Advocacy Alert - September 2006
Community Forum on City Budget
The Seattle Human Services Coalition is hosting a community forum on the City of Seattle Budget issues on Monday, October 2nd from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Laurent Clerc Hall, 1609 - 19th Avenue (corner of Pine Street), Seattle. This gathering is to rally and educate human service providers, program participants, board members, religious leaders and other allies on budget issues.

For more information contact Julia Sterkovsky 206.325.7105
Download the SHSC budget position press release

Advocacy Alert - Summer 2006
Oppose the President's proposed cuts to human services
Background

The fight to stop the President's cuts is working! 
Please don't let up now.

Call your Representative toll-free at  800-459-1887  

"Please oppose any proposal that forces cuts in human needs programs by setting spending as low as the President's budget. Funding set this low is a direct threat to children, seniors, and working families who need food, housing, and education. Please support funding levels high enough to prevent cuts. Don't cut services to pay for tax giveaways to millionaires."

Your calls keep members of Congress holding firm!

Use the toll-free number above to reach the U.S. Capitol Switchboard and ask to be connected to your Representative's office. (The person at the switchboard can figure out who your Representative is if you're not sure).  When you're connected, please give the message above.  Say what's most important to you by selecting some or all of the examples in italics or mention other vital services of concern to you.

Background: Logjam in the House.  The U.S. House Representatives was unable to complete its budget resolution before the April recess in part because moderates could not support the deep cuts it required.  Now Congress is back, and they are still having difficulty putting together enough votes to pass a budget.  That is good news.

Don't let up now!  Even if the budget remains stuck, moderates will be under tremendous pressure to drop their objections to cutting nutrition, education, housing, and other vital services.  But if members of Congress hold firm, they can prevent harmful cuts.   

With or without a budget, Congress has to set total spending for all annually funded programs, with the Appropriations Committee then dividing up the total among defense, international, and domestic programs.  If they can't use the budget to set funding levels, the House may insert a total spending figure into the first appropriations bill they take up.  There are reports that the House leadership will try to take the total from the President's budget a figure so low it will force cuts in domestic programs like education, nutrition aid, housing, Head Start and job training.  These cuts were rejected in the Senate, and they are why House moderates have been opposing the House budget so far.  House members must continue to hear how important it is to reject cuts.

The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee.

Advocacy Alert - January & February 2006
Seattle Emergency Shelter
Background
SKCCH letter to City of Seattle regarding RFP
SKCCH letter to City of Seattle regarding shelter funding
Mayor's response
Councilmember Rasmussen's response