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Category: Resource Wire

Jobs and Community Resources – 10/18/23

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Welcome to Resource Wire for October 18 through 25, 2023! This is your source for the latest news and updates about community resources and opportunities for folks living on low incomes in Seattle and King County.

It’s a big week for good news! New minimum wages, new stipends to pay for diapers, new discount on utilities, and more! Know of more news for folks living on low incomes in King County? Let us know at resourcewire@solid-ground.org.

NEW THIS WEEK | UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES | ONGOING RESOURCES

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~NEW THIS WEEK~

FREE & LOW-COST HALLOWEEN EVENTS 

WHEN: Friday, October 20 through Tuesday, October 31, 2023 

WHAT: Seattle Parks & Recreation is hosting a variety of Halloween activities all over town for tots, teens, in-betweens, and families. Activities include pumpkin carving, Halloween crafting, costume parades, haunted houses, and more. 

MORE INFO: Go to Happy Halloween! (2023) on the Parkways blog. 

NEW MINIMUM WAGES FOR SEATTLE WORKERS IN 2024 

WHEN: New minimum wages go into effect January 1, 2024 

WHAT: The Seattle Office of Labor Standards has announced new minimum wages for the city based on the Seattle Minimum Wage Ordinance. The new wages are: 

  • $17.25/hr for small employers (500 or fewer employees) that contribute at least $2.72/hr toward employee’s medical benefits or where employees earn at least $2.72/hr in tips. 
  • $19.97/hr for all large employers (501 or more employees) and for small employers that do not contribute at least $2.72/hr toward employee’s medical benefits or where employees do not earn at least $2.72/hr in tips. 

QUESTIONS? Call 206.256.5297, email workers.laborstandards@seattle.gov, or complete the Office of Labor Standards Employee Inquiry form. 

NEW DIAPER STIPEND FOR TANF RECIPENTS 

WHEN: Law goes into effect Wednesday, November 1, 2023 

WHAT: Starting next month, families enrolled in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will receive an additional $100 each month with their TANF cash benefit to spend on diapers, pull-ups, and wipes. The stipend is part of a state law approved in 2022. 

MORE INFO: Read Governor signs bill addressing diaper need. 

NEW DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR UTILITY BILLS 

WHAT: You may be able to save 5% to 45% a month on your Puget Sound Energy bill under a new program announced this month. Qualifying program participants will get an automatic discount on their energy bills every month in addition to any other assistance they may be receiving.   

There is one simple application to fill out. In most cases, no proof of income is required to apply. If you’ve received energy assistance in the past, it’s likely you qualify. 

MORE INFO: Go to PSE’s Bill Discount Rate to find out if you are eligible. 

FREE PRODUCE BOXES 

WHEN: Boxes available for pick up 12-2pm Saturday and Sundays. Weekly sign up required. 

WHERE: Capitol Hill and Georgetown locations 

WHAT: Plant Based Food Share is providing boxes of free, fresh, local produce for our community in need. Each week’s box is curated with love to provide your family a mix of healthy produce, grains, baked goods, and bread. All boxes celebrate a different culture weekly! 

TO SIGN UP: Sign-up forms for the week are posted Mondays at 7:30pm at Produce Box Sign Up. 

MORE INFO: Download the Plant Based Food Share flyer. 

DEADLINE REMINDER: GET STOLEN FOOD BENEFITS BACK 

WHEN: Some claims must be filed by October 22, 2023.

WHAT: If your food benefits were stolen through skimming, cloning, or similar fraudulent activity, you may be able to get them replaced thanks to a recent act of Congress. 

Customers who had food benefits stolen between Oct. 1, 2022 and Aug. 22, 2023 have until Oct. 22, 2023 to submit a claim. Otherwise, they must submit the claim within 30 days of discovering the loss. 

Cash benefits cannot be replaced at this time, but customers are encouraged to continue to report these thefts so they can be tracked. 

FILE YOUR CLAIM: Claims can be submitted in person in a Community Service Office, by phone through the Customer Service Contact Center (877.501.2233), online through MyDocs, or by mail or fax of a completed DSHS Claim of Stolen EBT Benefits form.  

MORE INFO: Go to Online Community Services Office (CSO) – Latest News or see the EBT Card Skimming brochure for information on how to protect EBT cards from skimming. 

HOW TO BREAK YOUR LEASE ON YOUR APARTMENT

WHEN:  Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 5-6:30pm

WHERE: Zoom; register for link.

WHAT: Do you need to break your lease to escape a dangerous situation? In this webinar, we’ll discuss three situations where you may be able to break a lease without liability, including: 

  • You’ve experienced stalking, unlawful harassment, domestic violence, or sexual assault. 
  • You’ve been assaulted by another tenant and they were arrested. 
  • Your landlord hasn’t responded to a serious repair issue in a reasonable amount of time. 

 Also, we’ll discuss what to expect when breaking a lease in other circumstances. 

If you’re currently living in King County and being threatened with eviction, contact the Housing Justice Project for legal assistance at 206.267.7069 or hjpstaff@kcba.org. 

TO REGISTER: Go to Rent Smart: Breaking a Lease on the King County Library System website. Contact Julia Gibson at jgibson@kcls.org for help with registration.

~UPCOMING/CURRENT COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES~

FREE MEDICAL CARE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 10am-2pm

WHERE: Seattle Central Library, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98164 

WHAT: King County’s Mobile Medical Program provides walk-in care for people who are living homeless (or were recently homeless) only. Please try to arrive at least one hour before the scheduled end time for the clinic. On rare occasions the clinic will close earlier than the scheduled time. Call the Mobile Van nursing lines if you would like to confirm the clinic end time for a particular day.

Please note: Sites and available services are subject to change due to Mobile Medical’s involvement in the COVID-19 response. Please check King County’s Mobile Medical Care webpage for the latest information, including upcoming dates in September.

Upcoming Seattle dates:

Upcoming South King County dates:

MORE INFO: Go to King County Mobile Medical Care or call 206.330.6775 for the Seattle Medical Van or 206.549.5562 for the South King County Medical Van.

JOB FAIRS & HIRING EVENTS

WHAT: A variety of employers are holding hiring events over the next week, with some making on-the-spot offers with no experience required.  

Solid Ground Transit 

Allied Universal Event Services 

Regional job fair 

Worldwide Flight Services 

MORE INFO: To find additional job openings and events, go to WorkSource Workshops & Hiring Events or Port Jobs Hiring Events. 

FREE & LOW-COST VETERINARY CARE

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 11am-2pm

WHERE: Compass Resource Fair at Real Change, 96 S Main St, Seattle, WA 

WHAT: Seattle Veterinary Outreach provides veterinary care for free to people experiencing homelessness and at a reduced cost for people living on low incomes. The organization is also currently partnering with Public Health – Seattle King County to provide free COVID vaccinations and booster shots to anyone regardless of income.

Veterinary care is provided on a first-come, first-served service. Pet owners are encouraged to arrive between 10-10:30am to secure a place in line.

This service is reserved for those experiencing homelessness or living with a low income, which is verified at clinics. Pet owners should bring their SNAP, EBT, WIC, SSI, or TANF cards. Alternatively, a letter confirming that the pet owner is living in subsidized housing or receiving housing vouchers is also acceptable.

Additional upcoming dates:

MORE INFO: Visit the Seattle Veterinary Outreach Clinic Calendar.

GET HELP AT YOUR KING COUNTY LIBRARY BRANCH 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 2-4pm 

WHERE: Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th Street Redmond WA 98052 

WHAT: During designated hours, social service representatives will be on hand to help you with a range of resources, including cash assistance, housing, food, medical care, legal assistance, employment and training, and much more. 

Additional upcoming dates: 

MORE INFO: Go to Social Services Help on the King County Library System website. 

FREE HELP WITH MEDICARE ENROLLMENT 

WHEN: Tuesday, October 24, and Monday, November 6, 2023, 1-3pm 

WHERE: Solid Ground, 1501 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103 

WHAT: Join us for a free, in-person Medicare Open Enrollment Workshop to learn how to navigate the system. We’ll cover: 

  • What you can do during Medicare Open Enrollment (which started Sunday, October 15 this year). 
  • Choosing and changing plans. 
  • What Medigap plans are available. 
  • How to get help paying for Medicare.  

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Go to Medicare Workshops & Webinars or email Sam Stones, SHIBA Program Lead, at sams@solid-ground.org. 

MORE INFO: Go to Medicare & Medigap Help.

HELP WITH BAD CREDIT 

WHEN: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 6-8pm 

WHERE: Online; register for link.

WHAT: Is your credit preventing you from obtaining a job, making a large purchase, or securing stable housing? This free credit counseling workshop from the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle may be for you! 

TO REGISTER: Go to Are you ready to get your finances on track? 

CASH FOR YOUR FAMILY: GET YOUR WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT 

WHEN: Apply by December 31, 2023 

WHAT: Washington state has already paid out more than $62 million to 84,000 individuals and families under the new Working Families Tax Credit. Individuals and families can receive up to $1,200 if they meet certain eligibility requirements. Applications will be accepted through the end of the year. 

Get help filing your application: 

You can also check on the status of your application using the using the “Where’s my Refund?” Tool. 

QUESTIONS? If you need additional help, call 360.763.7300 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, or visit one of 12 field offices. 

RENT SMART/¡INQUILINOS INTELIGENTES!

WHEN: English sessions are held twice monthly (once in November and December) on Wednesday afternoons. Spanish sessions are held monthly on Thursdays, 5:30-6:45pm.

WHERE: Zoom

WHAT: Virtual Renters’ Rights Webinar Series 

Rent Smart Webinars in English

¡Inquilinos Inteligentes! Talleres Virtuales en Español

NEED MORE HELP?

  • King County residents being threatened with eviction can contact the Housing Justice Project for legal assistance at 253.234.4204 or hjpstaff@kcba.org.
  • Washington State residents can visit Solid Ground’s For Tenants website for self-help information, or call Solid Ground’s Tenant Services Voice Message Line, 206.694.6767 | TTY: 7.1.1, currently open for messages Mondays and Thursdays, 10:30am – 1:30pm (hours and days are subject to change).

¿NECESITA MÁS AYUDA?

  • Si actualmente vive en el Condado de King y está siendo amenazado con el desalojo, comuníquese con el Proyecto de Justicia de Vivienda para obtener asistencia legal 253.234.4204 o hjpstaff@kcba.org.
  • Los Residentes del Estado de Washington pueden visitar el sitio web Para Inquilinos de Solid Ground para obtener información de autoayuda, o llamar a la línea mensajes de voz de servicios para Inquilinos de Solid Ground, 206.694.6767 | TTY: 7.1.1, cual es abierta los lunes o jueves de 10:30 a.m. a 1:30 p.m. (las horas y los días están sujetos a cambios).

Rent Smart is offered in partnership with Solid Ground’s Tenant Services and the King County Library System (KCLS). / ¡Inquilinos Inteligentes! se ofrece en asociación con los Servicios para Inquilinos de Solid Ground y La Sistema Biblioteca del Condado de King (KCLS).

~JOBS WITH SOLID GROUND~

NEW WAGES FOR SOLID GROUND DRIVERS!

WHEN: Job fair every other Wednesday, 10am-3pm — Call ahead to confirm

WHERE: Solid Ground Transportation, 8100 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108 

WHAT: Be a part of making life easier for those living with disabilities in our communities. Join our team of drivers who provide ACCESS bus services to people who can’t use Metro’s fixed-route system, helping people get to critically needed health and human services resources, and connecting people with their communities.  

Solid Ground Transportation offers: 

  • $22.87/hr (new rate!) with $2,000 Hiring Bonus
  • Flexible schedule
  • Part-time & full-time options
  • No CDL requirement
  • Paid training
  • Opportunities for long-term career growth beyond driving!
  • Full benefits (Paid Leave, Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, 401k Matching, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Account, and Life Insurance)

TO APPLY NOW: Go to the Solid Ground Bus Operator job description and scroll down to How to Apply for application materials.

QUESTIONS? Call 206.694.6817 or email jobs@solid-ground.org. 

SOLID GROUND JOB BOARD

WHAT: Join the Solid Ground team and help us fight poverty and dismantle systems of oppression! We’re currently seeking candidates for these positions:

QUESTIONS? Learn more about Solid Ground and see other open positions on the Solid Ground Careers page.

~ONGOING COMMUNITY RESOURCES~

When you need help, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we put together lists of Ongoing Community Resources in King County for help with things like housing, food, childcare, transportation, employment, and more. Click on the topics below to jump to these ongoing resources posted on our Resource Wire webpage.

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