EVERETT — Several thousand people could be helped by programs Everett’s community development office proposed for grant awards totaling over $553,000.
Since 1989 the city has allocated human needs grant funding. The city dedicates $4 per resident from its general fund, which gets doled out to organizations that provide basic human needs services.
This year, it totaled over $453,000. The mayor and council added $100,000 from the city’s federal American Rescue Plan Act allotment.
Funding requests topped $1 million and not everyone who applied got money this year, housing and community development manager Kembra Landry told the Everett City Council during its meeting Wednesday night.
“We consistently get more demand for funding than what’s available,” Landry said.
Last year’s human needs grants totaled over $414,000 and helped 7,685 residents, Landry said. The city tracks the grant-funded programs through a software, which helps with the applications, grant management and more.
Council member Paula Rhyne said she was interested in raising the per capita amount.
“I’m just so glad we can help the city in this way,” Rhyne said.
Based on input from the city’s citizen advisory committee, funding priorities were housing, homelessness, and behavioral and substance abuse prevention and support, Landry said. Money was split roughly into thirds for each of those across 20 programs.
Cocoon House, which works with homeless youths, was marked for the highest total of $65,000 for a hot meals program. Another program for housing through Cocoon House was set for $44,000, as well as $29,000 for a partnership with Compass Health.
Bridgeways, an organization that runs the Mental Health Alternatives Program for people facing misdemeanor charges, was in line for $60,000.
Interfaith Family Shelter, which provides emergency housing at two sites in Everett, could get $60,000 for case management.
Refugee resettlement by Volunteers of America of Western Washington had $50,000 in the proposed award funding.
The Arc of Snohomish County, which advocates for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, could see $25,000 for independent living support.
ChildStrive, Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, Everett Recovery Cafe, Helping Hands, Homage, Housing Hope, Millennia Ministries, the Red Cross, Snohomish County Legal Services, St. Vincent de Paul and the YWCA also were proposed for grant awards.
The council is expected to approve the funding in early February.
Ben Watanabe: 425-339-3037; bwatanabe@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @benwatanabe.
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