Affordable Housing - Catholic Community Services

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SAMARITAN Volume 1 Number 1 • Fall 2005 4 6 10 14 CONTENTS 3 Letter from the Vicar Trouble on the home front. 4 Michael L. Reichert “We have plenty of good stories to tell.” Hurricane Katrina CCS and local parishes help evacuees build a new life. 6 A Day in the Life of... The Tahoma Family Center 10 Holiday Events CCS and AHA look forward to holiday events for all ages, throughout Western Washington. 11 CCS Week Campaign addresses the enormous need right here. 12 Profile: Theresa Meurs This “Energizer Bunny” with a can-do attitude breathes fresh air into CCS in Whatcom County 14 Cover Story: A Place to Call Home AHA and CCS respond to the challenge of providing affordable housing in a red-hot market. 18 Natural Companions CCS, parishes combine resources to address community needs. 20 A Mother’s Story 22 News Briefs 24 Thank You to our Contributors O N T H E COV E R Jose Romero and his wife, Holly Willhoite, enjoy the grounds of La Casa de la Familia Santa with their sons, Jaime and David. The permanent housing, located in Centralia, is the Archdiocesan Housing Authority’s fifth affordable housing development for farm worker families in Western Washington. ©PHOTOBYMIKE.COM SAMARITAN Samaritan is published by Catholic Community Services of Western Washington. Address all correspondence to the editor. Samaritan is distributed to friends of Catholic Community Services and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. © 2005 Catholic Community Services of Western Washington. Offices: 100 23rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144-2302 Tel: (206) 328-5696 • Fax: (206) 328-5699 Web site: www.ccsww.org Corporate Member: Most Reverend Alex J. Brunett, D.D., Ph.D. Archbishop of Seattle Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Charities: Very Rev. Kenneth Haydock Publisher: Michael L. Reichert Editor: Kay Lagreid Contributing Writers: Amy Cunningham Christine Dubois John Wolcott Photography: Mike Penney Designer: Mathes Design Board of Trustees, CCS and AHA: Very Rev. Kenneth Haydock, Chairman Patrick J. Sursely Jack Sullivan Dennis O’Leary Leo Regala Michele Kopp, O.P. Michael Reichert (ex officio) Michelle Audino Elizabeth Thomas Vincent Mullally Barbara Schamber, S.P. John Cunningham John Stoner James Hilger Board of Trustees Development Committee: Very Rev. Kenneth Haydock Joe Abel Michelle Audino Patty Shepherd Barnes Richard Bray John Cunningham Sheryl Gudaitis Kay Lagreid Jim Murphy Rosemary Zilmer Catholic Community Services is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services. A United Way Agency
Trouble on the Home Front By Very Rev. Kenneth Haydock Very Rev. Kenneth Haydock is the Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Seattle, and the chair of the Board of Trustees of Catholic Community Services and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. The blazing hot housing market has brought great satisfaction to many homeowners, who have watched the value of their home skyrocket. But there is a dark side to the housing boom. Why People who are homeless find it increasingly difficult to locate affordable housing. Many of these people are battered and abused spouses who have fled for their lives, and people who have lost everything as the result of catastrophic illness or unemployment. Workers who earn a minimum wage find it increasingly difficult to rent affordable housing, let alone purchase a “starter” house. The average cost of a house in King County is $375,000. Many elderly people who live on fixed incomes face three challenges: the cost of decent housing, the cost of medical care, and the cost of food. All human beings have a right, in justice, to affordable and adequate housing. Societies that place no value on providing safe and affordable housing risk instability, as we have seen in many inner city environments. In order to reinforce the quality of family life and provide stability for families, we must work to provide as much affordable housing as possible for all citizens of our community. Cities throughout the United States have made it a priority to shelter the homeless and to provide affordable housing for people with low incomes. Government agencies at all levels have joined with foundations and civic groups to address this need. In many cases, churches and nonprofit organizations have assumed the mantle of leadership in this area. The Archdiocesan Housing Authority of the Archdiocese of Seattle works creatively and tirelessly to address the need for affordable housing in Western Washington. AHA sponsors shelters for people living on Seattle’s streets. Among them are the St. Martin de Porres Shelter, which provides a meal and a bed at night for homeless men. Noel House is a shelter for women. Sacred Heart Shelter serves women, children and families. The Lazarus Day Center provides a meal and a place to stay during the day. Sacred Heart Shelter in Seattle serves women, children and families. AHA also developed and manages five housing facilities for farm worker families in the Skagit Valley and Southwest Washington. Three additional projects are under development. Individuals with very limited resources also have access to affordable AHA housing subsidized by the government. Chancery Place and the Josephinum in Seattle are examples of this type of housing. One area of great need is rent subsidy, that is, Section 8 vouchers provided at the federal level. This program is the cornerstone of direct federal support and is being cut by the current administration, exacerbating the problem significantly. Many new projects are not feasible unless they can get project-based Section 8 support. Also, the reduction of vouchers for people with low incomes significantly reduces their access to housing because they cannot afford rent. AHA oversees 1,600 housing units throughout Western Washington. Many of the housing sites also provide services for residents, such as counseling and food programs. AHA is a strong advocate for adequate and affordable housing, but it cannot do this work alone. Stable family life and access to affordable housing for all people require that each one of us find a way to work with our local and regional leaders to encourage them to continue to sponsor such programs. Likewise, as responsible stewards, we are called to volunteer our time and to assist financially to ensure that everyone has a place to call home. ©PHOTOBYMIKE.COM w w w.ccsw w.org Catholic Communit y Ser vices of Western Washington 3
Page 1: Volume 1 Number 1 • Fall 2005 SAM
Page 5 and 6: Hurricane Katrina New Life the Gulf
Page 7 and 8: FACT: In 2004, CCS made it possible
Page 9 and 10: FACT: In 2004, CCS volunteers in Pi
Page 11 and 12: Funds donated through CCS Week will
Page 13 and 14: phone cards, games, socks and stamp
Page 15 and 16: Today, AHA and CCS provide more tha
Page 17 and 18: Where You Will Find Us Bellingham F
Page 19 and 20: elationships to serve. The poor and
Page 21 and 22: Home Care Is Our Mission We provid
Page 23 and 24: Benedict House set to open in Febru
Page 25 and 26: Founder (1000-2499) Adobe Systems I
Page 27 and 28: Mr. Leonard J. Kreissl III Mr. and

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