Family Housing Connection starts today

Are you a family without a place to stay or know some folks who are? I want to let you know about Family Housing Connection, an easier way for families experiencing homelessness to connect with housing resources in King County. Starting today, one call to 2-1-1 now connects you to multiple housing resources in King County. Family Housing Connection provides a single access point for shelter and housing resources.

If you are pregnant or an adult with at least one child in your care and do not have a place to stay:
Schedule an appointment by calling 211 or 1-800-621-4636 to:
Meet with a Family Housing Connection specialist
Receive a follow up phone call when a housing resource becomes available
Meet with housing staff to ensure the best fit for your family

Family Housing Connection reduces the burden on families experiencing homelessness in King County by providing a single access point for shelter and housing resources. With one phone call to 211, an appointment will be scheduled for your family to meet with a Housing Specialist at a convenient, child friendly location. Your appointment will take about one hour. During that time, your family will discuss your housing needs and barriers with a Housing Specialist. After your appointment, you can stay in touch with Family Housing Connection for updates while you wait for an opening in a shelter or housing program. When a housing resource becomes available, Family Housing Connection will call you to ask follow up questions. If your family is eligible for the available housing resource, they will arrange a meeting between your family and that housing program.

Types of programs included in Family Housing Connection are:
Emergency Shelters
Transitional Housing Programs
Service Enriched Housing Programs
Permanent Supportive Housing Programs

Family Housing Connection is not creating additional housing resources and this new process will not get your family into shelter or housing faster. This new process will make it easier for your family to navigate the housing system in King County; instead of calling 80+ programs individually, you will now have a single access point to current shelter and housing resources. Families are prioritized based on the date you entered shelter, were placed on a housing waiting list or on the date that you call 211 on or after today, April 23, 2012. With one call to 211, your family will be placed onto a housing roster for 80+ shelter and housing programs in King County. Interpretation services are available for families who speak limited or no English. Family Housing Connection welcomes families of all sizes and backgrounds. More information is available on the Family Housing Connection webpage. Just call 2-1-1 or 1-800-621-4636, to schedule an appointment with Family Housing Connection today.

3 Career Fairs next Wednesday 4/25

Greetings. If you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about three job fairs next Wednesday, April 25th. The Renton Technical College Career Fair is from 10 to 1, The Edmonds Community College Career Fair from 10 to 2 and the Seattle Vocational Institute Professional-Technical Career Fair from 9:30 to 3.

The Renton Technical College Career Fair features employers from various local businesses eager to speak with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring a supply of resumes for networking purposes. Free for job-seekers. Parking is free but limited. For more information and to get the word out, see the job fair flyer. That’s Wednesday the 25th from 10 am to 1 pm at Renton Technical College, Cafeteria Bldg I 118, 3000 NE Fourth Street
Renton, 98056. For more information call (425) 235-2352, ext. 7785.

Edmonds Community College, in partnership with Central Washington University, is proud to announce their upcoming, annual Career Fair. This free event features local employers from the following industries: healthcare, construction, manufacturing, etc., recruiting full-time, part-time, and temporary positions.
Applicants are highly encouraged to be prepared by researching the attending companies and their openings, bring multiple copies of their critiqued resume, be dressed appropriately, and speak to the employers regarding their experience and abilities. That’s the Edmonds Community College Career Fair on Wednesday the 25th from 10am to 2pm. At Edmonds Community College Woodway Hall 202, 20000 68th Ave. W. Lynnwood, 98036. For more information call 425.640.1280 or visit the career fair webpage.

Seattle Vocational Institute presents the Professional-Technical Career Fair, April 25, 2012. Employers will be on campus. Bring your resume and dress for success! Wednesday the 25th from 9:30 am to 3 Pm at SVI at 2120 South Jackson Street, Seattle, 98144. Spread the word by distributing the career fair flyer. Call 206.934.4950 for more information.

These 3 job fairs are all the same day, next Wednesday April 25th. Good Luck!

Hope Health Fair 4/21/12

If you or someone you know need free health care services, I want to let you know about the Hope Health Fair this Saturday April 21st at Victory Outreach Church in White Center from 9 to 5. This event is intended for all low income individuals and families and will offer free health screenings (including mammograms), dental check ups, health information and free low income insurance sign ups thru DSHS. There will also be free children’s health services, senior health services, heart health, blood tests and diabetic screening. There will be several Medical providers and Health Professionals scheduled to be there and they will also be serving free healthy snacks, beverages and giving away lots of prizes and other items! That’s the Hope Health Fair, this Saturday the 21st from 9am to 5pm at Victory Outreach Seattle at 10821 1st Avenue South. For more information call 206-244-8184.

Greater Seattle Job Fair 4/18 & SCCC Career Fair 4/19

Greetings. If you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about two job fairs next week. The Greater Seattle Job Fair on Wednesday the 18th from 11 to 3 at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. And the Seattle Central Community College Career Fair on Thursday the 19th, from 10 to 1 at Seattle Central Community College

The Greater Seattle Job Fair, next Wednesday the 18th, is hosted by Jobbernaut, it is now in its 15th year and continues to be the largest hiring event held anywhere in the Northwest. Each Job Fair includes over 30 to 40 Hiring Companies from King, Pierce, Snohomish, Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties with literally hundreds of jobs to fill. Jobbernaut continues to support Veterans and promote Diversity and their Job Fairs are always Free to the public. Over 40 Companies...Hundreds of Jobs...Positions of all Levels... Free Admission. This is the same hiring event that has been held at The Seahawks' CenturyLink Field for over 10 years, but they are now alternating the location to Seattle Center. That’s the greater Seattle Job Fair at The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center, 301 Mercer Street on the lower level, at the corner of 3rd & Mercer Street on April 18. You can also search their Job Board at Jobbernaut.com for more available jobs anytime. For more information, please call 1-800-525-7748.

Seattle Central Community College Career Fair is next Thursday, April 19th, from 10am to 1pm at Seattle Central Community College. Over 20 employers from a wide range of industries will line the first floor hallway. Professional dress and resume required. Some the participating employers include: Downtown Emergency Service Center, Earthcorps, Home Instead Senior Care, Princess Cruises and YWCA of Greater Seattle. Get your resume and cover letter critiqued in room 1102e or by calling 206-934-4383. That’s next Thursday the 19th from 10 to 1, at Seattle Central Community College at 1701 Broadway.

Job Fairs provide the opportunity to connect face-to-face with job recruiters who make hiring decisions and can help you network for other positions within an organization. You’ll want to Dress professionally and bring up-to-date copies of your resume. You may also want to prepare questions you want to ask the job recruiters and be prepared to answer their questions about your qualifications and work experience. After the job fair, don’t forget to follow up with job recruiters you met at companies you were interested in working for. Good Luck!

Bridge to Basics - help applying for public benefits: monday 4/9

If you or someone you know would like to sign up for public benefits (and maybe are overwhelmed by the process) I want to let you know about Bridge to Basics. They are offering free assistance applying for a variety of public benefits next Monday April 9th at the Burien Library and the Woodmont Library from 3 to 5 in the afternoon . The Bridge to Basics program connects people to public benefits and money saving services and community resources. Come find out if you are eligible and get help applying to services. This is a free service. See if you qualify and get help filling out applications for:

Food stamps
Utility assistance Information
Free or Low Cost Children’s Health Insurance
Free Job Training
Free Banking
And more

If you attend, come prepared with all that's required to apply:

Copy of Photo ID for head of household
Copy of Social Security card for head of household, and Social Security number for all other eligible household members
Proof of income for the last 30 days (pay stubs, letter from employer, etc.)
If any, proof of dependent care costs (child care, daycare, etc.)
If any, proof of medical expenses (medical bills, pharmacy receipts) for individuals who are disabled or over age 65

The Bridge to Basics program is organized by United Way, Within Reach and Hopelink. That’s this coming Monday, April 9th from 3-5 PM. They will be at two libraries at the same day and time: The Burien Library, at 400 SW 152nd Street, Burien, 98166 and the Woodmont Library at 26809 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, 98198. If you can’t make it this Monday afternoon, the Bridge to basics program is every 2nd Monday from 3 to 5 at the Burien and Woodmont libraries. Good luck!