February Services News
The unprecedented levels of snow this month provided Seattle shelters with the opportunity to connect a larger portion of its homeless patrons to long-term services. Services also highlighted in this month's news cycle were Mercy Watch, a volunteer medical service for the homeless, as well as a recourse fair hosted by Seattle Center's Exhibition Hall. Read more below:
Seattle homeless brought in from snowstorm connected with long-term services
After snow snarled Seattle last week, advocates for the homeless said it could be a major opportunity to connect with people in need.
The city opened about 550 additional shelter beds during the winter storm. Meg Olberding, of the Human Services Department, said many of the people don’t know what services might be available for their individual situation.
Doctors, nurses in Everett use street medicine to stop spread of infectious disease
Thanks to a grant that provides them medical malpractice insurance, Mercy Watch has a team of volunteer doctors and nurses who treat people on the spot.
About a third of the people they encounter have some kind of infectious disease they can treat and nearly every patient is a candidate for prevention.
Seattle homeless resource fair gives opportunity for housing, jobs
The Seattle Center’s Exhibition Hall offered one-stop shopping for Seattle’s homeless Friday when the City opened the doors during a resource fair.
From 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. more than 250 people stopped by the event in search of services, said Will Lemke, a spokesman for the City of Seattle’s homeless response effort.
Washington lawmakers consider bill that would provide the homeless with a free ID card
People without identification have a harder time renting an apartment, opening or accessing a bank account, using medical insurance, qualifying for federal benefits, like food stamps, or even staying in some homeless shelters. And, of course, getting a job is nearly impossible.
A measure in the state Legislature, Senate Bill 5664, is aimed at eliminating barriers to identification for homeless people. If passed, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Licensing (DOL) would be required to create a program to provide homeless individuals with a free ID card, also known as an identicard.