Seattlest Voters Guide: Proposition 1
Proposition 1 renews the already-existing, but expiring, Veterans and Human Services Levy. Do you like it when veterans' affairs programs are funded, at-risk families receive much-needed services, and homeless shelters get some much-needed cash? Then you should probably approve it.
Here are the numbers: since we first passed the levy in 2005, $13.3 million per year has been allocated to veterans' services, homeless shelters, vocational training and other programs that seek to support veterans after they come back home and help prevent homelessness. If renewed again, the average King County homeowner would pay $17 a year (five cents to every $1000 of assessed home value) for the next six years, collecting between $102 million and $108 million total.
What does that average-of-$17-a-year fund? Here, have this handy-dandy -- just a sampling -- of programs receiving funds from this levy. If you feel like some heavy reading, the full list is here.
Community Psychiatric Clinic
El Centro de la Raza
King County Veterans' Program
Puget Sound Educational Service District - 121
Therapeutic Health Services
Washington State Department of Veterans' Affairs
King County Veterans' Program
The Compass Center
Northwest Justice Project - Veterans legal assistance
Salvation Army - William Booth Center
Sound Mental Health
King County DCHS (MHCADSD) & King County Public Health - Health Care for the Homeless Network
Pioneer Human Services
Catholic Community Services
Community Housing Mental Health Agency
Downtown Action to Save Housing (DASH)
Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)
Foundation for the Challenged
Friends of Youth
Highline West Seattle Mental Health
Low Income Housing Institute
Plymouth Housing Group
St. Andrews Housing Group
Terry Home
Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation
Vashon Household
YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County
Downtown Emergency Service Center
Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council
Evergreen Treatment Services
Plymouth Housing Group
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation
NeighborCare Health
HealthPoint
Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT)
Forensic Intensive Supportive Housing (FISH)
First Place
Odessa Brown Clinic
Tiny Tots Day Care
Solid Ground
Sea Mar
Harborview
The levy also provides training for those who provide veterans' affairs programs to better serve them and their families, provides a fund to give landlords incentive to rent to high-risk applicants like recently homeless vets, funds increased Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder training to medical providers -- all kinds of things that make the county a better place for all of us to cohabitate.
Plus, the main argument against it? Apparently, it's that we should be funding it without a levy, anyway. There isn't even an opposing statement on your King County voters pamphlet.
Even if you oppose The Wars -- especially if you oppose The Wars -- you should probably vote to renew it.
