those in urgent need. Clients too often hear the words, “Sorry, but…” and grow frustrated and discouraged.

Indeed, an October 2011 press release describes testing that confirms discrimination does exist for people living with disabilities (as well as for African Americans) in far higher percentages than expected, and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights is taking action by prosecuting six property owners. The release states that more than half of all properties recently tested showed evidence of illegal housing discrimination.

While the battle against discrimination is ongoing, Solid Ground is committed to being an ally to those in need. By acting as a resource hub to current and prospective tenants and providing direct case management to clients like the one above, Solid Ground serves as an advocate and friend to individuals and families who have nowhere else to turn and may otherwise end up in shelters or on the streets.

Cooking Matters: Learning about Ramadan

Janna dePorter is an AmeriCorps/VISTA Member doing a year of service with Solid Ground’s Cooking Matters program, which provides classes on nutrition, healthy cooking and food budgeting for people at risk of hunger and malnutrition. This post is adapted from the Cooking Matters Seattle blog.

Ramadan 2011 runs from August 1st to the 30th

The sun is finally out to stay and I’m extremely happy. It’s finally summer! Things are beginning to slow down here at the office as summer classes come to an end and fall classes have yet to begin. We’ve had Cooking Matters classes all over the city and beyond. Claire Leamy, Cooking Matters Supervisor, has been doing a kids’ class down at Marra Farm using the fresh produce that has been grown there. Emily Gordon, Cooking Matters Program Coordinator,  just did a kids’ class series in one week while they were in summer camp. I’ve been doing family and adult classes both north and south of the city.

By doing classes with people from all over the King County area, we are exposed to a variety of cultures, languages and religious practices. It’s wonderful to see how different people live and eat and to see the many ways that health can be achieved.

Ramadan began yesterday and has had an impact on our classes. Ramadan is the Islamic holiday that occurs during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast from food and drink during daylight hours and break the fast each evening once the sun has gone down. You can imagine the impact that has had on some of our classes! The majority of our classes occur during daylight hours, so practicing Muslims are unable to eat during our classes.

This has made me reflect on how important it is to be aware of the different practices and beliefs that exist in the world. For instance, many members of one of my classes told me that they would be unable to attend class because of Ramadan. I assumed that if we packed up the food we made in class for them that they would be able to still attend. It never occurred to me that they would be spending hours preparing for Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at sunset.

There is so much more to the month of Ramadan than the fast. There is a greater focus on prayer, charity and kindness to one another. The preparation of food for Iftar brings family together as members of the family make their contributions to the meal. As one girl in Claire’s class said, “We fast for a month to remember that there are poor people that don’t have enough to eat and that we are lucky to have enough.” What I missed about Ramadan was the greater implications it has on the participants beyond the food. So, happy Ramadan to all those celebrating and enjoy all of its aspects!

Brettler Family Place Grand Opening event Thursday April 7

Brettler Family Place

“Moving here is a dream come true,” said Joy Sparks, who along with her two children are among the first residents of the new 51-unit Brettler Family Place in Magnuson Park, which provides affordable, permanent housing with support services for formerly homeless families. “It’s a beautiful place for me to raise my kids and get my life back together.”

While more than 30 families have already moved in to the apartments and townhouses built along the eastern edge of Magnuson Park by Solid Ground, friends and dignitaries will gather Thursday, April 6 from 5:30 – 7:30pm to celebrate the facility’s grand opening and dedicate the development’s community center in honor of former Governor Mike Lowry and his wife. Lowry was one of the principal sponsors of the McKinney-Vento Act, which provides Federal funding to homeless services.

Please join us!

Among those scheduled to speak (program begins at 6pm) are:
•    Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn
•    Washington State Speaker Frank Chopp
•    Dan and Cindy Brettler of the Brettler Family Foundation
•    Former Governor Mike Lowry
•    Brettler Family Place Resident Joy Sparks

Townhouses, views to Lake Washington

Brettler Family Place was developed in the housing zone established in 1997 in Magnuson Park when the City took over Naval Station Puget Sound. Initially, homeless people were housed in 94 units in renovated Navy buildings. Since 2000, more than 2,000 homeless people have lived in transitional housing at Sand Point, and about 90% of the residents have moved on to permanent housing.

The new facilities are permanent housing made affordable through facilities-based Section 8 funding, which means that residents pay 30% of their adjusted family income for the two-, three- and four-bedroom units. Solid Ground plans to develop another 54 units, 20 for families and 34 for single men and women, including veterans, seniors and people living with disabilities. When complete, the Sand Point Housing zone will comprise 200 units.

Residents at Brettler Family Place can take advantage of onsite case management services to help them continue to make progress on their goals. Children’s programs and community events will be organized in the Lowry Community Center, a separate building in the center of the complex that also houses support staff offices.

“New housing at Sand Point fits right into the goals of the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness,” said Dan Brettler, CEO of Car Toys, and co-chair of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County. “It’s fantastic to see Solid Ground doing more to help our community end homelessness.”

We are still about $515,000 in private funds shy of realizing our goal for the final stage of construction. If you are interested in donating, contact Ali Freidman: alif@solid-ground.org.

Hope to see you at the celebration on 4/7!

Tenant Tip: Dealing with mold

Condensation can lead to mold

According the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is two-to-five times more polluted than outdoor air. We spend 90% of our time indoors where we breathe in many harmful particles, including
mold. As the rainy season continues in the Northwest, moisture accumulation supports mold growth.

Molds are very common outdoors and, to some extent, mold spores are unavoidable indoors, as they spread easily. Mold can cause severe damage to the structure of a building. Rental units, especially those with structural damage that trap moisture and enable mold growth, may become substandard living conditions.

Bringing up mold issues with your landlord
Oftentimes when tenants raise the issue of mold, they are concerned that their landlord will hold them responsible for creating excess moisture and causing mold to accumulate. For instance the landlord may allege that the tenant has not run the bathroom fan, or not turned the heat on in their unit. However, mold caused by structural damages such as leaks and other moisture issues can be addressed in the form of a repair request to the landlord.

The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act mentions mold in RCW 59.18.060. The law requires landlords to provide tenants information at the beginning of the tenancy with the most current information the Department of Health has about the health risks associated with mold. This information can be handed to a tenant or posted in common areas.

As many tenants know, having the information does not directly address the issue of mold, especially in serious repair situations where mold growth is a result of flooding, leaks, or other repair issues that are causing moisture problems in a unit.

By sending a repair request in writing (certified or regular mail; keep a copy for your records), a tenant can notify the landlord promptly about the mold issue. In time-sensitive situations where severe moisture persists in the unit – due to flooding  for example – a tenant may need to first call the landlord to notify them as quickly as possible and also send the notification in writing. RCW 59.18.070 describes the timeline requirements for the landlord to begin repairs. The EPA recommends that flood cleanup begin within 24-48 hours. Mold needs a moisture source to grow; therefore, if cleanup isn’t handled promptly or the area has not been completely dried, mold will continue to grow and can cause structural damage.

Tenants can send a repair request in writing about other repair issues such as: plumbing and leaky pipes, bathroom fan not working properly, drafty windows, gutter problems, water in basement, and other moisture problems that can encourage mold growth if not addressed. Substandard housing may have other moisture sources such as water seeping in rather than sloping away from the house, which can be an issue with the foundation of the building.

Tenants who live in basement units face additional challenges with persistent mold. Basement floors are most often concrete, which is very porous – and basements also tend to be much cooler – hence moisture collects and is very difficult to control. If repairs are not addressed, tenants can take pictures of the mold to document it. When you take the photo, hold a current newspaper up in the picture to show the date the photos were taken. This documentation can be helpful when moving out – especially if the landlord is withholding the tenant’s deposit or trying to charge the tenant for damages due to mold.

Mold can cause many health issues, especially for those who are sensitive to it or have respiratory problems such as asthma. Health effects can be so severe as to require hospitalization, missed days of work and other severe complications. Tenants can consult with an attorney to address cost and health damages they may have accrued. Contact the Tenant Services Hotline (206.694.67667) and refer to our website for more information on repairs and other topics related to your tenancy, as well as referrals to legal aid services and other community resources. Tenants may want to contact their local Department of Public Health for further information about the health risks of mold.

Moisture control 
Tenants can decrease the relative humidity inside their homes and maintain it between 30-60% by ventilating and heating. Seattle residents can contact the American Lung Association for a FREE indoor air quality assessment in order to address issues such as mold and other indoor air pollutants. For those outside the city limits, this service may still be accessible through volunteer services.

For tenants who have concerns about black mold or are planning to have an indoor air/mold test in their homes, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Mold comes in many different shapes and colors.
• Wear protection, such as gloves and a face mask, when scrubbing mold off with soap and water.
• Spending money on air tests is up to each individual to decide; however, most mold tests will come out positive as almost every home has some mold spores.

Simply identifying that mold spores exist will not address the underlying problem of the moisture source. The key issue is to eliminate the moisture problem and keep the area dry to further prevent mold. Another common misconception is that it is best to use bleach to clean up mold. This might make the situation worse for those who are already sensitive to pollutants. Bleach will turn mold spores white but it will not eliminate them, and it does not address the real moisture problem. See the American Lung Association’s website for safe alternatives to bleach. Repairing structural damages, eliminating the moisture source, appropriate cleanup and maintaining a dry environment are crucial for a mold-free home.

For information about your rights as a tenant please see our Tenant Services website.

The information contained in this article or linked to on the Solid Ground Tenant Services website is for informational purposes only. Solid Ground makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to its website. Solid Ground cannot act as your attorney. Solid Ground makes no representations, expressed or implied, that the information contained in or linked to its website can or will be used or interpreted in any particular way by any governmental agency or court. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

A fond farewell, a fitting tribute

Talking up the campaign for Brettler Family Place

Today Solid Ground bids a fond farewell to Zanne Garland, our Individual Giving Manager. Zanne has pretty much revolutionized our fundraising approach and our ability to engage individuals, companies and groups in our work. She has more than doubled our Annual Campaign Revenues and helped raise the funds to build Brettler Family Place at Sand Point, which will provide permanent housing for 51 families starting later this Spring.

Those of you who have had the chance to get to know her will agree that Zanne is both a blast to spend time with and a rising star whose brilliance has graced our community for the four years she has been with us. She’ll have a positive impact wherever she goes; for the next few months, that will be traveling the world with her husband, Jackson.

In honor of Zanne’s great work at Solid Ground and in our community, Solid Ground has created the Zanne Garland Fund to support the completion of the Sand Point Housing Capital Campaign. Please consider honoring and carrying forth Zanne’s leadership and service with a gift to this fund. Click here for our Sand Point Capital Campaign donation page, and if you choose to make a gift to the Zanne Garland Fund, please specify that your gift is in honor of Zanne.

 

Brettler Family Place will open in a few weeks, providing permanent housing for 51 families!

 

Students submit bill for civil rights education

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Editor’s Note: One of Solid Ground’s staff members forwarded this note about the efforts of her 5th grade daughter, Kate, and her classmates to further education about civil rights and social justice. Makes you proud! She writes:

“My daughter is in a group at her school which studies the Civil Rights Movement and related topics during recess and lunch, and puts on an annual assembly. Their group is sponsoring a bill to encourage instruction in the history of civil rights in the state. The bill, SB 5174, is having a hearing today (before the Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee) and they are participating by teleconference.”

Here is the letter the students sent to committee Chair Rosemary McAuliffe:

Dear Senator McAuliffe,

We are the MLK group at Madrona K-8 school in Edmonds. Our group formed in December 2009 to create an assembly for our school. Since then, our group has expanded. In learning about the Civil Rights movement, we researched Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement, and we watched the movie of the Children’s march in Birmingham, AL. Then we listened to his “I Have a Dream” speech, and we wrote our own speeches and decided which ones would go into our play. Next we made a play with a news broadcast, and we shared this with the whole school at an assembly in Dr. King’s honor.

We took time outside of class to make this all happen, and we are sponsoring SB 5174 [Encouraging instruction in the history of Civil Rights].

Senator Chase introduced SB 5174 for us because we want to make sure kids know how to treat other people. We believe that people should know who changed the segregation laws in our country. We think we are lucky that we live in this time, and we have freedoms here. We think it is important to learn about places and times that don’t have the freedoms we share. If people don’t learn about the Civil Rights movement, people could take it for granted. This might lead to the same things happening again. We also learned that kids can make a difference, and we want other kids to know they can, too.

We would like a hearing for this bill and the opportunity to testify. If for some reason the hearing is at a time we can’t attend, we would like to watch it on TVW or perhaps a remote connection to the committee hearing from our school or Edmonds City Hall.

~Signed, Madrona School MLK Group, Judi MacRae, advisor,
and 32 4th through 6th graders

The bill would encourage school districts to “prepare and conduct a program at least once a year to commemorate the history of civil rights in our nation … and the importance of the fundamental principle and promise of equality in our nation’s Constitution.”

Tenant Tip: privacy

You have repairs that need to be made in your unit and you notify the landlord in writing. After receiving the notice, when should the landlord enter the unit and start repairs? How far in advance is the landlord required to give you notice to enter? What if a tenant gives notice to move out and the landlord wants to stop by with a prospective tenant to show the unit? How do you address these and other privacy concerns as a tenant, and what obligations does your landlord have under the Residential Landlord Tenant Act?

Some of the most frequently asked questions on our Tenant Services Hotline are calls about privacy violations and landlords entering a unit without a tenant’s permission. This week’s tip will cover some of these concerns and provide some useful information in handling these situations. State Law (RCW 59.18.150) does not specifically discuss landlord entry into yards, sheds, or showing up and knocking on your door. It is a good idea to check your rental agreement to see if these situations are covered. You may want to speak with an attorney to see if there are legal issues that relate to these situations.

I’m in!

I'm in! Seattle Seahawks players tap this sign on the way from locker room to practice field as a reminder of the commitment it takes to succeed.

At Solid Ground we talk a lot about the importance of advocacy. We work to get you involved in the political process. We lobby for funding and initiatives that strengthen our community by providing equal opportunities to people living on low incomes.

We’ve cajoled you online and in our newsletters. We phone bank you and blast emails to get you to sign petitions, send cards to the legislature and phone the Governor. And our Statewide Poverty Action Network has supported folks with low incomes around the state in claiming their political voice and building their power in Olympia.

As Solid Ground’s Communications Manager, I’ve personally reached out to thousands of you to engage you in the political system. And while I’ve made my share of phone calls to elected officials and written and signed many petitions, I need to own up to something here. I’ve never made the trip to Olympia to meet one-on-one with the people who represent me in the Washington State Legislature.

But this year, I’m in! And you need to be in, too.

We’ve all heard about the crisis in the state budget. You can bet that corporate interests will be well represented in the state capitol, protecting their slice of the pie.

Like the much maligned Seattle Seahawks, folks who care about the fate of working class people in our communities are huge underdogs. We really need to fully commit to the cause this year. We need to commit our hearts and souls, our phone calls, letters and visits, if we are to to protect the very fabric of our community— the ability to protect and provide for the most vulnerable among us. To keep our Hawks metaphor alive: We need to Always Compete and put it all out on the field, if we are to have any chance to succeed.

People power!

So, Monday, January 17, I am celebrating Martin Luther King Day by tapping the “I’m In” touchstone and joining hundreds of other people in Olympia to lobby the Washington State Legislature to strengthen our communities by:

• Protecting people from foreclosure by implementing a foreclosure mediation process in the state. Foreclosure mediation would give homeowners an opportunity to sit down with their lender to discuss alternatives before losing their home and most valuable asset. Twenty-three other jurisdictions — state and municipalities — have some sort of mediation process to seek foreclosure alternatives. These programs have found that 60% of people participating in mediation avoid losing their homes.
• Supporting programs that will help people with low incomes build up their assets and create opportunities to prosper.
• Ensuring access to TANF, Disability Lifeline and other programs that help people maintain their dignity.

Join Poverty Action on the Capitol for MLK Day to advocate for the issues important to you and your community.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact Kate.

Transportation, breakfast & lunch, & interpretation are available. Children are welcome to join.

I’m in! Are you?

Tenant Tip: Fair Housing and your tenancy

Under the federal Fair Housing Act and local fair housing laws, housing providers must accommodate the needs of disabled applicants and tenants. A landlord or manager must reasonably adjust rules, procedures or services to give disabled tenants equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling unit or a common space. Housing providers must also allow disabled tenants to make reasonable modifications to their living unit or common areas at the tenant’s expense, if needed for them to live comfortably and safely in their units.

Housing providers cannot ask applicants or tenants whether they have a disability, ask for details about the condition, or ask to see medical records. If a person requests a reasonable accommodation or modification, a housing provider may ask for proof that the request will address the tenant’s disability needs. Upon request, the tenant should provide a letter from a healthcare practitioner verifying the person has a disability and requires the modification or accommodation. The nature of the disability does not have to be disclosed.

To clarify: “Requesting an accommodation means” that a tenant is requesting a rule change from the landlord due to disability.

Some common accommodations are: Requesting a service animal, having the lease printed in large print, moving to a different unit, allowing a personal care attendant and other requests based on the need of the tenant and the nature of the disability. If you are asking for a modification, it means you are asking to alter the physical state of the property, for example, asking to install handrails in the shower, a wheelchair ramp, or lever door handles and automatic door closers, just to name a few.

How to request a reasonable accommodation/modification from your landlord:

Submit your request to the landlord or property manager in writing and describe the accommodation you are requesting. A landlord may ask for verification of your disability, in which case you can provide a letter from a healthcare provider. Again, both letters do not need to disclose the nature of the disability, just the specifics of what accommodation or modification is needed in your case. The landlord may discuss this with you and may also suggest an alternate route to meet your needs.

You may also submit the request verbally, however submitting it in writing is beneficial so you have a record of the request. While discussing the logistics with the landlord, they may request that the tenant return the premises to their original state when they leave, unless the modifications will not interfere with the next tenant’s use and enjoyment of the premises.

Tenants can contact Solid Ground’s Tenant Services Hotline (206.694.6767; the hotline is answered only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 am – 4 pm)  and ask to receive a packet with information and sample letters on reasonable accommodations/modifications as well as to discuss their specific situation. More information, along with hours of operation, is listed on our website. General information about Fair Housing laws and regulations can be found here, where you’ll also find information about “protected classes,” which can help you understand how Fair Housing laws operate.

You can address questions about requests for reasonable accommodation and modification as well as any concerns you have if you feel you have been discriminated against by contacting one of these Fair Housing agencies to file a complaint or receive more information for your specific situation. If you are not sure which agency to contact, you can call the Tenant Hotline to receive information and referral to the appropriate agency in your area.

Legal disclaimer: The information contained in this post or linked to the Solid Ground Tenant Services website is for informational purposes only. Solid Ground makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to its website. Solid Ground cannot act as your attorney. Solid Ground makes no representations, expressed or implied, that the information contained in or linked to its website can or will be used or interpreted in any particular way by any governmental agency or court. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

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

Tenant Tip: Small Claims Court

This week’s tip includes some pointers to make the process of going to small claims court easier for tenants. Court can often be an intimidating place – whether you are there as a plaintiff or a defendant. However, by preparing yourself and becoming familiar with Small Claims Court, it can become less intimidating and relatively easy to use. You can read more complete details about Small Claims Court by following this link. This packet is a great source of information for anyone who is filing a lawsuit or has one filed against them.

What is Small Claims Court all about? Small Claims is a department of the District Court where you can sue, or be sued, for matters related to money only, not to exceed $5000.00. There are no attorneys present there, but you may have witnesses testify on your behalf. There is a small filing fee, generally under $40, that you need to pay to get started. Small Claims is usually a faster process than other courts. You do not have to be a U.S citizen in order to use Small Claims Court and there are often interpreting services available at your request. Before appearing in front of the judge, both parties are offered to resolve their matters through an optional mediation process at no additional cost.

Steps to take before going to court:

Salute to McCallum Print Group!

I wanted to let folks know about a significant supporter of Solid Ground. For four years we have benefited from an extremely generous relationship with McCallum Print Group. By the end of this year we will have received about a half million dollars in free printing since the relationship began. McCallum has given us the power to completely upgrade the look, feel and usefulness of countless outreach and program materials, from our Groundviews newsletter to the Lettuce Link Growing Guide, RSVP surveys to direct mail fundraisers.

This whole thing started in 2006 when co-owner, Terry Storms, and his wife, Janet Dindia, long-time donors to the agency, stepped forward to ask how they could do more. What began as a handful of print pieces promoting our name change from Fremont Public Association to Solid Ground has blossomed into a deep and ongoing commitment to our work.

It’s great when a company partners with a nonprofit to meet tangible needs that help us carry out our mission. But what is exceptional here is the extended length of time of their support and the unwavering ability to take on more jobs for us.

And all this has happened despite the fact that the economy has been brutal on the print industry over the past few years.

Every Fall, as we get into budgeting processes here at Solid Ground, I nervously reconnect with Terry to see if McCallum is able to continue their support. And while I tend to think if this in terms of all they do for us, Terry’s response makes it clear that this is not a one-way relationship:

“As I have said in the past, it gives us great satisfaction to know that we have made a difference to Solid Ground. Everyone we have come in contact with from Solid Ground has been incredibly gracious and appreciative for our efforts. And yes, the economy has had a major impact on our industry, but as long as you’ll have us, we’re planning on continuing our relationship with Solid Ground.”

“As long as you’ll have us,” he said. I love that.

So, with a sigh of relief, I’m happy to let all friends of Solid Ground know that we can continue to look forward to the benefit of top-notch printing and service from Terry and all the good people at McCallum. While we work most closely with Terry and his assistant, Jean Williams, we know that there is equal commitment from the receptionists, press operators, delivery folks and everyone else there. Many of them have become volunteers or donors. A few have likely come to our programs for assistance. All are our family.

Chard, tomatoes and blackberry bramble

Our good friends at the Urban Farm Hub posted this great profile on Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link coordinator, Michelle Bates-Benetua. Since 1988, Lettuce Link has connected people in need in the Seattle area with fresh organic produce and the information they need to grow their own nutritious food. Michelle is a leader in our local sustainable food movement.

Michelle Bates-Benetua and farmer Sue McGann

Words from the front: a legislative report from Olympia

(Editor: Peter Zimmerman is a citizen advocate on housing, GAU and other issues affecting people living on low incomes. He took six lobbying trips to Olympia this session and continues to work on critical issues. This is his latest legislative report.)

I’ve been working on trying to get people who are low-income, below poverty level, enthusiastic about calling officials and getting involved in the legislative process. Because, you know, the axe is coming down pretty quick. Another week or so in the session, so we’ll see how much gets cut. It doesn’t look good right now.

The Governor seems to think there is a chance we will get some federal money for the Basic Health and the GAU grants. I don’t know. A lot of people are going to get their GAU cut.

The feel from Olympia that I got, and this is my own personal opinion, was it’s almost like two kids on either side of a ditch throwing rocks at each other, and they forget, they almost get so engrossed in the rock fight, that they forget what they are fighting about.

Unfortunately the (anti-revenue) Tea Party has been getting all kinds of airplay in the media. That is a shame, because that is just one side of the issue.

I am trying to think positive, but my deep-seated sense of reality is not doing so well.

There is still time to weigh in on critical legislation. Everyone should call their state reps and senators at 1-800-562-6000 and tell them to support adding revenues to the budget to fund GAU. There’s more than 21,000 people in the state who will be left with nothing without it!

The tenant screening laws did not make it through the session but we got further this year than ever before. So, I am already thinking about next year! We’ve located a few chinks in the armor and we are going to work on those. We actually got farther than ever this year, pulling members of the House and the Senate out of session to talk to them. We got a lot more dialogue going out of committee.

Solid Ground helped more than 58,000 in 2009 to overcome poverty

Solid Ground has just released its 2009 statistical snapshot of the folks we serve and our impact in helping them overcome homelessness, hunger and other attributes of poverty. You can see the document here:

Who Solid Ground Served 2009

For those who are familiar with this report from past years, you’ll note a drastic increase in the number of people served (about 20,000 more than last year!). This is due to a number of factors: expanded programming to respond to increased community need during the Great Recession, more accurate data collection and, most significantly, a large expansion in the number of Access routes our Seattle Personal Transit program handles via its contract with Metro.

The report also gives some snapshot information about the racial and language diversity represented by the people who come to Solid Ground.

Honor the Presidents by getting involved!

What better way to celebrate President’s Day than with meaningful civic engagement?!

Rally to protect our economic future, THIS MONDAY FEBRUARY 15th.

Our communities thrive when all people can meet their basic needs and have opportunities to prosper. During the worst economic crisis in modern history, our state should continue to provide resources for Washington families as they struggle to weather the recession.

Last year, the Washington State legislature passed a devastating all-cuts budget that left 40,000 new people without healthcare, cut services for seniors and people with disabilities, and caused tuition hikes to our state’s community colleges and universities.

We can’t afford another all-cuts budget. Your lawmakers must hear from you! They need to hear that YOU want them to explore revenue options to help us create jobs and opportunities, protect our most vulnerable and build a secure economic future for our state.

Join Poverty Action and Solid Ground for a rally at NOON in Olympia on Monday, February 15. We must protect our economic future!

Turning homeless people away

Not Cool: Solid Ground has a great track record with the people we serve, supporting them in reaching their goals for stable housing, managing nutrition, and making a better life. But what about the folks we turn away?

In 2009, our Family Shelter program served 108 families (399 individuals) and turned away 5,839 requests for shelter. 804 requests were denied in July 2009 alone!

In 2009, our Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing program turned away 5,658 requests for shelter from women and their kids, the majority of whom are fleeing from domestic violence.

Our Sand Point Family Housing does not track turnaways, but the other turnaway numbers could be combined to make this general statement:

In 2009, Solid Ground Housing programs were forced to turn away more than 10,000 requests for shelter.

We are careful to phrase this as “requests for shelter” were turned away, because we do not have the ability to verify if the requests are unduplicated. So, while it would not be accurate to say that 10,000 households were turned away, it would certainly be fair to say that however you analyze the number, it reflects WAY TOO MANY people for whom there is no room at the inn.

Solid Ground is just one provider of emergency shelter and transitional housing in our community. You can bet the various programs at the Y, CCS, DESC and everyone else is turning folks away at similar rates.

Clearly our community needs to find a way to do more to respond to the entrenched epidemic that is homelessness.

Nurturing urban agriculture

The City of Seattle has declared 2010 “The Year of Urban Agriculture” and launched a year-long series of public events yesterday, starting with a day of activities with one of the gurus of urban ag, Will Allen of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Growing Power.

Will Allen & Lettuce Link's Michelle Bates-Benetua at Marra Farm

Allen, whom the NY Times described as a “farmer of Bunyanesque proportions,” is a man with his hands deep in the soil, a gentle giant and 2008 MacArthur Genius Award winner who has come into a national leadership role in the movement for food justice. 

Our partners at Lettuce Link posted this report of his Seattle visit on their blog, Will Allen at Marra Farm, by Michelle Bates-Benetua, Lettuce Link Program Manager:

The Lettuce Link crew and a few long-time volunteers got to show off our Giving Garden at Marra Farm yesterday to Will Allen! Will is founder of Growing Power, recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award and a long-admired hero of mine. There are so few real-life heroes in this world that I don’t take that word lightly. He has shown the world a model of urban agriculture that feeds people, engages the community, creates jobs and transforms the lives of children and youth.   

Funding for interpreters for DSHS clients at risk

Our good friend Lauren Berkowitz, an organizer with Washington Federation of State Employees, reports:

The governor, with DSHS’ suggestion, has proposed eliminating funding for medical and social service interpreter services. As of July. Can you imagine a Washington state that doesn’t fund interpreters for DSHS clients?

Put simply, this is wrong. Denying access to medical care because of language is a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The only way around it is for doctors not to take Medicaid clients. How could this possibly save the state money when it means that people will have to go to the ER for everything simply because the ER will have interpreters while the doctors and clinics will not?

Seven hundred (and growing!) interpreters from across the state have come together to save the funding and fix the system. They’ve come up with companion bills in the House and Senate that propose three things:

1) Save funding for interpreter services – make it a law that the state must provide them.