LIHI Phone Bank Volunteers Get Training from Drew Atkins

 

Ballots for the August 16th King County Primary Election are due next week! They must be mailed by Tuesday. The proposed renewal of the King County Veterans & Human Services Levy is Proposition 1 on that ballot. LIHI is proud to endorse the levy, and we urge you to vote APPROVE on Proposition 1.

 

LIHI has been an active supporter of the levy campaign. On August 2nd LIHI employees, board members, volunteers and residents came together for a phone bank. Over 600 calls were made during a 3 hour period.

 

LIHI Board Member Alan Castle Makes Calls

 

According to Ania Beszterda-Alyson, LIHI's Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, "A lot of the King County residents we reached were unaware of the levy and our calls made a real difference in educating them about the critical services that the levy funds provide."

 

The current Veterans & Human Services Levy has helped more than 82,000 veterans, their families and others all across King County. The current Levy was passed by nearly 58% of the voters in 2005, but it will expire at the end of this year if Proposition 1 is not approved. The proposed measure would continue the existing levy for six years at the current tax rate. It's important to understand that this is not a tax increase. If the levy is renewed, the typical homeowner would continue to invest around $17 annually. Half of the proceeds would be dedicated exclusively for programs to assist veterans and their families. The other half would support general human service programs, available to all King County residents.

 

Over the past 5 years, the Veterans & Human Services Levy has provided $34 million in funding to programs that help end homelessness. Five LIHI sites have benefited from levy funds: McDermott Place, Gossett Place, White River Garden, Bellevue, and Jackson Senior. The Levy has funded essential services that many LIHI residents depend on, including projects that increase permanent housing with support services; initiatives that identify, engage, and house long-term homeless individuals; and programs that link education and employment to supportive housing. At the end of 2010, the Levy had helped fund a total of 25 affordable housing projects, creating more than 1,200 new units with 177 reserved for veterans.

 

We urge you to Approve Proposition 1! And don't forget to mail in your ballot by August 16th.

 

If you would like more information or would like to support the levy campaign please contact kelly@housingconsortium.org or visit: http://www.vetsandhumanservices.org.