Help with Rent
St. Vincent de Paul managing funds to help cover rent. Assistance seekers should call their local parish office. If the recipient is in King County you can refer them to this website page to complete a form.
Here are links to County Rental Assistance programs: Clallum, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom
A Brief History of Public Housing
A 2020 article from the New York-based website ‘Curbed’ outlines significant Federal legislation since 1937 that addresses public housing and it’s demise, highlighting the need to repeal the 1998 Faircloth Amendment. View the archived story.
The National Housing Crisis and Additional Resources
The Social Welfare History Project at Virginia Commonwealth University published a a summary of Contemporary Housing Issues in the United States, including definitions, data and excellent additional resources around Gentrification, Affordable Housing, Eviction and Homelessness. See their project page here.
How YOU Can Help End Homelessness
The National Coalition for the Homeless presents several ways you can contribute to in your local community and be better informed and more effective. Check out their lists and resources here.
Housing Precarity in King, Pierce & Snohomish Counties
The Urban Displacement Project at UC Berkeley publishes an interactive map showing the Precarity of different neighborhoods, where the risk of eviction and displacement are greatest. Three counties in Washington State are included. Check out the map to see those areas where the need for housing and services is greatest.
Affordable Housing Week Recap
The Housing Development Consortium in King County has 190+ member organizations working to educate and advocate for meeting the housing needs of limited-income people. Presentations at their last Affordable Housing Week! event were recorded and are viewable on their site along with a ton of useful information.
De-Escalation Training
Know more before you go… A background in de-escalation approaches will help you feel more confident when meeting and interacting with unsheltered individuals. This free eBook published by Right Response provides a quick overview of de-escalation principles. Always go with a friend!
Safe Parking "How To" Brochure
The organizers of the Lake Washington United Methodist Church Safe Parking Lot and other local leaders have published this comprehensive overview of what it will take to start and manage a Safe Parking location: LWUMC Safe Lot Brochure.
Decriminalization Handbook
The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance has published an excellent Toolkit To Combat The Criminalization of Homelessness (pdf).