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Neighborhood Senior Orgs Receive Over Half Million

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Metropolitan King County
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Neighborhood Senior Orgs Receive Over Half Million

Summary

Local senior centers, community centers, and organizations serving older adults can expand programs to reach more local seniors, make their facilities safer and more accessible, purchase equipment and appliances, and more thanks to Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy funding.

Story

Local King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles is announcing that more than $500,000 will be awarded to six organizations serving older adults across District 4, including programs in Ballard, Phinney, and Wallingford.

The funds are part of the initial rollout of the recently voter-renewed Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy. The one-time investments will help senior centers, community centers, and organizations serving older adults expand programs to reach more local seniors, make their facilities safer and more accessible, purchase equipment and appliances, and more.

“We all benefit by being part of a community, to get support from others when needed,” said King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, represents a large portion of Seattle and Chairs the Housing, Health and Human Services Committee. “Senior centers offer such places for many of our older citizens, especially in providing opportunities for social interaction. There was a clear need for increased funding to senior centers and community organizations serving seniors across King County and I am thrilled to see their important work being supported in this new and exciting way.”

In total, all six projects across District 4 were awarded the full amounts of their request.

  • Ballard NW Senior Center - $78,000 to support increased outreach, help to maintain a social worker, fund repairs for a senior transportation vehicle, and fund new IT systems.
  • Phinney Neighborhood Association/Greenwood Senior Center - $85,000 to support a new ADA-compliant door, social work, new IT systems, increased outreach, and new kitchen equipment.
  • Pike Market Senior Center - $27,000 for a new program development to increase attendance and inclusion and new kitchen equipment.
  • Sound Generations Community Dining - $76,000 to support new volunteer training materials, outreach to Latino and ESL senior communities, new kitchen equipment, and new IT hardware.
  • United Indians of All Tribes Foundation: Native Elders Program - $80,000 to support a new wheelchair lift, outreach, senior housing stability services, IT hardware, and senior transportation vehicle repair
  • Wallingford Community Center - $115,000 to support restroom repairs, social worker support, IT systems, increased outreach, and staff training.

“The people of King County trusted us to invest in programs and services that will improve the quality of life for seniors, and that is exactly what we are doing,” said Executive Constantine. “Senior centers do more than connect people with resources – they keep people connected to one another. That is why our first major investment by the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy will help nearly 40 senior centers located throughout our region.” 

“We are over the moon! With declining city funding, to keep our doors open, we have deferred maintenance, and haven’t been able to do the level of outreach that we know is needed,” said Claire Petersky, Executive Director of the Wallingford Community Senior Center. “Now we will be able to upgrade our space, and improve our ability to serve seniors all over north and north central Seattle. We are grateful to the King County Council, especially our councilmember, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and to the voters of King County, for approving this levy. We can’t wait to get to get started!” 

Each senior center will also receive an additional $12,500 to conduct outreach and provide applications for seniors to enroll in the property tax exemption program

“We are so grateful for this Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy grant,” said Lee Harper, Executive Director of the Phinney Neighborhood Association. “This important infusion of stabilization dollars will enable us to upgrade accessibility and ensure that our important support services are strengthened and able to expand where there has been the most need.”

“Ballard NW Senior Center is grateful to the voters of King County, Executive Dow Constantine and the County Council for their help and support of veterans, seniors and the disabled in King County,” said Carlye Teel, Director of the Ballard NW Senior Center. “This award will provide for current and future services to all the seniors in the area. We are delighted with the opportunities this award affords the center. Special thanks to Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles for her dedicated and ongoing support of seniors in her district and the county.”

By 2040, more than a quarter of King County’s population will be seniors. Healthy lifestyles and social engagement are keys to living long and living well.


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