HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter of Support for Sunset Multi-Service and Career Center - Neighborhood House 6-2018June 14, 2018
Ed Prince, Council President
Renton City Council Neighborhood
1055 S. Grady Way, 7" Floor hYr'<<== Strong Families. Strong Communities. Since 1906.
Renton, WA 98057
Dear Council President Prince,
I am writing to express Neighborhood House's profound support for the award of a $400,000
grant to the Renton Housing Authority towards the completion of the Sunset Multi -Service and Career
Development Center. Neighborhood House is a non-profit organization that partners with diverse
individuals and families to build community and achieve their goals for health, education, and self-
sufficiency.
elfsufficiency. Founded as a settlement house by the National Council of Jewish Women in 1906,
Neighborhood House incorporated as an independent, non-sectarian non-profit organization in 1956. For
110 years, our programs have grown to respond to changing community needs. Today, Neighborhood
House serves diverse immigrants, refugees, and other low-income individuals throughout Seattle and
South King County, addressing a wide range of needs through our Early Childhood Education, Youth
Development, Employment & Adult Education, Family & Social Services, Housing Stability, Community
Health, and Aging & Disability Services divisions.
Neighborhood House has been working in close collaboration with the City of Renton and the
Renton Housing Authority on the Sunset Area Transformation Plan, and has been actively involved in the
fundraising effort for the Sunset Multi -Service and Career Development Center. The goal of the Multi -
Service and Career Development Center is to provide place -based services to help lift Sunset residents out
of poverty. The initial array of services that are planned to be offered reflect what the community
members requested during the Sunset Neighborhood Needs Assessment conducted in 2014. Current
services envisioned for the Center include: child and/or adult learning, tutoring, and mentoring;
employment counseling and services and job training; integrated health services, including behavioral
health counseling and services, health education and health care services; case management; and legal
assistance. Residents will be able to walk to the Center to access services, attend classes, participate in
programs, receive support, and participate in learning and play groups.
Neighborhood House has successfully partnered with the Seattle and King County Housing
Authorities to provide similar services at facilities in a number of public housing communities in Seattle
and South King County. Neighborhood House provides services to over 12,000 youth, adult, and senior
residents. We anticipate that the Sunset Multi -Service and Career Development Center will play a similar
role in shaping and enriching the community through collaborative efforts. We strongly encourage you to
award the Renton Housing Authority the $400,000 grant to support this project.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by phone at (206) 461-8430 x 2092
or email at marko@nhwa.org.
Sincerely,
Mark Okazaki
Executive Director
Cc: Mayor Denis Law
Chip Vincent, Community & Economic Development Department Administrator
Mark Santos -Johnson, Community Development Project Manager
community
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