Board of Commissioners
approves 2008 budget
Funding provided for
two additional community programs
SEATTLE—October 17, 2007—With
additional funding for two community service programs put into
place, the Seattle Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners voted
unanimously to approve the agency’s 2008 budget during their meeting
on October 15.
The draft budget presented to the board in September called for the
elimination of $81,000 in funding for the Nature Consortium’s Youth
Art Program, which provides year-round out-of-school time
programming to at-risk youth, ages five to 19, living at Yesler
Terrace and Rainier Vista. Through an amendment offered by
commissioner Nora Gibson, the Board approved restoration of all
funding for the upcoming year.
“While we focus most of our time and resources on providing more
affordable and safe housing, commissioners have a deep understanding
that family success has many dimensions,” board chair David Bley
said.
Nancy Whitlock, executive director of the Nature Consortium, was
pleased with the Board’s approval of the budget amendment.
“We’re extremely grateful to the Board of Commissioners and Seattle
Housing Authority staff for reinstating the funding for our program,
which makes a difference in so many kids’ lives,” she said.
Whitlock cited the vocal support of her organization’s supporters as
a key to influencing the board’s decision.
“I think we really caught the attention of the commissioners on the
day of the public hearing by the number of supporters that showed
up. We were able to get approximately 30 people to write letters of
support and send in public comment, in addition to handwritten notes
from our youth participants.
“We’re all very passionate about the work that we do and that seems
to have a ripple effect on those that we serve.”
The restoration of funding will allow Nature Consortium to continue
the Youth Art Program at Yesler Terrace and Rainier Vista, and
affords them the opportunity to now look toward expanding its reach.
“We will continue to seek additional funding sources to continue,
improve and expand the programs that are in place. We want to
continue being an integrated part of these communities,” Whitlock
said.
The Board of Commissioners also unanimously adopted an amendment
proposed by Commissioner Yusuf Cabdi. It will add $50,000 to the
2008 budget, for the purpose of improving access to community and
supportive services for Seattle Housing Authority family community
residents of East African heritage. The number of East African
residents has risen sharply in recent years, and funding for these
services has struggled to keep pace.
In proposing the amendment, Cabdi cited a desire to improve the
Housing Authority’s capacity to serve this group of residents, and
to empower East African community members for self-help and
self-sufficiency.
The allocated funding will be distributed through a vendor selection
process consistent with Housing Authority policy. This will occur
following consultation with community leaders and affected
stakeholders to identify specific program needs and goals.
The board was able to earmark
funding for both community service programs by making a slightly
smaller contribution to the Seattle Housing Authority’s reserves.
The 2008 budget initially offered to the board proposed expenditures
from Seattle Housing Authority’s MTW Block Grant that were roughly
$2.3 million less than estimated revenues for 2008.
“We had recommended dedicating this $2.3 million in net revenues to
reserves,” said Shelly Yapp, the Housing Authority’s chief financial
officer.
“By adding money to the reserves, we would have partially restored
some of the reserves we spent in 2007 for property acquisition,” she
explained. “The commissioners supported increasing the reserves by
an amount just under $2.2 million, while restoring funding for the
Nature Consortium’s Youth Art Program and adding funds for improved
access to services for East African residents.”
The board is realistic, but at the same time optimistic, about the
challenges they face in this area in coming years.
“It’s unfortunate that basic life opportunities for residents are
always underfunded and remain under enormous budget pressure,”
commissioner Bley said. “We haven’t solved the long-term funding
issues — and the needs of residents are so unique and diverse,
ranging from senior services to youth programs to jobs and health
care to cultural and language issues for recent immigrants.
“But the board’s decision to restore and modestly expand funding for
these priorities signals we are serious about supporting all aspects
of resident life in Seattle Housing Authority homes.”
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