Urgent Appeal for Action from HRB

Over the Fence, News from your Neighbors at Housing Resources Board

October 30, 2011

Rise & Shine Breakfast
Be Our Guest! Saturday, Nov. 5th 8:30 am Bird House Auction 9:00 am Program at Grace Episcopal Church RSVP by email Today Start the day off right by attending the second annual fundraising breakfast to benefit Housing Resources Board, presented by Central Highland Builders and Liberty Bay Bank.

Bird House Auction Soar

for Rise & Shine Event

A wonderful new element to the Rise & Shine Breakfast this year is the Bird House Auction. Thirty bird houses, each decorated by a local artist are being auctioned off online with the final auction happening at the breakfast on the 5th.

See for yourself the creative, crazy and whimsical bird house designs by going online to aHousingHero.org. They are also displayed at Winslow Mall, between Strawberry Patch and Blinx!

You're not going to want to miss this event, but time is short. The breakfast is next Saturday, November 5th. Make your reservation today by email or call HRB at 842.1909 ext. 4#.

Read about the Bird Houses on Inside Bainbridge and also the Bainbridge Review and the Bainbridge Islander. A special thanks go to our other sponsors including Columbia Bank, Inside Bainbridge, HomeStreet Bank, Pacific Northwest Title and Joni Carter Design.

Urgent Appeal for Action

Protect the Heart of the Community

Dear Friends of HRB:

HRB provides housing services for Bainbridge Island's most vulnerable populations.
That funding is now in extreme jeopardy. These long term programs: Independent Living, HomeShare, Emergency Rental Assistance and Islander Mobile Home Park affordable spaces are all being cut out of the City budget. HRB's total budget request is $80,000 in 2012. The City Administration's proposed budget for these programs is zero!

The Independent Living funding permits HRB to make home modifications that allows the disabled and frail elderly to remain in their homes.
HomeShare benefits those not able to afford an apartment by matching home providers with those looking for a room to rent and often an in-kind exchange in lieu of cash.
Emergency Rental Assistance is a cooperative effort of HRB and Helpline House to help a family in crisis with one time rental assistance.

The Island Mobile Home Park provides 6 affordable spaces to low income families.

HRB experienced cutbacks in 2011. HRB's budget request represents additional cuts for 2012. Despite these good faith efforts the City's proposed budget for HRB programs in 2012 is zero!!

Call to Action:

We ask you to contact your City Councilor on or before November 2.
Attend and speak out at the November 2 City Council meeting. (at City Hall, meeting starts at 5:30 pm)
Let your councilors know that you want these programs to continue. Let your councilor know that these services are the heart of the community and a community cannot live without a heart.
Please email and let me know that you made contact and what the response was.

Click here for contact information for individual City Council members Click here to email the entire Council.

If you need more information about the HRB programs that are at risk, visit the HRB website or take a look at the new HRB Front Porch newsletter that was delivered this week.

With your help and all of us working together we will restore funding for our most vulnerable Islanders.

Thank you and bless you,
Housing Resources Board Events

Ken Balizer, Executive Director, Housing Resources Board
842.1909 ext. 1#

One Call for All
It's that time of year again! The red envelope is on it's way! Please remember Housing Resources Board in your giving this year. Your dollars go directly to help our community with effective and innovative housing solutions.

Donate to HRB

Over the Fence,
HRB E-news

Contact Info:
Wendy Johnson
HRB Community Outreach/Development Director
email: wendy@housingresourcesboard.org
phone: (206) 842.1909
www.housingresourcesboard.org