Focus on Seniors: Dial 211

 

By Holly Glen Gearhart

 

Getting help to pay the rent, mortgage or other needs when the cost is more than your income is a call away; you can pick up your phone and simply dial 211. This is a community-wide information line where you can find help with paying your rent, utilities and food in times of need.

The North Sound 211 line is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other numbers include (425) 258-4227, or (800) 223-8145. The TTY line is (425) 339-3301, or (800) 846-8517. To find out more about the 211 service, visit http://www.uwsc.org/get_help_resources.php.

Also, Snohomish County is asking for your input to address affordable housing funding. The county is holding two public meetings scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 18. The meetings will be held at the Public Meeting Room #1 at 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett. The first meeting is at 9:30 a.m., the second meeting is at 6 p.m.

Funds allocated from the federal government to serve in the form of grants, given in 2010, total about $5 million dollars and will be distributed until 2014 in the form of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Shelter Grant programs.

The grant funds support local affordable housing, public facilities, infrastructure, and service projects that benefit low-to-moderate income people and neighborhoods in Snohomish County.

If you cannot attend the meetings you can submit comments to Sue Tracy at sue.tracy@snoco.org or to the Snohomish County Human Services Department – OHCD, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 305, Everett, WA 98201.

In addition, Snohomish County last week concluded the application process for grants for affordable housing programs from non-profit organizations. These funds will be available in 2013 and the money set aside totals 3.5 million dollars in assistance. Affordable housing is scarce in areas of the county less urban than Everett and funds are available to serve these needs. The Sky Valley may not get a big portion of the monies designated for all of Snohomish County—making your voice heard can and will determine what the Valley can expect for housing in the future.