Chief Seattle Club Programs
Basic Needs
Breakfast, lunch, showers, laundry, clothing, bus tickets, eye glasses, ID cards, and telephone. The Club serves 62,000 meals annually to our members.
Health and Chemical Dependency
On-site nurses from the Seattle Indian Health Board and Seattle-King County Public Health. On-site drug and alcohol assessments with referrals to inpatient/outpatient programs through Seattle Indian Health Board, Evergreen Treatment Services. Approximately 75 percent of our members face chemical dependency issues. Due to a unique partnership between the Club, DSHS and Seattle Indian Health Board we have expedited the process for same-day service and can immediately screen, approve and place a member into inpatient treatment (typically takes several months).
Benefits
On-site DSHS eligibility worker applies and approves state benefits (food stamps, Medicaid, GAU). In 2012, 574 applications were submitted on-site for state benefits. Additionally, the Financial Worker coordinates with DSHS staff to assist members to apply, obtain and retain eligibility for other DSHS benefits such as TANF and child care. Once a month, Seattle Community Law Center provides on-site clinics to help members access SSI/SSDI through information, advice, advocacy and direct legal representation with applications, appeals and hearings. The Club also assists members with tribal enrollment/documentation to access Indian Health Services and Bureau of Indian Affairs benefits.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Recent Success
In mid-2012, we developed a new partnership with St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP). Once a week, SVDP provides an on-site case manager to provide housing assistance, including move-in, eviction prevention and utility assistance. Due to our partnership with SVDP and additional funds from the Northwest Area Foundation, we have increased housing assistance by 253 percent to reduce and prevent homelessness for our members (first half of 2012 we provided $3,000 in rental/utility assistance, and in the last half of 2012 provided $10,600). In 2013, we anticipate providing $20,000 annually in rental/utility assistance through our partnership with SVDP and organizational funds.
Current need
We are grateful for our newly renovated facility in Pioneer Square. We have been in our new facility for five years, and it is beginning to show signs from the daily wear and tear. We want to make cosmetic changes (painting and flooring) and minor renovations (bathrooms, plumbing and boiler).