About FTF:
First
things First is building grassroots support
for a more humane Seattle. We believe that creating
low-income housing and providing adequate shelter for
all should be among our city’s highest priorities.
First things First is working to ensure that elected
officials know voters care about homelessness.
First things First
• Identifies and supports new activists
• Initiates action to address housing
and homelessness
• Builds coalition with others to create
a unified strategy for change
What do we support?
Preserve and create more low-income housing in Seattle: As average rents rise by 15% annually and the earning
capacity of the working poor remains flat, many people
who live and work in Seattle have been unable to keep
up. First things First supports a Housing levy that
meets the needs of very-low income residents and calls
for policies that do more to preserve existing low-income
housing. We also support expanded federal and state
involvement in creating low-income housing.
Shelter for all: We believe that a world class
city should have a roof over every bed. The October
2006 One-Night Count of homeless people in King County
estimated that on any given night there are 7,350 people
who are homeless. On the night of the survey, there
were 4,671 people in shelter or transitional housing.
Others are finding shelter in greenbelts, parks, alleys,
and other areas of the city where they are vulnerable
to the dangers of the street.
Services to move people beyond shelter: Shelter
is not a solution to homelessness. Supportive services
such as childcare, housing search assistance, adequate
opportunities for drug and alcohol treatment, hygeine
services and day centers all help to move people out
of shelter and into transitional and permanent housing.
In a time of budget cutbacks, government must maintain
its commitment to services for the most vulnerable.
Download the First things First Fact Sheets (pdf):
Photo Galleries:
MLK Jr. Day (Olympia, WA. 2007)
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Join us
First things First is an activist organization sponsored
by Real Change, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. We
are building a grassroots movement to create a more
humane Seattle.
If you support the goals of First things
First, please call 441-3247 x201 for more information.
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