United Way’s new focus has unintended effect on seniors, disabled
Published 1:30 am Saturday, July 2, 2016
By Dr. James Lee and Stephen McGraw
Barbara is in her late seventies and cares for her adult son who has a mental disability. They have not had running water for nearly two years, relying solely on rain water that is collected in a large barrel and filtered through an old sock into a 5-gallon bucket. This is what they use to fill the toilet, bathe, wash dishes in the sink, and drink. Barbara and her son are not a news story about poverty in a third world country; they live in Snohomish County.
Thankfully, the people of Snohomish County for many years have supported a strong and united safety net to address these and hundreds of other unimaginable real life situations. With support from the community, Senior Services of Snohomish County was able to reach out and help Barbara and her son. The agency fixed their well, repaired their roof, and connected the family with additional support services that enabled them to stay in their home. But imagine if Snohomish County did not have this community safety net in place and there were no community organizations to step in.
The Herald’s recent editorial on the United Way of Snohomish County “Collective Impact” initiative rightfully applauds local efforts to break the cycle of poverty in our community. However, there are consequences for others. By shifting focus away from funding community organizations that support the county’s broader safety net to breaking the cycle of poverty, two populations are being left out of the process — seniors and people with severe disabilities. Far too often, these members of our community are on the verge of homelessness themselves and living in conditions that are not suitable for human habitation.
The population of seniors in Snohomish County exceeds the total population of Everett. Estimates are that seniors will make up 22 percent of the county’s population in 2020 and a third by 2030, almost 300,000 senior citizens. While the 2015 Snohomish County Low Income Needs Assessment shows the need for housing assistance for adults age 18-59 has decreased, the average need for seniors age 60 and older has increased. Today there are 242 seniors on the wait list for Meals on Wheels and the average wait time is 6 months. These citizens are usually homebound, and often have no other options for getting meals.
Poverty is striking at a significant segment of our population, a segment that is growing. An estimated 12,000 seniors and people with disability live in poverty. These friends, neighbors, and family members — often hidden from view — have earned and deserve through decades of work and paying taxes to live a life with dignity and as independently as possible. Barbara and her son are one example of thousands of households in our county experiencing the negative effects of poverty, and without a community safety net, these families will become homeless.
The movement of United Way, other funders and community leadership away from supporting these extremely vulnerable populations poses a threat to the community’s safety net. It is likely an unintended consequence during this recent shift in priorities, but it is a consequence nonetheless. Of the 56 grants funded this year by United Way, only two supported seniors and two supported adults with disabilities. Senior Services of Snohomish County is of course grateful to be one of the two funded but its allocation is a full 60 percent less than the prior year. Our ability to serve our citizen clients has been affected to an alarming degree.
The people of Snohomish County are generous — working together, we can ensure that everyone, regardless of age or disability, has the opportunity for a life with dignity and security. Please include the needs of seniors and people with disabilities as you decide where to direct public and private funding and contributions.
Dr. James Lee is president of the board of directors for Senior Services of Snohomish County. Stephen McGraw is its CEO.
