Free Holiday meals this weekend

Seasons Greetings! If you, your family, and/or someone you know are hungry this holiday season or are looking for a free place to have a holiday meal, there are many organizations throughout King County offering free meals this weekend that you might want attend.

Friday, December 23rd
St. James Cathedral Hall, 907 Columbia St, Seattle, WA, 98104; (206) 264 - 2091
Christmas Eve meal.
All are welcome!
Meal Service: Line up at 3:30 PM. Enter through the door on Columbia St. First come, first served.

Friday Feast – ROOTS
1415 NE 43rd Street, Seattle (alley entrance)
Traditional Christmas dinner
All are welcome!
Meal service: 5:30 – 7:00 PM

OPERATION: Sack Lunch
Meal Site: Outdoor meal Site, 6th and Columbia under freeway in parking lot.
All are welcome! No ID required.
Meal service: Breakfast 8:00 AM; Lunch 1:00 PM 3

Saturday, December 24th
Bread of Life Mission
97 South Main Street, Seattle 98104; (206) 682-3579
Individuals and families who are homeless are given priority.
Walk-ins welcome. It’s recommended to arrive early!
8:00 AM Breakfast, Dinner 6:00 PM

Sunday, December 25th
Shared Breakfast
First United Methodist Church of Seattle
180 Denny Way, Seattle, (206) 622 – 7278
All are welcome!
Meal Service: 8:00 – 9:00 AM

YWCA Angeline’s Center for Homeless Women
2030- 3rd Avenue, Seattle 98121; (206) 436-8650
Women ages 18 and older. No ID required.
Meal service: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
Arrive at 11:00 AM for meal ticket.

Blessed Sacrament Church
5050 8th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105; (206) 424-3020
Christmas meal.
All are welcome!
Meal Service: 12:00 – 2:00 PM

Community Lunch on Capitol Hill
Central Lutheran Church, 1710-11th Avenue, Seattle 98122; (206) 487-7247
All are welcome! No ID required.
Meal Service: 12:00 Noon.

Salvation Army – William Booth Center
811 Maynard Avenue South, Seattle 98104; (206) 621-0145
All are welcome!
Meal service: 12:00 – 1:15 PM

Union Gospel Mission, (206) 622-5177
318 – 2nd Avenue, Ext. South, Seattle 98104 (Corner of 2nd Ave. Ext. South and Washington)
Meal service: Breakfast - 7:15 AM.; Dinners - 4:15, 5:15, & 6:15 PM. (Spanish speaking service at 6:15 PM.) (IMPORTANT: all meals (breakfast and dinners) are preceded by a mandatory 30-minute chapel service. The 6:15 PM chapel service is in Spanish. Arrive early to obtain a meal ticket for entry to chapel/meal service.
All are welcome!

South Park Neighborhood Center 8201 10th Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98108 Christmas lunch.
All are welcome.
1:00 – 3:00 PM 4

Thai Siam Restaurant
8305-15th Avenue N.W., Seattle 98117; (206) 784-5465)
Anyone in need is invited to attend. No ID required, proof of need preferred. Meal service: 12:00 – 2:00 PM

Bread of Life Mission
97 South Main Street, Seattle 98104; (206) 682-3579
Individuals and families who are homeless are given priority.
Walk-ins welcome. It’s recommended to arrive early!
Dinner 6:00 PM

For questions or corrections to this list please contact Meals Partnership Coalition at (206) 957-3857. Happy Holidays!

Free Flu Vaccinations at Capitol Hill Walgreens, Saturday 12/17

Protect yourself and your family from flu. Get a free flu vaccine this Saturday, tomorrow at Walgreens in Capitol Hill from 10 to 6. Flu vaccinations will be available at no charge for people seven years of age and older who are uninsured and cannot afford to pay. It’s not too late to vaccinate and protect against the flu. Flu vaccine is recommended for everyone—especially children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with health problems like diabetes and heart disease. That’s, tomorrow Saturday, Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or until there is no more vaccine available) at Walgreens in Capitol Hill at 1531 Broadway (which is on Broadway & Pine) in Seattle. No appointments needed! Walgreens and Public Health – Seattle & King County are partnering to offer these free flu vaccinations tomorrow at Capitol Hill Walgreens. For more information visit kingcounty.gov/health/flu.
Stay healthy!

Toys for Tots: free toys for low-income families

If you or someone you know have children under 14 and receive benefits from DSHS such as food stamps or TANF, I want to let you know about Toys for Tots, a program which distributes free new toys as holiday gifts to needy children in the community. Toys for Tots in King County is again partnering with DSHS for its holiday toy distribution. Anyone in King County receiving any type of aid from DSHS is eligible to receive toys from the program for their children. You do not need to apply or pre-register. All you need to do is attend one of the distribution events. You may only receive toys once during the holiday season. Please bring your client ID number with you to the Toys for Tots distribution event, to save time. All distribution events are from 9am-3pm. Here is the schedule of distribution events for the 2011 Toys for Tots campaign:

Tue 12/13/11
LS Foursquare Church, 14434 NE 8th Street, Bellevue
Or King South CSO, 1313 W. Meeker St, Kent

Wed 12/14/11
King South CSO, 1313 W. Meeker St, Kent
Or King North CSO, 9600 College Way North, Seattle

Thu 12/15/11
White Center CSO, 9650 15th Ave SW, Seattle
Or Renton CSO, 500 S.W. 7th St, Renton

Mon 12/19/11
White Center CSO, 9650 15th Ave SW, Seattle
Or Belltown CSO, 2106 2nd Ave, Seattle

Tue 12/20/11
White Center CSO, 9650 15th Ave SW, Seattle
Or Rainier CSO, 3600 S. Graham Street, Seattle

Wed 12/21/11
First United Methodist Church, 100 N Street SE Auburn
Or Federal Way CSO, 616 348th St, Federal Way

Thu 12/22/11
Federal Way CSO, 616 348th St, Federal Way
Or Capitol Hill CSO, 1700 E. Cherry Street, Seattle

Remember all distribution events are from 9am-3pm.
For questions concerning toy distribution, please contact Gary Hartline at hartlgw@dshs.wa.gov or visit the King County Toys for Tots website.

Happy Holidays!

New CenturyLink Internet Basics subsidized internet program

Would you like to have high speed internet at home but can’t afford it? A new program from CenturyLink called Internet Basics offers high speed internet for $10/month, a laptop computer for $150, and free internet training, for people who receive benefits from DSHS, such as food stamps. The Internet Basics program was created because when CenturyLink acquired Qwest, the Federal Communications Commission signed off on the merger so long as CenturyLink agreed to help low-income households get online. This program is similar to the "Internet Essentials" program that Comcast launched in August, however many more people are eligible because CenturyLink’s eligibility requirement is only that you receive DSHS benefits, rather than Comcast's eligibility requirement of having a child who receives free school lunch.
Participants in the Internet Basics program will receive:
• Fast home Internet for just $9.95 a month + taxes and fees
• A low-cost netbook computer available at initial enrollment for just $150 + tax
• Access to free Internet training, in print or in person

Your household is eligible to participate if it meets all of the following criteria:
• Reside where CenturyLink offers Internet service
• Have not subscribed to CenturyLink Internet service within the last 90 days and are not a current CenturyLink Internet customer
• Do not have an overdue CenturyLink bill or unreturned equipment
Participate in any of the following DSHS programs: Food stamps (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), State Family Assistance, Refugee Assistance, Specific Medical Programs, DSHS Chore Services/COPES, Medicare Cost Share Programs
You must provide a copy of a program identification card or other social service agency documentation showing current participation for each program checked above.

Note that there is a one-time activation fee of $20. The download speed is up to 1.5 Mbps for $10 a month. Faster speeds are also available as part of the program, such as up to 7 Mbps for $15 a month or up to 12 Mbps for $20 a month. You must sign a 1 year contract to participate in the Internet Basics program. You must sign a 2 year contract in order to get the discounted $150 computer, and pay a $15 shipping and handling fee. If you cancel service before the end of the contract you will be charge a prorated early termination fee up to $200. The modem is free for one year, after which you will be charged a modem lease rate of $6 per month, or may purchase a modem for $100, plus $15 shipping and handling. If you cannot install the modem yourself, you will be charged a $50 installation fee for 1 computer or $100 for a networking installation of up to 5 computers. The first bill will include charges for the first full month of service billed in advance, prorated charges for service from the date of installation to bill date, and all one-time charges and fees. To apply for CenturyLink Internet Basics Call 1-866-541-3330 or visit their website centurylink.com/internetbasics.

Not sure whether to participate in CenturyLink Internet Basics or Comcast Internet Essentials? Here’s what we think: Both Comcast and CenturyLink offer 1.5 Mbps internet for $10 a month, and an optional computer for a $150. But, Comcast does not require a contract and there is no activation fee, no price increases after the first year, no installation fee, shipping and handling fees, or equipment rental fees. So Comcast is clearly the better deal, but only people with kids who receive free school lunch are eligible. Therefore we suggest that if you are eligible for Comcast Internet Essentials, chose their program, their number is 1-855-846-8376 and their website is internetessentials.com. But if you don’t have kids who get free school lunch, go with CenturyLink Internet Basics, as it is still a much better deal than full price internet service. Here is the Washington State Internet Basics Application.

America Hires Jobs Fair 11/22

If you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about The Hire America Jobs Fair on Tuesday the 22nd at ShoWare Center at 625 West James St, in Kent, from 10 to 3.

Congressman Dave Reichert (R-08) and Adam Smith (D-09) are hosting this bipartisan Jobs Fair. They have heard and understand the common request of local business leaders and job seekers alike: create an environment for economic growth and work across party lines to create jobs. Bringing local businesses and individual constituents together in one place is a great way to increase employment, improve the local economy, and gather feedback on how families are coping during these difficult economic times.

Be prepared to meet directly with employers. Have plenty of resumes! Over 50 employers will be there who are hiring in wide variety of fields and levels. Job Fairs provide the opportunity to connect face-to-face with recruiters who make hiring decisions and can help you network for other positions within a company.

The Confirmed Attending Businesses Are:
Aerotek, Allied Waste, American Seafoods Company, Applied Precision, ATT Wireless, Auburn Regional Medical Center, Auto-Chlor System, Boeing, Bonneville – KIRO/KTTH 770, City of Kent, Clover Park Technical College, Comcast, DeVry University, Eastern Washington University, Exotic Metals Forming Company, FastTrax, Genie Industries, Glacier Fish, Greyhound, Group Health Cooperative, Habitat for Humanity Helmets to Hardhats, Hire America’s Heroes, ITT Technical Institute - Seattle, Kelly Services, Kent Police Department, Kirkland Jail, Kismet Wholesale Fragrance, Lowe’s, Madden Industrial Service, Multicare, NAES, Operating Engineers Regional Training Program, Orion Industries, Port of Seattle, PROVAIL Fabrication Division, Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Electrical Apprenticeship, REI, Renton Technical College, Shining Ocean, Sound Transit, Society of Professional Engineering, Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), Starbucks, Technology Learning Group, Tully’s – Green Mountain Coffee, University of Washington, US Army Recruitment, VA Rehabilitation Services, Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation, Veteran Affairs, Vigor Industrial, WA State Troopers, WAANGJ9, Wal-Mart, Waste Management, Western Washington Masonry Trades, Work Source, and Workforce Development

Parking is free. There is a lot adjacent to the ShoWare Center, and there is a park and ride lot approximately 1 block west of the Event Center. Food and drink will be available throughout the event at concessions stands on the concourse of the ShoWare Center. If you have questions, please contact Kelley Goetz at (206) 275-3438, kelley.goetz@mail.house.gov, or Roel van der Lugt at (253) 593-6602,
roel.vanderlugt@mail.house.gov. The ShoWare Center is a five minute walk from buses and trains at Kent Station. The Sounder train’s South line serves the station during peak travel hours. Sound Transit Express route 566 makes frequent trips to Kent Station from Auburn, Renton and Bellevue.

That’s next Tuesday, November 22nd from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the ShoWare Center in Kent, 625 West James St., Kent, WA 98032, (253) 856-6777. THIS IS FREE AND THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. For more information and to spread the word, see the Jobs Fair Flyer. Good Luck!

Energy Assistance through LIHEAP & HELP

Hi, If you or someone you know are having difficulty paying for heat this winter and face living without heat, several programs are available to low income households to make home energy use more affordable, avoid shutoff of utility services during the winter, and maintain a warm and safe environment especially for the elderly, the disabled, and households with young children.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (or LIHEAP) is a federally funded program to help eligible low-income homeowners and renters meet their home heating needs. The program provides:

• Heating bill assistance up to $1000 annually
• Energy conservation education
• Dysfunctional heating system repair or replacement up to $5,000
• Broken or inoperable window repair or replacement up to $1,000

Another program, Puget Sound Energy’s HELP provides assistance with the cost of natural gas consumption to qualified Puget Sound Energy (PSE) natural gas customers with an account in their name or in the name of a member of their household. HELP Provides:

• Puget Sound Energy customers help with their home energy costs and
• Natural gas bill assistance up to $1000 annually

Both these programs do not require that your household have a disconnection notice or even overdue bills in order to be eligible. In Seattle energy assistance is administered by Central Area Motivation program (or CAMP), In South King County, The Multi-service center administers the program, and in North & East King County the program is through Hopelink. But no matter where you live, To apply for the program, you must call the automated Energy Assistance Appointment Line 1-800-348-7144 to schedule an appointment at one of the three participating agencies, determined by ZIP code. That’s 1-800-348-7144.

Stay warm this winter with assistance through LIHEAP and HELP.

CVM user survey

A couple UW masters of public affairs students are helping us to evaluate the Community Voice Mail program to identify any ways that it can improve and to make sure that it better suits your needs. We would also like to learn about your technology needs in general, as it relates to telephones, cell phones, computers, internet or anything else. If you would like to provide us with this feedback, please press 4 at the end of this message. Your responses could include things that you like about the community voice mail program, changes that you would make, and any other technology services that you would find beneficial. Your answers will be kept confidential. If you could participate in an interview with them, please leave your name and the best way to reach you. Thank you. Give us your feedback by pressing 4 now.

TANF/Disability Lifeline Cuts. Tell your story to Lawmakers.

Have you been affected by recent budget cuts to TANF or Disability Lifeline? Starting on November 1st, TANF and Disability Lifeline will undergo major changes. People who were receiving financial assistance through the Disability Lifeline - Unemployable program will no longer receive any cash assistance and TANF recipients will have to suffer another devastating cut to benefits. Unbelievably, even more cuts are expected to take place in the near future. Lawmakers need to hear about how these cuts are affecting you and your family! Poverty Action is a non-profit advocacy organization collecting personal stories in order to help lawmakers understand the real life struggles Washingtonians are facing. We cannot afford anymore cuts to vital programs we rely on. Contact Poverty Action to get involved. Share your story and sign up for their statewide SPEAK OUT community summits where you can get your questions answered about the recent changes to TANF and Disability Lifeline and learn how to get in touch with your legislators. Please call 1-866-789-7726 or go to povertyaction.org for more information or to take action.

Bellevue Community Resource Fair 10/28

If you or someone you know is in need of social services like employment, medical, energy, food, etc you might be interested in the Community Resource Fair on Wednesday November 2nd from 4 to 7 pm at Stevenson Elementary in Bellevue. The Community Resource Fair is Open to the community, and over 20 vendors will be there to provide assistance to families with energy assistance, employment, dental, medical information/appointments, after school programs, food assistance, DSHS information, and more…

Participating Agencies include:
YWCA
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Kindering
Bellevue Life Spring
SeaMar
Eastside Heritage Center
Main Stem Music
Washington State Dental Association
Chess 4 Life
Eastside Cultural Navigator Program
YMCA – Y-Tech
WorkSource, Redmond
King County Department of Health
Crossroads Community Center
HeadStart, Stevenson Elementary
Drama Kids
YMCA Youth Programs
Health Point
And more…

Registration is not required and all ages are welcome. That’s the Community Resource Fair on Wednesday, November 2nd, from 4-7pm At Stevenson Elementary in the School Gym at 14220 NE 8th Street in Bellevue. For more information contact Cecilia Martinez-Vasquez, 425-456-6040, martinezc@bsd405.org

Free Flu Vaccination 10/22

Keep yourself, family and friends healthy this winter. Get your free flu vaccine! King County Public Health is hosting a free flu vaccine clinic this Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Tukwila Community Center from 10am to 1pm. Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from flu.

Influenza spreads readily from person to person in schools, workplaces and homes. Everyone over 6 months of age should get the annual flu vaccine to prevent sickness, unnecessary healthcare visits, hospitalizations and deaths from influenza.

This year, a single flu vaccine provides protection against the H1N1 flu that caused outbreaks last year and 2 other flu viruses that are expected to cause illness this season. Protection lasts throughout the flu season. Limited doses of infant and preservative-free vaccine available. Interpreters available

Flu vaccine is good for people 6 months and older—especially children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with health problems like diabetes and heart disease. You will not be asked for proof of health insurance or citizenship. To save time at registration, download registration forms online at: kingcounty.gov/health/flu. And please share the vaccination clinic flyer.

That’s this Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Avenue South, in Tukwila. Bus route 150, 154, and 161.

Stay healthy.

Disability Lifeline Ends 11/1, New Housing & Essential Needs Program

Hi. Do you or someone you know receive Disability Lifeline or DL benefits, formerly know as GAU or GAX? As part of the most recent legislative session, the Washington State Legislature ended the Disability Lifeline (DL-U) cash grant. This means that as of November 1st people who were receiving financial assistance through the Disability Lifeline - Unemployable program will no longer receive any money. People will still receive medical care through a program called Medical Care Services (MCS). (People receiving DL-X will be transferred to the new ABD program, with no changes in their benefits.)

Starting in November, people enrolled in the Medical Care Services program will be eligible to receive rent and utility assistance through a new program called Housing and Essential Needs or HEN. Catholic Community Services is working in collaboration with King County and DSHS to distribute this money.
For more information, please contact Catholic Community Services HEN operators at 206-328-5755, or visit henkingcounty.org for detailed information about the program.

Day of Dignity & Bridging the Gap 10/1

Hi. If you or someone you know are in need of free clothes, hygiene supplies, healthcare or social services, I want to let you know about two events happening this Saturday October 1st: The Day of Dignity and Bridging the Gap.

The Day of Dignity is a day of giving to needy individuals in our community at the Millionair Club at 2515 Western Avenue this Saturday the 1st from 11AM to 2 PM. At the Day of Dignity they will be giving away the following items: lunch, hygiene kits, socks, gloves, beanies, rain ponchos hooded sweatshirts, hand sanitizer, pencils, paper, water and reusable bags. There will also be free health screening available from the UWs Al Shifa clinic. The day of dignity is a collaborative nationwide effort sponsored by Islamic Relief and local organizations working to assist those in need. For more information see the Day of Dignity national website.

Bridging the Gap is a resource fair, connecting you to the services you need! Services Featuring: Education, Job Training, Asset Building, Homeownership, Health Services Door Prizes and much more! Bridging the Gap is this Saturday the 1st from 10 AM to 2 PM at Renton Pavilion Event Center at 233 Burnett Ave. S in Renton. It is sponsored by the King County, Seattle and Renton Housing Authorities, The YWCA and the City of Renton. For more information see the Bridging the Gap flyer.

If you can benefit from the services offered, I hope you will be able to make it either The Day of Dignity at the Millionair Club from 11 to 2 or Bridging the Gap at the Renton Pavilion from 10 to 2 this Saturday October 1st.

WorkSource Hiring and Resource Fair 9/29

If you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about the WorkSource Hiring & Resource Fair next Thursday September 29th from 10 a.m. to 2 pm at WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle at 2024 3rd Avenue.

Bring your resume, dress professionally & be prepared to speak to company representatives. Also learn about other community job resources. Hundreds of positions available in: Manufacturing, Transportation & Material Handling, Food Service/Hospitality, Customer Services and more. The Job and Resource Fair will Feature:

ACSE
All Stars
Amtrak
Bright Horizons
Goodwill
Home Depot
ResCare Home care
Safeway
Sam’s Club
Seattle Public Utilities
YWCA Veterans outreach
& MORE

That’s the WorkSource Downtown Seattle Hiring & Resource Fair, Thursday the 29th from 10 to 2 at WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle (Located in YWCA Opportunity Place) at 2024 3rd Avenue on the 2nd Floor. To attend, sign up at the WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle front desk or call (206) 436-8600. Please spread the word by sharing or posting the fair flyer. Good Luck!

Healthcare Reform & You health fair 9/17

If you or someone you know need free health screening or information about how healthcare reform will effect you. I want to let you know about The Healthcare Reform and You health fair, this Saturday, September 17 from 9:30am-2:30pm at Everest College, in Renton (981 Powell Ave, SW, #200). FREE health screening & information about the healthcare reform law will be available. Organized by the Asian Pacific American Resource Network, in partnership with Everest College, Cornerstone Medical Services and DSHS Community Services.

There will be Free Health Screenings including:
• Blood Pressure
• BMI
• Chair Massage
• Dental Exam
• DSHS application assistance
• Chiropractic*
• Acupuncture*
• Medical Counseling*
• Pain management*
• Blood test*

*Certain services are only provided to those who are uninsured; first come, first served.

Health Reform Presentations are at 10 am and 1 pm

That’s Healthcare Reform and You, Saturday, September 17th from 9:30 to 2:30 at Everest College at 981 Powell Ave, SW #200, Renton, 98057 (Metro bus #140). Services will also be available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese and Hindi. This event is supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information call 425-917-9857 or E-mail chewonl@oic.wa.gov

Seattle Stand Down 9/15 SCCC

If you or someone you know is veteran and are homeless or at risk of homelessness, I want to let you know about the Seattle Stand Down next Thursday September 15th. Homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families will be offered a “hand up” with a variety of services provided at the first annual Seattle Stand Down on September 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Mitchell Activity Center on the campus of Seattle Central Community College, at 1718 Broadway.

Seattle Stand Down will provide many services such as medical and dental care, legal aid, employment services, housing resources, alcohol and drug counseling referrals, plus haircuts, showers, and personal hygiene items, free lunch and Community Voice Mail. Nearly 100 volunteers, including Seattle Mariner employees and the Moose, will be assisting throughout the day. Community partners include Seattle Central Community College, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, King County Veterans, United Way, Veterans of Foreign Wars and many other agencies and organizations.

That’s the Seattle Stand Down, next Thursday the 15th from 9 to 3 at The Seattle Central Community College Mitchell Activity Center at 1718 Broadway. Free parking will be available in the Harvard Garage, corner of E. Pine and Harvard. For more information, please call 206.934.5417 or visit seattlestanddown.com.

Rights of Homeless School Kids

(This is a nationwide broadcast message sent by CVM National in partnership with The National Center for Homeless Education)

Hi – This message is for parents of school-age children who may be experiencing homelessness. If you’re not interested in this message, press the 3 key now to delete it.

Did you know that if you are experiencing homelessness, your children can enroll in school even if you don’t have all their records, or that your children can remain in their same school even if you are temporarily staying at a place outside of the school zone or school district? The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that guarantees rights and services for school-aged children who are homeless. Every school district has a local homeless liaison who can help your children enroll and can link them with services to help them succeed in school. You should be able to find contact information for the local homeless liaison in the school district staff directory or by asking at your local school. If you have trouble contacting your local liaison or if you want more information on the McKinney-Vento Act, please call the toll-free Helpline number for the National Center for Homeless Education at 800-308-2145. Please tell the staff that you got this number from Community Voice Mail. Again, that number is 800-308-2145.

If you do have school age kids, we’d love to hear from you about how Community Voice Mail has helped you stay in touch with the teachers and staff at your local school. If you have any comments or stories to share about how CVM has helped you, please press 4 at the end of this message and leave us a message. We always love to hear from you.

Thanks for listening!

CVM client focus group 10/5

Greetings! We would like to hear from you about the community voice mail program. We are figuring out what our plan is for future, and want your input as users of this service. Such as what would you would like to change about Community Voice Mail, what your needs and demands are for communications technology, and what your experience has been with telephone assistance programs. We are having a focus group of CVM clients on Wednesday October 5th at 6 PM. Free dinner and childcare will be provided. If you would like to attend please call us at 206-694-6771 to RSVP, that’s 206-694-6771. About 15 people will be selected to participate in the focus group, who will be screened to insure a diverse group of participants. If you are selected to participate in the focus group, we will call you to let you know the location and details. If the focus group is successful we may expand it into a client advisory board. Thank you for your input.

New Lifeline cell phone programs: Assurance is still the best deal

You may have heard of some of the many options out there for subsidized cell phone service for low-income people known as Lifeline. There are now six options available. The newest one is YourTel Wireless which is offering a free phone and 250 free minutes a month. This program is similar to the Lifeline prepaid wireless programs Safelink and Assurance, which also offer 250 free minutes. Also T-mobile now has a Lifeline plan which offers 145 anytime minutes, 500 night minutes and 500 weekend minutes for $6.49. This is similar to the Lifeline plans through AT&T and Sprint. We want to let you know that Assurance Wireless is still the best deal for low income people to get a cell phone.

There are two types of Lifeline cellphone programs: prepaid and plans. The plans are 1 to 2 year contracts with the phone company, where they bill you every month for the services you use. We don’t recommend plans because they are more expensive and if you don’t have much money it is easy to get into debt with the phone company. If you go over your allotted minutes you will be charged overage fees for each additional minute (AT&T charges 15¢, Sprint charges 45¢, T-Mobile charges 25¢). You may also be charged extra if you use your phone outside of their coverage area (called roaming) or make calls to directory assistance. If you cannot afford to pay your bills they will send your bill to a collections agency.

Prepaid phones, also called ‘pay-as-you-go phones’ don’t require a long-term contract, monthly bills, or a credit check. SafeLink Wireless (from Tracfone), Assurance Wireless (from Virgin Mobile) and YourTel Wireless all offer a free phone, up to 250 free minutes every month, plus free voice mail, caller ID and call waiting. In the first few days of each month, your monthly allotment of free minutes will be added to your phone. If you use all your free minutes before the end of the month you will need to buy additional minutes, which can be purchased online, by phone and at retail stores on top-up cards. The main difference between these three programs is the cost of additional minutes: Extra minute packs through SafeLink add up to about 10¢ per minute, YourTel extra minute packs add up to about 5¢ per minute, while Assurance extra minute packs add up to about 2¢ per minute. Assurance extra minutes are available as either $5 for 250 extra minutes or $20 for 750 minutes and 1000 texts—only one extra minute pack may be added each month. Because Assurance wireless is pay-as-you-go and has the lowest rates for additional minutes this is the program we recommend.

It is important to note that to apply for a Lifeline phone you must provide a unique physical mailing address where no one else is receiving telephone assistance; they will not send the phone to an address that has already received one, (even if its from a different company) and won't send a phone to P.O. boxes or commercial addresses. So, you will not be eligible if you live in a shelter or other group housing situation where each resident doesn't have their own unique address, or if you live in a car or on the street.

To be eligible for either Lifeline program you must either receive DSHS benefits or your income must be below 135% of federal poverty level. The eligible benefits are Food Stamps, Medical Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, Disability Lifeline (or GAU), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, State Family Assistance, DSHS Chore Services, Refugee Assistance or Community Options Program Entry System. All these programs require a Social Security number to apply. To qualify based on program participation you must provide your DSHS client ID number, which can be found in the top right corner of any letter addressed to you from DSHS, from your case worker or by calling the statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-501-2233. To apply based on income your income must be below 1,225 dollars a month for a single person, 1,655 dollars a month for a family of 2, 2,085 dollars a month for a family of 3, 2,514 dollars a month for a family of 4, or 2,944 dollars a month for a family of 5, add 430 dollars a month for each additional family member. To qualify based on income, you will need to mail them documentation of your income: such as Federal or state tax return, current income statement or W2 from an employer, 3 consecutive months of current pay stubs, Social Security statement of benefits, Retirement or Pension benefits statement, Unemployment or Workers Comp statement of benefits, or other legal document that shows income.

Based on CVM’s analysis, Assurance Wireless is still the best deal overall for Lifeline cell phones, right now. To apply for Assurance call 1-800-395-2108 or print and mail their application from their website assurancewireless.com. But, we recommend that you still keep your CVM number, so you have a stable number where you can always be reached, even if you run out of minutes and can’t afford to buy more, or you loose or break your phone, and so you continue to receive our broadcast messages about community resources like this. Thanks for using Community Voice Mail.

YWCA Greenbridge Job & Resource Fair 8/31

If you or someone you know is looking for work or resources to help you find a job, I want to let you know about the YWCA Greenbridge Job & Resource Fair next Wednesday August 31st from 10 a.m. to 1 pm at YWCA Greenbridge Center at 9720 8th Ave SW in White Center.

Bring your resume and meet with over 20 employers. Also learn about other community job resources. The Job & Resource Fair will Feature:

Port of Seattle
Airport Jobs
U.S. Border Patrol
Sam’s Club
Equity Residential
YWCA FSS Program
King County Community & Technical Colleges
Taco Time
Express Credit Union
Safeway Inc.
King County Housing Authority
YWCA College Attainment Program
Kelly Services
WorkSource Veterans Representatives
ACS
Charlie’s Produce
Puget Sound Energy
Tracilynn Fashion Jewelry
Centro De La Raza - Veterans Coordinator
US Army
Seattle Jobs Initiative
First Student

And Community Voice Mail will even be there!

That’s The Greenbridge Job and Resource Fair, next Wednesday, August 31st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the YWCA Greenbridge Center at 9720 8th Ave SW in White Center. Call (206) 336-7000 for more information. Good Luck!

Free Preschool Programs

Do you or someone you know have a 4-year old child who is ready for preschool but you can’t afford it?

Your child might be eligible for free or reduced-cost programs!

Space is still available in Seattle Human Services Department’s Step Ahead and ECEAP preschools.

Seattle Step Ahead and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) still have free or reduced-cost spaces available for more than 600 children at 21 sites in southeast and southwest Seattle this school year.

To be eligible, a family must live in Seattle and have a child who will have turned 4 by August 31, 2011. For ECEAP, a family of four earning up to $24,585 per year is eligible, and for Step Ahead, a family of four earning up to just over $67,000 annually is eligible.

Step Ahead is funded by the Seattle Families and Education Levy, and ECEAP is funded by the State of Washington.

Make sure your 4-year-old gets ready for kindergarten — socially, academically, and physically.

Build a love of learning in your child that will last a lifetime.

Just call 206-386-1050 or e-mail comprehensivechildcare@seattle.gov. More information is also available here.

Comcast Internet Essentials subsidized internet program

Would your family like to have high speed internet at home but can’t afford it? A new program from Comcast called Internet Essentials offers high speed internet for $10/month, a laptop computer for $150, and free internet training, for families with children who receive free school lunch through the National School Lunch Program.

The Internet Essentials program was created because, when Comcast acquired NBC Universal in January, the Federal Communications Commission signed off on the merger so long as Comcast agreed to help low-income households get online.

Participants in the Internet Essentials program will receive:
• Fast home Internet for just $9.95 a month + tax.
• A low-cost netbook computer available at initial enrollment for just $149.99 + tax
• Access to free Internet training, online, in print and/or in the classroom
• Norton Security Suite online security software, and parental controls

The computer is optional, you do not have to get the computer to receive discounted internet service. If you chose to buy the $150 computer, they will send you a computer coupon, a list of eligible computers and a list of local stores that sell those computers and accept Comcast vouchers.

Comcast promises that there will be no price increases, no activation fees, or equipment rental fees.

With cable internet like Comcast Internet Essentials, your family should be able to do all the things they want to do online, like email, homework, sharing photos, job searches, paying bills, watching videos, downloading music and more. The download speed is up to 1.5 Mbps and upload speed is up to 384 Kbps.

Your household is eligible to participate if it meets all of the following criteria:
• You are located where Comcast offers Internet service—Comcast does offer internet in most of King County, when you apply for the program they can tell you whether their internet service is available at your address
• You have not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days
• You do not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment
• You have at least one child receiving free school lunches under the National School Lunch Program.

Children are eligible to receive free school lunch if their household income is below 130% of Federal Poverty Level, which amounts to monthly income of 1,594 for a family of two, 2008 dollars a month for a family of 3, $2,422 for a family of 4, $2,836 for a family of 5, $3,249 for a family of 6 (add $414 of monthly income for each additional family member). For more information on free lunch, see the National School Lunch Program website.

Customers will be accepted into the program for three full school years. Any household that qualifies during the next three school years will remain eligible for the program as long as a child eligible for a free school lunch is still living in the household. To participate in Internet Essentials, you must verify that your child is currently certified to receive free school lunches by providing a copy of this year’s acceptance letter or other document from your child’s school or school district demonstrating free-lunch status at their school. You will need to recertify your child’s school enrollment each year to continue to participate in Internet Essentials and receive a discounted Internet service rate.

Starting this school year, families may sign up for Internet Essentials by calling 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376). Note that an application is not available publicly, you must call Comcast to request an application. When you call, they will verify your eligibility and then mail you a customized application to your address, which only you can use. If your application is approved they will send you an acceptance letter with instructions on how to get your internet service set up. For more information call 1-855-846-8376 or visit their website InternetEssentials.com.

Health Center Week 8/7-13

Next week, August 7-13 is National Health Center Week which recognizes the service and contributions of Community, Migrant, Homeless and Public Housing Health Centers in providing access to affordable, high quality, cost-effective health care to medically vulnerable and underserved people in the U.S. America's Health Centers now serve over 20 million people (including nearly 1 million people who are homeless) in 7,000 communities in all 50 states including Seattle. Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income.

Every day next week Sea Mar Community Health Centers is hosting free health fairs for National Health Center Week from 8am to 5pm at their Medical Clinic in South Seattle at 8720 14th Ave. South.

• Monday the 8th is Blood Pressure & Body Mass Index Check day with Medical consultation and individual Health Education sessions
• Tuesday the 9th is Behavioral Health and Chronic Care Day. Therapists and Chronic Care Coordinators will be speaking to patients about Mental Health/Behavioral Health and Chronic Care Health Issues
• Wednesday the 10th is Clinic Social Worker day & Managed Care support, (our Clinic Social Worker will provide community resources to patients) and Customer Service Representatives will assist with prescription needs, State Insurance info, etc...
• Thursday the 11th is Lab, Medical Consultations and Mammogram Day. Cholesterol & AccuChecks will be offered. Also Mammograms will be provided on site, this is in conjunction with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Assured Imaging Women’s Wellness of Washington and King County Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program!
• Friday the 12th is Getting Ready to go back to school Day. Free school supply donations will be provided by local retail outlets and Community Health Plan of Washington.
• And Saturday the 13th is Well-Child Checks and Immunizations Day. This is for all ages, from new-born to seniors. It is common knowledge that there is an emphasis to vaccinate children, however; there are age and gender specific vaccines throughout the life cycle.

That’s National Health Center Week, next week August 8th through 13th from 8 to 5 at The Sea Mar Seattle Medical Clinic at 8720 14th Ave. S, Seattle, 98108. For more information call Jim Arteaga at 206-764-0520 or visit healthcenterweek.org.

Stay healthy and have a great day!

Youth Resource Outreach Fair 8/5/11

If you or someone you know is a youth ages 12 – 27 without a stable place to live you should know about the Youth Outreach Fair this Friday August 5th from noon to 3 at Cal Anderson Park. There will be Over 25 organizations there providing information and resources including:

• HIV testing and information
• STD information
• Hepatitis testing
• Free books and academic advising
• Transitional housing screening
• Case management sign-up
• Clothing
• Hygiene supplies
• Soccer tournament
• DSHS - screening for benefits
• And Community voice mail will be there to sign people up for voicemail numbers.

That’s the Youth Resource Outreach Fair this Friday August 5 from noon to 3 P.M. at Cal Anderson Park which is at 1635 11th Ave in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle. Bus Routes: 9, 49, 60, 8, 43, 10, 11. Free transportation provided from several locations throughout King County. Sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and Street Outreach Workers (SOW). For more information on the fair and transportation information contact Katalin Hausback at 206-633-7639.

Washington Recovery Helpline

Do you or someone you know have: Issues related to alcohol or drug abuse? Problems related to gambling? Symptoms of mental illness? Questions about treatment?

When you’re ready for a change…

Call The Washington Recovery Help Line, an anonymous and confidential help line that provides crisis intervention and referral services for Washington State residents at 866.789.1511. Professionally trained volunteers and staff are available to provide emotional support 24-hours a day, and offer local treatment resources for substance abuse, problem gambling and mental health, as well as to other community services.

The Washington Recovery Help Line is the new consolidated help line for substance abuse, problem gambling and mental health, as authorized and funded by The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. The Recovery Help Line is a service of Crisis Clinic and serves residents in Washington State.

That’s the Washington Recovery Help Line 24-Hour Help for Substance Abuse, Problem Gambling & Mental Health 1-866-789-1511

VA Benefits for Homeless Veterans

This message from Community Voice Mail and the VA is for veterans who are homeless. Please share with anyone you think may benefit from this information.

My name is Rachael Rehberg and I am calling from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle Regional Office. You previously received messages from Erika Hoppe, who has recently moved to another job. I'd like to intorduce myself and encourage yu to contact me if you have any questions about VA benefits. I can also answer any questions you may have regarding a pending claim or a decision you've received.

Again, my name is Rachael and I look forward to working with you.

If you are a homeless veteran and would like to inqurie about entitlement to VA disability benefits, there are two ways you can contact me.

First, you can call me in Seattle at 206.220.4186. Again, that's 206.220.4186.

Or, at the end of this message, you can press the number 4 button on your phone and leave me a voice mail message with any question and your contact information. Pelase know that if you reply in this way, you're communicating directly with me at the VA. Except for you phone number, your name, and any information you provide in your message, no other information is being provided to the VA.

Either way, I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Community Voice Mail, we thank you for your service and hope to hear from you.

Nationwide & Jobbernaut Job Fairs

Hi, if you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about two free job fairs coming up: The Nationwide Job Fair this Thursday the 14th from 1-4 at SeaTac Homewood Suites Hilton and the Greater Seattle Job Fair next Tuesday the 19th from 11 to 3 at Qwest Field.

At The Nationwide Job Fair, you can meet directly with decision makers at top companies and schedule interviews. At this job fair there will be job opportunities in Sales, Customer Service, Clerical, Administrative, Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Government, Non-Profit, Marketing and more. From entry level to professional positions; From Hourly to Salaried positions. They highly encourage that you register online at http://www.nationwidejobfairs.com/ because the resumes submitted online will be viewed by employers attending the job fair prior to the event and in the case they are interested in interviewing you, they will contact you directly. That’s at Homewood Suites Hilton Seattle Airport/Tukwila: 6955 Fort Dent Way in Tukwila from 1 to 4. For more information call 360-918-8572 or visit http://www.nationwidejobfairs.com/.


The Greater Seattle Job Fair, presented by Jobbernaut, is the Northwest's largest hiring event, featuring over 30 companies from the Puget Sound Region. It’s free to the public and all levels of employment are available. You can meet with dozens of hiring managers all in a single afternoon. Companies participating in this Job Fair are generally looking to fill positions from the following broad categories; Sales, Retail, Marketing, Healthcare, Management and more! It is recommended that you dress professionally and bring copies of your resume. That’s at the Seahawks' Qwest Field inside the "West Club Level" at 800 Occidental Avenue South in Seattle, next Tuesday the 19th from 11 to 3. Enter through the Northwest V.I.P. Entrance at the North end of the Stadium. For more information, directions and a complete list of attending companies call 1-800-525-7748 or visit http://www.jobbernaut.com/.

Job Fairs are a great opportunity to meet one-on-one with recruiters from companies, talk to hiring representatives, fill out job applications, distribute copies of your resume and learn about a wide variety of employment opportunities throughout the area. You should dress professionally and bring plenty of copies of your resume. If you’re looking for work you may want to attend one or both of these job fairs. Good Luck!

Summer Meals

Could Your kids Use More Food this Summer? The Summer Meals Program is one of the federal nutrition programs that provides free meals and snacks to children and teens during the summer months (June through August). Summer Meals, also known as Summer Sack Lunch, is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and was established in 1968 to respond to growing research that correlated a child’s nutrition with academic success and concerns about the lack of nutrition resources for children during the summer months. There are over 100 Summer meal sites in King County, located in schools, parks, recreation centers, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and camps. In addition to meals, many sites provide fun activities for kids. Sites may be open from June through August, depending on your community.

All kids and teens (18 years old and younger) are eligible for the program. No proof of income, address or citizenship is ever required.

To find the location and time
of Summer Meals sites nearest you,
Call the Family Food Hotline
1-888-4-FOOD-WA
(1-888-436-6392)
or visit http://www.parenthelp123.org/ or to find your Summer Meals sites online.

Be Well Washington Health Fair 6/18

Hello. If you would like to be healthier, I want to let you know about the Be Well Washington Health Fair on Saturday, June 18, from 10 am to 2 pm at Qwest Field. Bring your family to Qwest Field and learn how to adopt a healthy lifestyle. There will be:

• Complimentary health screenings, including blood pressure, mammograms, biometric, BMI, cholesterol, glucose and much more
• The Kids' Zone, featuring the reptile man, balloon artists, face painters, and a passport to wellness competition
• A healthy cooking competition between Chef Mac, team chef for the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders and Regence Chef Tse
• Entertainment by the SeaGals, Blue Thunder Drum Line, Hot Dog USA Jump Roping Team and more.
There is no entry cost and parking is also free for the day

The Be Well Health Fair is sponsored by Regence Blue Shield, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders and Q13 FOX. The fair is part of Be Well Washington Family Health Week, this week June 13th through 18th: A week of complimentary health screenings, presentations by health experts, and healthy cooking demonstrations throughout the Puget Sound. For more information and a complete list of activities, visit Be Well Washington online at www.bewellwashington.net.

And don’t miss the Be Well Health Fair this Saturday, June 18 from 10 to 2 at Qwest Field. Be healthy!

YWCA-Worksource Hiring & Resource Fair 6/16

If you or someone you know is looking for work or resources to help you find a job, I want to let you know about the YWCA and Worksource Hiring & Resource Fair on Thursday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle at YWCA Opportunity Place

Talk with 15+ employers who are hiring for Hundreds of positions in: Manufacturing,
Transportation & Material Handling, Food Service, Hospitality, Customer Service and more! There will also be a number of social service resources available at the fair, including Community Voice Mail.

The Hiring and Resource Fair will Feature:
• Allstar Staffing
• Amtrak
• Community Health Plan
• Highline School District
• Home Depot
• Key Bank
• King County Housing Authority
• King County-Local Hazardous Waste Management
• King County Security Guard
• Safeway
• Target
• TNT Direct Sales Group
• Silver Cloud Hotel
• Washington Army National Guard
• Solid Ground, Community Voice Mail AND MORE

Bring your resume, dress professionally and be prepared to speak to company representatives.

To attend, call or sign up at the WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle front desk, (206) 436-8600.

That’s The YWCA-Worksource Hiring and Resource Fair, next Thursday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle (Located in YWCA Opportunity Place) at 2024 3rd Avenue on the 2nd Floor. Call (206) 436-8600 to sign up. Parking is available at adjacent self-pay lots and at the Bed, Bath & Beyond parking garage on 3rd Avenue. The following Metro bus routes also serve this location: 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5, 7, 13, 16, 27, 32, 36, 54, 55, 70, 135, 304, 316 & 358. Good Luck!

Seattle Solidarity Network

Is your landlord refusing to make needed repairs or withholding a deposit? Is your boss stealing your wages, making you work through breaks or not paying overtime? Are you having any other problems with your boss or landlord?

If you are ready to do something about it, it's time to get in touch with the Seattle Solidarity Network. They are a volunteer network of working people who believe in standing up for ourselves and each other, and generally making bad bosses and landlords pay what they owe.

If you want to talk about an issue you are facing with a boss or landlord, or if you want to support fellow workers and tenants taking action around Seattle give them a call at (206)350-8650 or check out their website at www.seasol.net.

Please note that they are not a social service agency and they are not lawyers - they work with people who are ready to stand up or themselves and for others. Again, the phone number is (206)350-8650 and the website is www.seasol.net. Thanks, and remember: Don't Fight Alone!

North End Community Health Fair 5/24/11

Hello. I want to let you know about the free North End Community Health Fair next Tuesday, May 24 from 10:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. at North Seattle Family Center, at 3200 NE 125th St.

The North End Community Health Fair is sponsored by UW Bothell and the Children’s Home Society of Washington. The health fair is FREE TO THE PUBLIC and will include:

¨ Informative and comprehensive health screenings for blood pressure, bone density, cholesterol, diabetes, and other health concerns.

¨ Learn about diet, nutrition, exercise, car seat safety, stress management.

¨ Learn ways to keep yourself and your children healthy.

¨ Information on local health resources.

¨ Bring toys and cosmetics for free toxic chemicals testing.

¨ Fun activities for children and families! Raffles! Free food nibblers!

¨ Special Guest: Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney

That’s, the North End Community Health Fair Tuesday, May 24 from 10to 6 at North Seattle Family Center, 3200 NE 125th St. For more information call 206.364.7930 or 425.352.5376.

King County Housing Authority Section 8 Waiting List opening 5/25-6/7

Hi, if you or someone you know need subsidized housing, I want to let you know about the opening of the King County Housing Authority’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list May 25 though June 7th.

Section 8 vouchers allow participating tenants to choose and rent units from private landlords. The Housing Authority pays a fixed amount of the rent to the owner each month, and the tenant pays the difference between this subsidy and the total rent, in addition to any utilities not included in the rent. In general, tenants pay between 30 percent and 40 percent of their monthly income for rent and utilities.

This month, as it did for two weeks in 2007, King County Housing Authority (KCHA) will create a new waiting list for its Housing Choice Voucher Program by means of a random drawing. The King County Housing Authority serves residents of King County outside of the cities of Seattle and Renton.

Starting on Wednesday, May 25, the application form will be available to submit or print online at www.kcha.org. Application forms for those without computer access can be picked up at any of the following 11 locations:

•Section 8 Office: 15455 65th Ave S, Tukwila
•Auburn DSHS: 810 28th St. NE, Auburn
•Eastside DSHS: 805 156th Ave NE, Bellevue
•Federal Way DSHS: 616 S 348th St., Federal Way
•Kent DSHS: 1313 W Meeker St, #100, Kent
•White Center DSHS: 9650 15th Ave SW, Seattle
•Kent Multi-Service Ctr.: 515 W Harrison St, Kent
•Mt. Si Senior Center: 411 Main Ave. S, North Bend
•Northshore Family Ctr.: 18315 Bothell Way NE, Bothell
•Shoreline Family Ctr.: 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline
•Spiritwood Apartments: 1424 148th Ave SE, Bellevue
•Kirkland Library: 308 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland

Applicants must qualify for a housing preference to be eligible. These preferences are: Households are homeless or about to become homeless; Families are living in substandard housing; or Families are spending more than 50 percent of their incomes on rent and utilities. Only one application per household will be accepted and applicants must be over 18 years of age. Applicants who receive a voucher are required to live in King County for their first year on the program.

All completed applications not submitted online must be returned by mail only and postmarked by June 7 to the following address:
King County Housing Authority
Section 8
P.O. Box 58550
Seattle, WA 98138

Applications will become available on May 25 and can be submitted any time during the two-week period. There is absolutely no advantage to submitting an application on the first day. Once all forms have been processed, no more than 2,500 names will be selected through a random drawing that will be held after June 7th. These will form the new Section 8 waiting list. Applicants not placed on the list will be notified by the Authority following the random drawing.

For information about the application process, please call the King County Housing Authority Section 8 Office at (206) 214-1300. So pick up or print out a section 8 lottery sign up form or submit the application online after May 25 and don’t forget to submit it by June 7th if you want a chance at receiving a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. Good luck!

Choice Career Fair & W.A.G.E.S. Internship Program 5/18

Hi, if you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about two opportunities coming up, The Choice Career Fair on Wednesday the 18th at the Seattle Center NorthWest Rooms and WAGES internships, a YMCA job training program for 18 to 22 year olds that is having info sessions Wednesday and Thursday the 18th and 19th.

At the Choice Career Fair, you'll meet face-to-face with hiring decision-makers from some of the areas top employers. Dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes, because they are there to hire. You can save time, money and effort interviewing with multiple companies in one day at one location. Many of these companies have several openings. You will no longer be just a piece of paper, you can get right in front of the decision makers attending this event. That’s the Choice Career Fair, Wednesday, May 18th, from 10:30 am - 2:00 pm at the Seattle Center NorthWest Rooms Next to Key Arena at 1st Ave. N & Republican St. in Seattle. For a list of job titles, maps and a line pass, please go to www.ChoiceCareerFairs.com.

W.A.G.E.S., Working to Achieve Growth in Employment Skills is a job readiness internship program of the YMCA for 18 to 22 year olds. Do you need a part time job that pays? Are you between the ages of 18 and 22 years old. Are you struggling with issues around homelessness (like couch surfing or transitional living)? They would like to discuss the W.A.G.E.S. 8-week job readiness internship with you. Attend one of the two info sessions to learn more. The info sessions are on Wednesday the 18th at 2 PM and on Thursday May 19th at 2 PM at 2100 24th Avenue South, Suite 250, in Seattle. Interested applicants should be prepared to complete an application and submit a resume for consideration for the program. Contact Corey Young at 206.749.7547 for more information.

Good Luck!

North & East King County Career and Education Fair and the Washington Women In Trades Career Fair 5/6

Hi. If you or someone you know is looking for a job, a new career or work training, I want to let you know about two events this Friday, May 6th, the North & East King County Career and Education Fair and the Washington Women In Trades Career Fair.

Hopelink and the City of Bellevue are sponsoring the North & East King County Career and Education Fair, Friday May 6, 2011 at the Bellevue Crossroads Community Center from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Representatives from local employers and colleges will provide information on career opportunities, education and training programs and more. This year’s event will host dozens of local employers from various industries -- all with jobs. Please come with copies of your resume and ready to speak with company representatives. The event is free and open to the public but you should register either by Emailing HEP@hope-link.org or online at www.hope-link.org/fair. That’s North & East King County Career and Education Fair Friday from 930 to 3 at Bellevue Crossroads Community Center at 16000 NE 10th St, in Bellevue.

The Washington Women In Trades Job Fair is on Friday May 6th from 9 am to 2 pm at Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center. Ever wished for a career that fits? Are you looking for good pay AND a sense of accomplishment? Here’s what you’ll find: Climb an electrical pole, shovel some sand, run a traffic cone relay, or build a birdhouse! This is all about fun, but it’s inspiring & educational, too. Learn about lucrative non-traditional opportunities at the many apprenticeship and training program exhibits. Meet with recruiters from both private companies and public agencies. Annual exhibitors include Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, Alaskan Copper, Puget Sound Energy and more. Plus, you can meet and chat with a real live Rosie the Riveter at the Rosie Corner! New this year, Tradeswoman Survivor Game Designed for our school age attendees, but open to everyone, this is a fun way to experience first hand what it’s like to be a tradeswoman. That’s the Washington Women In Trades Job Fair Friday, May 6th from 9 am to 2 pm at Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center which is at 305 Harrison Street. For more information call (206) 903-9508 or online at wawomenintrades.com/jobfair.

Seattle Career Fair 5/2

Hi, if you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about the upcoming Seattle Career Fair, Monday, May 2, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel and Conference Center.

Career Fairs provide the opportunity to connect face-to-face with recruiters who make hiring decisions and can help you network for other positions within a company.
This event will showcase companies hiring in the following industries Accounting/Auditing, Administrative and Support Services, Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Banking, Consumer Products, Customer Service and Call Center, Finance/Economics, Financial Services, Hospitality/Tourism, Insurance, Real Estate/Mortgage, Restaurant and Food Service, Retail/Wholesale, Sales, and more.

They recommend that you dress professionally and bring plenty of resumes.

That’s the Seattle Career Fair, next Monday, May 2nd, from 11 to 2 at The Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center at 17620 International Blvd in SeaTac. To pre-register or for more information visit nationalcareerfairs.com. Good Luck!

Community Resource Exchange 4/22

Hi, I wanted to let you know about the United Way Community Resource Exchange on Friday April 22nd from 9 AM to 3 PM at Qwest Field Event Center at 800 Occidental Ave South in Seattle. The Community Resource Exchange is a one-day, one stop way for homeless people to get free services like healthcare, legal assistance, haircuts and national phone calls. Also available are referrals to social services including housing, counseling, public benefits and employment training. A free hot meal will also be served. Childcare will be available. And Community Voice Mail will have a booth where people can sign up in person for voice mail numbers. If you are homeless, we encourage you to attend this event as it will be a great way to get a variety of free services in one place, in one day. So don’t miss it, and bring your friends to the Community Resource Exchange this Friday April 22nd from 9 AM to 3 PM at Qwest Field Event Center.

See the complete list of services offered.

Come get the services you need in one place, in one day. Don’t miss it, and bring your friends.

Community Resource Exchange
Friday April 22nd
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Qwest Field Event Center (800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle) map

For more information:

E-mail: cre@uwkc.org
Website: www.uwkc.org/cre

Spread the word! Distribute the CRE flyer.

Greater Seattle Job Fair 4/20

Hi, if you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about the upcoming Greater Seattle Job Fair at Qwest Field, Wednesday April 20th, from 11 AM to 3 PM. This job fair, presented by Jobbernaut, is the Northwest's largest hiring event, featuring over 30 companies from the Puget Sound Region. It’s free to the public and all levels of employment are available. You can meet with dozens of hiring managers all in a single afternoon. Companies participating in this Job Fair are generally looking to fill positions from the following broad categories; Sales, Retail, Marketing, Healthcare, Management and more! It is recommended that you dress professionally and bring copies of your resume. That’s at the Seahawks' Qwest Field inside the "West Club Level" at 800 Occidental Avenue South in Seattle, next Wednesday the 20th from 11 to 3. Enter through the Northwest V.I.P. Entrance at the North end of the Stadium. For more information, directions and a complete list of attending companies call 1-800-525-7748 or visit www.jobbernaut.com. Good Luck!

CCS Benefits Fair 4/12

Hi, I want to let you know about the Benefits Fair next Tuesday April 12th from 2pm to 5pm, hosted by Catholic Community Services at Issaquah Meal Program. CCS Benefit Fairs are designed to provide a full spectrum of resources in one place to help people put together the best combination of resources available to stabilize their lives. Some of the many free services available at the benefits fair are:

• The DSHS’ Mobile Community Service Office: Experienced staff will be on-site to complete cash, food, and medical interviews, issue EBT cards, and receive documents
• Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project: Veterans can connect with VA benefits, and get help with food, clothing, transportation, and employment
• Free Haircuts by Regis Salon of Pine Lake—come early if you want a hair cut, as they will only be there for a limited time
• Coffee, cold drinks and food
• Clothing and hygiene kits
• Information about community resources, and more!
• Community Voice Mail will even be there.

That’s the CCS Benefits Fair next Tuesday, April 12th from 2 to 5 pm At Issaquah Meal Program at 180 Sunset Way in Issaquah. For more information call 425.679.0342 or email: adriab@ccsww.org. Please spread the word by sharing this Benefits Fair flyer.

CVM server Maintenance 4/8 - 4/10

Hi, this is an important message to inform you that maintenance is scheduled for the Community Voice Mail server at the National Office this weekend, which means that:

All voice mail accounts will temporarily disabled starting at 8pm this Friday, April 8th, possibly until 8pm Sunday, April 10th, although they believe that it won’t take that long.

This means:
• you will not be able to listen to your messages
• you will hear: “voicemail is currently unavailable” when you login

The Good News is that:
• when someone calls they can still leave you messages
• all your saved messages will remain unaffected

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience!

Financial Fitness Day - Saturday 4/2

Want to get your finances in shape? The Seattle-King County Asset Building Collaborative, with more than two dozen community partners, is proud to present Financial Fitness Day, providing a wide array of FREE services to the public to help them understand, manage, and improve their financial situations. Financial Fitness Day is this Saturday, April 2nd from 10 AM to 3 PM at Rainier Community Center at
4600 38th Avenue, in Seattle.

You can't afford to miss this opportunity to talk to an expert about:
• Credit and Debt
• Financial planning and investment management
• Mortgage and foreclosure
• Bankruptcy and consumer rights
• Tax return preparation and tax credits
• Starting a business
• Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

At Financial Fitness Day, you will be able to:
• Have your tax return prepared
• Print a free credit report
• Open a bank account — even if you've never had one before
• Create a household budget and develop a plan to reduce your debt
• Apply for public benefits (food, utilities, child care, health insurance)
• Shred financial documents to protect your identity

Services will be provided by experts, including attorneys, financial planners, housing counselors, credit counselors, public health workers, and volunteer tax preparers. Workshops will be offered throughout the day on a variety of financial topics, such as how to adapt to a reduced household income, bankruptcy, ID theft, and other relevant issues.

To register for this event or to find out more information, call 888-864-8623 or visit www.skcabc.org/fitness_fair. Registration is strongly encouraged for those who need childcare or language interpretation.

That’s Financial Fitness Day, this Saturday from 10 to 3 at Rainier Community Center. Please spread the word to your friends, family and networks.

Free Tax Preparation - only 3 weeks left

Hi, I want to remind you how you can get your income tax return prepared and filed for free at any one of 18 United Way sponsored tax sites throughout King County until April 17th, 2011 (only 3 weeks left). In addition to getting help filing your taxes, you may be eligible to receive a refund up to $5,666 from the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable tax credit for working people with low and moderate incomes. The free tax preparation service will be prepared by IRS-trained and certified volunteers, and can be electronically filed for a quick refund. Multilingual tax preparers will be available at several sites to serve customers who do not speak English. At the sites you will also be able to sign up for certain public benefits and learn about opportunities you have to make the most of your tax refund by receiving your refund on a debit card or putting a portion of your refund into a U.S. Savings Bond. Free tax prep allows low-income people to keep more of your hard-earned money and avoid paying unnecessary fees for commercial tax preparation and "rapid refund" loans. Being financially stable reduces the risk of becoming homeless. For more information, visit the United Way Free Tax Preparation Campaign webpage To find a location near you, see the United Way Tax Site Locations webpage for a list of sites and their hours and an interactive map. Or simply dial 211 from any phone in King County (this is a free call, even from payphones). Tell the 211 operator that you want information about free tax preparation services.

Three Job Fairs next week

Hi. If you or someone you know are looking for work, I want to let you know about three job fairs next week: The Greenbridge Job and Resource fair on Tuesday the 22nd , the Dice Career Fair, also on Tuesday the 22nd and the Choice Career Fair on Thursday the 24th.

The YWCA Greenbridge Job and Resource Fair is on Tuesday March 22nd from 10 AM to 1 PM at YWCA Greenbridge at 9720 8th Ave SW, in White Center. Employers will include: Port of Seattle, Equity Residential, Safeway, Cares of Washington, Child Care Resources, Victim Support Team at the Seattle Police Department, South Seattle Community College, King County Hazardous Waste Management, Highline School District, Lowes, Airport Jobs, and others. For more information call (206) 336-7000.

Also on Tuesday the 22nd is the DICE career fair from 11 to 3 at the Seattle Sheraton. Top Companies with Technology, Engineering and Security Clearance Job Openings Are Hiring! Meet recruiters and Hiring Managers from: BeyondSoft, Corbis Corp, Goodrich Aerostructures, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, SetFocus, Symetra Financial, and ValueVillage and more companies are expected to be added. That’s from 11AM to 3PM at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel at 1400 Sixth Street in downtown Seattle. Pre-register online at dicecareerfairs.com.

And, on Thursday the 24th is the Choice Career Fair from10:30 to 2 at Seattle Center NorthWest Rooms. Meet face-to-face with the hiring managers from some of the best employers in the greater Seattle area. The recruiters at this event have many job titles they need to fill. That’s at the Seattle Center NorthWest Rooms, next to Key Arena at 1st Ave. N & Republican St. in Seattle. For a list of job titles, maps and a line pass, please go to ChoiceCareerFairs.com.
Job Fairs are a great opportunity to meet one-on-one with recruiters from companies, talk to hiring representatives, fill out job applications, distribute copies of your resume and learn about a wide variety of employment opportunities throughout the area. If you’re looking for work you might want to attend one or all three of these job fairs next Tuesday and Thursday. Good Luck!

Rally to Protect Our Future 3-17

From Egypt to Libya to Wisconsin, we are witnessing real grassroots power as people rise up in support of basic worker and human rights. On Thursday, March 17, it is our turn to make our voices heard as we go to Washington's Capitol and Rally to Protect Our Future. Join the Statewide Poverty Action Network and 2,000 other community members as we demand that our state focuses on raising revenue to end drastic cuts to TANF, Disability Lifeline, healthcare, and other essential services.

The rally will take place on Thursday, March 17th at 12:00 noon on the Capitol Steps in Olympia. Free transportation will leave from Seattle, Kent & Lakewood on the day of the event. For more information or to sign up for a spot on bus, contact Kate at Poverty Action at 206-694-6794. For more information visit povertyaction.org

Also, do you have questions about how the state creates its budget? Are you concerned about the deep budget cuts that have been proposed by lawmakers? Join Poverty Action for the second of our lunchtime phone briefings as Policy Director Tony Lee discusses the biennial budget this Friday, March 11 from 12:00 to 12:45pm. When you RSVP, we’ll send you a call-in number. To sign-up, contact Danielle at 206-694-6794. Thank you!

Worksource Hiring Event & Nationwide Job Fair 3/10

Hi, if you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about two free job fairs this Thursday, March 10th: The Seattle Worksource Hiring Event at the Downtown Seattle Worksource Office from 10 to 2, and the Nationwide Job Fair at Embassy Suites Hotel in Tukwila from 11 to 2.

The Worksource Hiring Event includes hundreds of positions in: Manufacturing, Transportation & Material Handling, Food Service, Hospitality, Customer Service and more. Featuring: Amtrak, AEROTEK, Charlie’s Produce, Community Health Plan, Key Bank, Port of Seattle, Red Lion Hotel, ResCare Home Care, Safeway, Sterling and more. To attend, call or sign up at the front desk of WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle: (206) 436-8600. Bring your resume, dress professionally and be prepared to speak to company representatives. Thats at the WorkSource Affiliate Downtown Seattle Thursday, March 10th from 10 AM – 2 PM. Located in YWCA Opportunity Place at 2024 3rd Avenue on the 2nd Floor, call (206) 436-8600 for more information.

At The Nationwide Job Fair, you can meet directly with decision makers at top companies and schedule interviews. At this job fair there will be job opportunities in Sales, Customer Service, Clerical, Administrative, Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Government Opportunities, Marketing & Advertising, Business Administration and Management and more. From entry level to professional positions; From Hourly to Salaried positions. The dress code is professional. Bring plenty of resumes. They highly encourage that you register online at www.nationwidejobfairs.com because the resumes submitted online will be viewed by employers attending the job fair prior to the event and in the case they are interested in interviewing you, they will contact you directly. That’s at The Embassy Suites Airport Hotel at 15920 West Valley Highway, in Tukwila this Thursday the 10th from 11 am to 2 pm. For more information call 360-918-8572 or visit www.nationwidejobfairs.com.

Job Fairs are a great opportunity to meet one-on-one with recruiters from companies, talk to hiring representatives, fill out job applications, distribute copies of your resume and learn about a wide variety of employment opportunities throughout the area. If you’re looking for work you should attend one or both of these job fairs on Thursday. Good Luck!