A new funding opportunity is available from the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) to provide system navigation and community building to promote and protect the rights of persons with visible or invisible disabilities reflecting the full diversity of King County.
According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability, making it one of the largest minoritized groups in America. In King County, 18.9% of adults were reported to be living with a disability. People with disabilities face challenges on multiple levels that create difficulty in accessing resources and building community. The accommodations needed to support people with disabilities in their day-to-day life is not to the level necessary for them to feel included and valued within society. Given the large scale of community members in this group, it is crucial to address their needs so they can be empowered, supported and self-advocated.
Community Supports for Persons with Disabilities (SE 3) will fund community-based entities to implement system navigation and community building supports for persons with disabilities that are designed using a holistic human-centered approach informed by the voice of the individuals with disabilities. This strategy builds upon the learnings of the previous iteration of the VSHSL (2018-2023) that served persons with disabilities and their caregivers in King County. Funding from this strategy will strengthen programs that are designed to support persons with disabilities and build networks through community support and connection. Funded services provided under this strategy will include, but are not limited to, early intervention, employment services, housing, civic engagement, internship, education, and training. Services may also support caregivers, provided that those services are directed by the individuals with disabilities.
Funding overview
Funded organizations will:
- Use a holistic human-centered approach informed by the voice of individuals with disabilities.
- Promote the inclusion, equitable access, advocacy, and self-determination of persons with disabilities.
- Address the root causes of inequitable access to resources and information.
- Center and amplify the experiences of marginalized communities.
- Be open to, and encourages supports for, persons with disabilities of all kinds.
Application details
Available funding: Up to $1,807,856 in Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy funds
Investment period: October 1, 2024 – December 31, 2027 (subject to change)
Questions: Contact Nafiso Egal at naegal@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-6927
Applications due: July 12, 2024 by 2:00pm Pacific Time
Join the information session to learn more about the funding opportunity
A virtual information session to discuss questions related to this RFP will be held on June 11, 2024, 1:00 – 3:00pm.
Join by Zoom:
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/86352426024?pwd=9xVakuBUggxtyQ191SQ1BqTctpZYad.1
Meeting ID: 863 5242 6024
Passcode: 153153
Join by phone: 1 253 205 0468
The information session will be recorded and posted here.
This will be a remote session with speech to text captioning provided. For accommodations to participate, please contact Nafiso Egal by June 8, 2024.
About the VSHSL
The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), administered by the King County Department of Community and Human Services Adult Services Division, promotes healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, housing stability and service system access for veterans, seniors, and resilient communities.