Byrd Barr Place

BYRD BARR PLACE IS COMMITTED TO HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES. WE NURTURE A MORE EQUITABLE SEATTLE BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY THAT ENABLE PEOPLE TO LIVE HEALTHIER, PROSPEROUS LIVES. WE ARE FOSTERING A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT CITY, WHERE ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A GOOD LIFE.

BYRD BARR PLACE'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS LOW-INCOME SEATTLE RESIDENTS PAY ENERGY BILLS AND HEATING SYSTEM REPAIRS, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR HOMES WARM DURING THE WINTER. THE PROGRAM HELPS TO PAY FOR OIL, NATURAL GAS, WOOD, ELECTRIC HEAT, PROPANE AND HEATING SYSTEM REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO HELPS RESIDENTS STAY IN THEIR HOMES BY PROVIDING RENTERS FACING EVICTION WITH SHORT TERM FINANCIAL AID. IN 2020, BYRD BARR PLACE PROVIDED 6,173 ENERGY ASSISTANCE GRANTS BENEFITING 8,389 HOUSEHOLDS. THE PROGRAM REPAIRED 32 DYSFUNCTIONAL HEATING SYSTEMS AND KEPT 344 INDIVIDUALS HOUSED THROUGH EVICTION PREVENTION ASSISTANCE.

BYRD BARR PLACE FOOD BANK PROVIDES FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIALS FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS. WE OFFER FRESH PRODUCE, CULTURAL STAPLES, MEAT, DAIRY PRODUCTS, BREAD, CANNED AND NONPERISHABLE GOODS, AS WELL AS NON-GROCERY ITEMS SUCH AS SHAMPOO, TOOTHPASTE, PAPER TOWELS, BABY FORMULA AND OTHER BABY SUPPLIES. OUR FOOD BANK ALSO DOES HOME DELIVERIES AND WILL ACCOMMODATE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS. IN 2020, THE FOOD BANK RECEIVED AND DISTRIBUTED 491,429 LBS. OF FOOD TO 45,998 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. 1,575 DELIVERIES TO HOME-BOUND CLIENTS.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY/TANFWASHINGTON STATE'S WORKFIRST/TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES OR TANF PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SHIELD TO PROTECT FAMILIES FROM EXTREME HARDSHIP, AND A BRIDGE TO FINANCIAL SECURITY AND A BETTER LIFE. HOWEVER, OVER THE LAST DECADE WASHINGTON STATE MADE SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO WORKFIRST/TANF THROUGH POLICY CHANGES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES LOSING BASIC SUPPORT. THESE POLICY CHANGES IMPACTED AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF BLACK AND INDIGENOUS FAMILIES COMPARED TO OTHER RACIAL GROUPS. WE WENT TO WORK TO ADDRESS RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY IN TANF AND HUMAN SERVICES IN WASHINGTON STATE. WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT TANF SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS. SO THAT FAMILIES ARE STABILIZED, OBTAIN ACCESS TO JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND FIND WORK. ALTHOUGH WE NEEDED TO PIVOT OUR APPROACH TO THE WORK DUE TO COVID 19, WE CONTINUED DOWN THE PATH TO UNDO PUNITIVE CUTS AND HARSH RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING CURRENT TANF RECIPIENTS AND RE-INVESTING IN WORKFIRST/TANF. WE WORKED TO DO THIS BY ELEVATING THE VOICES OF TANF RECIPIENTS TO INFORM HOW TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM AND ASCERTAIN HOW TO SUPPORT DSHS AND LAWMAKERS ON THIS ISSUE. WE ALSO BUILT A COALITION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ENGAGED THEM IN PLANNING OF THE ABOVE AND AS A RESULT WE CELEBRATED THE SIGNING OF SEVERAL BILLS TO REVERSE THE HARSH POLICIES THAT WERE ENACTED IN THE LAST RECESSION. THE BILLS ALSO INCLUDED A BROADENED DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS FOR TANF TIME LIMIT EXTENSIONS, ALLOWING FAMILIES WHO ARE IN TEMPORARY HOUSING TO CONTINUE RECEIVING TANF. GOING FORWARD WE WILL WORK FOR EXTENSIONS OF CURRENT COVID WAIVERS INSTITUTED BY DSHS, UP TO AND INCLUDING MAKING THEM PERMANENT, RATHER THAN TEMPORARY CHANGES. WE WILL ALSO WORK TO EXPAND TANF TIME LIMIT HARDSHIP CRITERIA TO INCLUDE WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENTS WHO ARE OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR TANF, THAT ARE EXPERIENCING A DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY.COLLABORATIONBYRD BARR PLACE ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THREE OTHER SOCIAL JUSTICE NONPROFITS (Y-WE, RVC AND COMMUNITIES RISE) TO CREATE THE BIPOC EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS COALITION OF WASHINGTON STATE, BRINGING TOGETHER NONPROFIT LEADERS OF COLOR TO PROMOTE UNITY, REPARATION, AND RESTORATION FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. THE COALITION FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MUCH-NEEDED NETWORK, WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO INCREASE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE TO STRENGTHEN OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO ENDEMIC NEEDS WITHIN BIPOC COMMUNITIES. ALREADY WE HAVE OBSERVED THIS WORK SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF BIPOC COMMUNITIES ACROSS WASHINGTON WITH INTENTIONAL INVESTMENTS IN AREAS SUCH AS HEALTH, HOUSING, EDUCATION, ART, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS IN TURN STRENGTHENING OUR VITAL NONPROFIT SECTOR AND BUILDING GENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

THE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR PROGRAM PROVIDES ON-THE-SPOT INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS FOR FOOD, HOUSING, UTILITIES, CHILD CARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, JOB TRAINING, HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR MAY ASSIST CLIENTS WITH A VARIETY OF COMPLEX HUMAN SERVICES APPLICATIONS. DEPENDING ON CLIENT NEEDS, THE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR MAY ASSIST FOOD BANK CLIENTS IN COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS AND SERVICES THROUGH WASHINGTON CONNECTION AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH CONNECT CLIENTS TO SERVICE SYSTEMS. THE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR PROGRAM ENROLLED 380 HOUSEHOLDS IN PROGRAMS IN 2020.