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Dear neighbors,

In the midst of so many challenges our community faces, I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe.  We are all doing our best to help our children manage virtual learning in addition to our own regular daytime tasks, all while experiencing the impacts of the dangerous air quality created by record-breaking wildfires burning across the west coast.

Today I’d like to provide a few updates and resources heading into this new school year and the upcoming legislative session.

Help Me Prioritize Our Legislative Agenda

As we speak, I am working on putting together a legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Some items I look forward to prioritizing include:

• Making our state a more equitable place
• Reforms sought by the Black Lives Matter movement
• Long-term economic recovery from the pandemic
• Environmental justice and climate resiliency

These are just some of the issues I’ll be prioritizing this session. I want to hear from you, the community I represent, about what issues you’d like to see addressed in the Legislature this year! Please reach out to my office with your suggestions at Rebecca.Saldana@leg.wa.gov.

Back to School in Times of COVID

I’m fortunate to be able to work from home, but juggling my children’s virtual school and our family’s mental well being continues to be a daily challenge. For our essential workers and others who work outside the home, this burden can feel insurmountable. Here are links to a few resources that may help.

Seattle Public Schools

For some answers to common questions about remote learning in Seattle Public Schools, click here.

There are eight temporary Family Resource Centers across the district that support Pre-K-12 students and families in gaining access to technology. Read more about the resource centers.

SPS is working with the City of Seattle and community partners to provide full-day childcare in nearly 50 schools this fall. For a list of providers and to check availability, click here.

Apply for free or reduced-price meals for your SPS student here.

Renton School District

For answers to frequently asked questions about remote learning in the Renton School District this fall, click here.

The district is working to improve in-home learning, with built-in supports for students and families, live instruction daily, predictable schedules and routines, and more. To learn more, click here.

The free meal service for all Renton School District students has been extended through Dec. 31. For more information, click here.

The district is partnering with Right at School to offer daycare at three elementary school locations for $30 for a half day and $55 for a full day.  Click here for more information.

Climate Justice Can’t Wait

Our climate is changing, and with it we are seeing the impacts of severe weather events throughout our state. An unprecedented wildfire season on the west coast has erased entire communities and blanketed us in dangerous levels of smoke. This has left those who must work outside vulnerable to the harmful effects of smoke inhalation and kept others indoors in an effort to avoid the smoke. Climate change is a public health emergency we must address now.

I’m currently working closely with Sen. Liz Lovelett, Rep. Debra Lekanoff and the Clean & Just Transportation Table to form a green transportation investment plan based on principles of environmental justice, climate action and a clean fueled economy.

We’re working on this plan to address climate change, improve public health, and care for our environmental health, ensuring a safe and healthy future for our communities and our children.

My office welcomes your thoughts and concerns, so please feel free to reach out and let us know what issues are important to you and your community.

Sincerely,

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña

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Dear neighbors,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe as we continue to battle the public health crises of COVID-19, racism, and police brutality. It’s important we’re there to support each other, even as we practice social distancing.

Today’s newsletter reflects on the evolution of how we celebrate holidays, and includes important information about child care partnership grants the state is currently offering.

Rethinking Our Holiday Celebrations

The weather is beautiful, and July 4 is approaching. Many of us long to gather our family and friends to celebrate with barbecues, camping trips, and fireworks displays. Unfortunately, we’re also experiencing another surge in new COVID-19 cases, which puts public health at great risk.  That’s why health officials are advising us to fight that urge to congregate and stay home instead.

Dolores Huerta speaks at a rally at the Washington State Capitol on March 18, 2019.

This is a good time to reflect on what holidays mean to us and how they have evolved over time.  In Washington state, we’ve recently added Cesar Chavez Day and Dolores Huerta Day as observed holidays, and currently legislative efforts are underway to make Juneteenth a legal holiday, which would make it a paid holiday for most state workers.

This represents a departure from the holidays traditionally observed in our state, which largely commemorate war efforts, and still include Columbus Day and Marcus Whitman Day.

COVID-19 has affected our ability to celebrate holidays as we usually do, and we’re in a historical moment that is open to including holidays that reflect the true ethnic and racial makeup and history of our country. This seems like a perfect time to reevaluate the importance of our holiday celebrations.

For many of us, holidays are cultural expressions that focus on the importance of pause, reflection, community and celebration. As we resist the urge to go out and party in large groups, it’s time to consider how we can achieve these things without increasing our risk of infecting others or becoming infected with COVID-19.

Click here for some tips for celebrating as safely as possible if you choose to leave your home.

Child Care Partnership Grants

The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering grants to local partnerships to stabilize and expand child care capacity in our communities. Organizations that are eligible to apply on behalf of a collaborative group include Washington nonprofits, federally recognized tribes, and local government entities (including school districts and educational service districts).

There will be two application rounds with deadlines of July 13 and September 11.

Click here to learn more about requirements, important dates, and more.

My office welcomes your thoughts and concerns, so please feel free to reach out and let us know what issues are important to you and your community.

Sincerely,

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña

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Dear neighbors,

Even in the midst of so much chaos, I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe.

Thank you to so many of you who have been writing to me about your pain, your hopes, and your policy ideas for addressing racism, anti-blackness, and the culture of violence.  We’re fed up with police brutality against Black, Indigenous, and Brown people. Yet, we’re witnessing more of that violence even as communities across our city, state and country rise up against it.  These hurts are compounded by the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with disproportionately high rates of infection and death amongst our communities of color, record levels of unemployment, and economic losses that will continue to be felt for the foreseeable future.

It can be hard to find room for hope during these desperate times.  But I want you to know that I am here, aware of your pain and listening to our community’s needs and demands for a better future.  Below, you’ll find my policy ideas to lead us out of these hard times and into a more just future, with laws to protect and support all people in Washington.

At the end of this newsletter, there is an important message about summertime food assistance for K-12 students while their schools are closed.

Fighting Police Brutality

The grief and anguish our communities are feeling deserve direct and immediate action at every level. That’s why I supported I-940 to hold police officers responsible for excessive use of force and implement de-escalation training, but clearly more needs to be done.

What I’ve witnessed since the protests against police brutality began cannot be described as de-escalation. Alarmed by the behavior of the Seattle Police Department (SPD), I joined 9 other legislators of color in urging Mayor Jenny Durkan and SPD Chief Carmen Best to take immediate action to end law enforcement’s violent response. We’ve called for ending the use of the National Guard and stopping the use of all forms of chemical substances, rubber bullets and flash-bangs, as well as demilitarizing police on the streets who interact with protestors. The police should not be showing up to peaceful protests in riot gear ready for provocation.

Our state must also immediately institute accountability and transparency measures in police contracts and ensure public access to disaggregated data on complaints of misuse of force, investigation and action taken as the result.
I will continue to work with Black leaders, organizers and my colleagues to completely rethink policing and create a model for public safety that truly upholds the safety of all communities. We should consider redirecting spending on traditional law enforcement and create additional progressive revenues to be invested in foundational public health, essential services, restorative practices and community-led youth programming. This includes making sure everyone has safe housing, access to healthcare including mental health services, and ending the inhumane practice of criminalizing poverty.

This is a long list of things Washingtonians need and deserve. With the help of your advocacy, I am confident we can make them happen.

Recovering from the Pandemic

Our state’s economic recovery must be centered on racial equity. The pandemic laid bare the underlying societal illnesses of racism and xenophobia.  We’ve seen immigrants who are essential workers treated as expendable, with spikes in COVID-19 infection rates among Latinx people under 40. We’ve seen people in our Black, Indigenous and Pacific Islander communities get sick and die from COVID-19 at disproportionately higher rates than whites. And we’ve witnessed violence perpetrated by law enforcement officers against these communities and their allies as protests have spread across the state. Enough is enough.

Improve health, increase wealth.

Our recovery must focus on those who have been most impacted, improving their health and giving them real meaningful opportunities to increase their wealth, so that in the future our state can be more resilient in the face of disasters. Here are some actions I’m advocating for:

• Use the recommendations from the Environmental Justice Task Force based on the Department of Health’s cumulative mapping tool for health disparities.
• Make lasting changes to the Unemployment Insurance system so that it works for all participants in our economy, not just those who have traditionally benefitted from it.
• Study how to extend other employment benefits for non-traditional employees and businesses, such as health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid sick leave.
• Study how to institute a universal basic income in Washington.

Take care of essential workers.

We need to update state policy and regulations to ensure essential workers are not treated as sacrificial workers. This means we must:

• Provide them with all the equipment needed to prevent exposure to communicable diseases at work.
• Ensure workers can take paid leave when sick.
• Pay wages that reflect the importance of the work people do to keep our society functioning.
• Fully fund universal, accessible childcare that meets the needs of all workers and families regardless of immigration status.
• Create a system to link unemployed workers from sectors such as service and hospitality with employers in sectors that need workers.

Transition away from incarceration.

We must reframe our ideas of criminal justice, addressing crime with restorative justice and a focus on remedying root causes instead of focusing on punishment and incarceration.

We’ve seen study after study about the ineffectiveness, inequity and cruelty of our country’s mass incarceration machine, but now during the COVID-19 pandemic, incarceration quite literally brings the risk of death.

Our new reality is that we cannot in good conscience concentrate large groups of people in prisons knowing we are putting their lives in immediate danger. It’s time to make a dramatic change.

Food Assistance for Families During School Closures

Because schools have been closed due to COVID-19, families in Washington state will soon have food benefits available to them to help buy groceries while children have been home from school. Called Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, these food benefits are available to families with children who are eligible for schools’ free or reduced-price meal programs. The Public Charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits and will not impact immigration status.

For most families receiving SNAP/Basic Food benefits and free or reduced-price meals: You do not need to apply. A one-time amount of up to $399 will be automatically deposited onto existing EBT cards in early July.

Families who already receive free or reduced-price meals but do NOT receive SNAP/Basic Food benefits: Apply for P-EBT at washingtonconnection.org or call the DSHS Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Families who do NOT receive free or reduced-price meals: First, fill out a free or reduced-price meal application with your local school by June 30. Next, apply for P-EBT at washingtonconnection.org or call the DSHS Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Click here for a more detailed description of the program and answers to some frequently asked questions. 

Any questions about the P-EBT program should be directed to the DSHS Customer Service Contact Center number listed above.

My office welcomes your thoughts and concerns, so please feel free to reach out and let us know what issues are important to you and your community at this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña

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Estimados vecinos:

Aun en medio de tanto caos, espero que este mensaje los encuentre a usted y a sus seres queridos sanos y seguros.

Gracias a los ustedes que me han escrito sobre su dolor, sus esperanzas y sus ideas políticas para abordar el racismo, la lucha contra la anti-blackness y la cultura de la violencia.  Estamos hartos de la brutalidad policial contra la gente negra, indígena y otra gente de color. Sin embargo, estamos presenciando más de esta violencia aun cuando las comunidades de nuestra ciudad, estado y país se levantan contra ella.  Estos daños se ven agravados por los efectos devastadores de la pandemia de COVID-19 con tasas desproporcionadamente altas de infección y muerte entre nuestras comunidades de color, niveles récord de desempleo y pérdidas económicas que se seguirán sintiendo en el futuro previsible.

Puede ser difícil encontrar la esperanza durante estos tiempos desesperados.  Pero quiero que sepa que estoy aquí, consciente de su dolor y escuchando las necesidades y demandas de nuestra comunidad para un futuro mejor.  A continuación, encontrará mis ideas sobre políticas para sacarnos de estos tiempos difíciles y hacia un futuro más justo, con leyes para proteger y apoyar a todas las personas en Washington. Al final de este boletín, hay un mensaje importante sobre la asistencia alimentaria en verano para los estudiantes de primaria, secundaria y preparatoria mientras sus escuelas están cerradas.

Luchar contra la brutalidad policial

El dolor y la angustia que sienten nuestras comunidades merecen una acción directa e inmediata en todos los niveles. Por eso apoyé a la iniciativa 940 para responsabilizar a los agentes de policía por el uso excesivo de la fuerza e implementar capacitación para reducir la intensidad de los encuentros policiales. Pero ha quedado bien claro que todavía hay mucho por hacer.

Lo que he presenciado desde que comenzaron las protestas contra la brutalidad policial no puede describirse como una reducción de intensidad. Alarmada por el comportamiento del Departamento de Policía de Seattle (SPD), me uní a otros 9 legisladores de color para instar a la Alcaldesa Jenny Durkan y la Jefa del SPD Carmen Best a tomar medidas inmediatas para poner fin a la respuesta violenta de la policía. Hemos pedido que se ponga fin al uso de la Guardia Nacional y que se detenga el uso de todas las formas de sustancias químicas, balas de goma y explosiones, así como la desmilitarización de la policía en las calles que interactúan con los manifestantes. La policía no debería presentarse a protestas pacíficas con equipo antidisturbios listo para la provocación.

Nuestro estado también debe instituir de inmediato medidas de responsabilidad y transparencia en los contratos policiales y garantizar el acceso público a datos desagregados sobre denuncias de mal uso de la fuerza, investigación y medidas tomadas como resultado.

Seguiré trabajando con los líderes y organizadores de la comunidad negra y mis colegas para repensar por completo el papel de la policía y crear un modelo de seguridad pública que realmente defienda la seguridad de todas las comunidades. Deberíamos considerar redirigir el gasto en la aplicación de la ley tradicional y crear ingresos progresistas adicionales para invertir en la salud pública fundamental, servicios esenciales, prácticas restaurativas y programación juvenil dirigida por la comunidad. Esto incluye asegurarse de que todos tengan una vivienda segura, acceso a la atención médica, incluidos los servicios de salud mental, y poner fin a la práctica inhumana de criminalizar la pobreza.

Esta es una larga lista de cosas que los habitantes de Washington necesitan y merecen. Con la ayuda de su apoyo, estoy segura de que podemos lograrlas.

Recuperar de la pandemia

La recuperación económica de nuestro estado debe centrarse en la equidad racial. La pandemia ha expuesto las enfermedades subyacentes de la sociedad: el racismo y la xenofobia.  Hemos visto a inmigrantes que son trabajadores esenciales tratados como sacrificables, con picos en las tasas de infección de COVID-19 entre los Latinos menores de 40 años de edad. Hemos visto personas en nuestras comunidades de gente negra, indígena y de las islas del Pacífico enfermarse y morir a causa de COVID-19 a tasas desproporcionadamente más altas que los blancos. Y hemos presenciado la violencia perpetrada por los agentes de policía contra estas comunidades y sus aliados a medida que las protestas se han extendido por todo el estado. ¡Ya basta!

Mejorar la salud, aumentar la riqueza.

Nuestra recuperación debe centrarse en aquellos que han sido más afectados, mejorando su salud y brindándoles oportunidades reales y significativas para aumentar su riqueza, de modo que en el futuro nuestro estado pueda ser más resistente frente a los desastres. Estas son algunas acciones que propongo:

• Utilizar las recomendaciones del Grupo de Trabajo de Justicia Ambiental, basadas en la herramienta de mapeo acumulativo del Departamento de Salud para las disparidades de salud.
• Realizar cambios duraderos en el sistema de seguro de desempleo para que funcione para todos los participantes en nuestra economía, no solo para aquellos que tradicionalmente se han beneficiado de él.
• Estudiar cómo extender otros beneficios de empleo para empleados y empresas no tradicionales, como seguro de salud, beneficios de jubilación y permiso por enfermedad pagado.
• Estudiar cómo instituir un ingreso básico universal en Washington.

Cuidar de los trabajadores esenciales.

Necesitamos actualizar las políticas y regulaciones estatales para asegurar que los trabajadores esenciales no sean tratados como trabajadores sacrificables. Esto significa que tenemos que:

• Proporcionarles todo el equipo necesario para evitar la exposición a enfermedades transmisibles en el trabajo.
• Asegurar de que los trabajadores puedan tomar permiso pagado cuando estén enfermos.
• Pagar salarios que reflejan la importancia del trabajo que realizan las personas para mantener nuestra sociedad en funcionamiento.
• Financiar completamente el cuidado de niños universal y accesible que satisfaga las necesidades de todos los trabajadores y familias, independientemente de su estado migratorio.
• Crear un sistema para conectar a los trabajadores desempleados de sectores como el servicio y la hospitalidad con empleadores en sectores que necesitan trabajadores.

Transición a menos encarcelamiento.

Debemos reformular nuestras ideas de justicia penal y abordar el crimen con justicia restaurativa, concentrándonos en remediar las causas a raíz de los problemas en lugar de centrarnos en el castigo y el encarcelamiento.

Hemos visto estudio tras estudio sobre la ineficacia, la inequidad y la crueldad de la máquina de encarcelación masiva de nuestro país. Pero ahora, durante la pandemia de COVID-19, la encarcelación literalmente conlleva el riesgo de muerte.

Nuestra nueva realidad es que no podemos en buena conciencia concentrar a grandes grupos de personas en las cárceles sabiendo que estamos poniendo sus vidas en peligro inmediato. Es hora de hacer un cambio dramático.

Asistencia alimentaria para familias durante el cierre de escuelas

Debido a que las escuelas han estado cerradas por la pandemia de COVID-19, las familias en el estado de Washington pronto tendrán a su disposición beneficios alimenticios para ayudarles a comprar alimentos mientras los niños siguen en casa sin ir a la escuela. Llamados “EBT de pandemia,” o P-EBT, estos beneficios de alimentos están disponibles para familias con niños que son elegibles para los programas de comidas gratis o de precio reducido de las escuelas. La regla de Cargo Público no se aplica a los beneficios de P-EBT y no afectará el estado de inmigración.

Para la mayoría de las familias que reciben beneficios de SNAP / Alimentos Básicos y comidas gratuitas o de precio reducido: No necesitan realizar una solicitud. Una cantidad única de hasta $ 399 se depositará automáticamente en las tarjetas EBT existentes a principios de julio.

Familias que ya reciben comidas gratis o de precio reducido pero NO reciben beneficios de SNAP / Alimentos Básicos: Solicite P-EBT en washingtonconnection.org   o llame al centro de atención al cliente del DSHS al 877-501-2233 entre las 8 am y las 5 pm de lunes a viernes.

Familias que NO reciben comidas gratis o de precio reducido: Primero, complete una solicitud de comida gratis o de precio reducido con su escuela local antes del 30 de junio. Despues, solicite P-EBT en  washingtonconnection.org  o llame al centro de atención al cliente del DSHS al 877-501-2233 entre las 8 am y las 5 pm de lunes a viernes.

Haga clic aquí para ver una descripción mas detallada del programa y las respuestas a algunas preguntas frecuentes.

Cualquier pregunta sobre el programa P-EBT también debe dirigirse al número del centro de atención al cliente de DSHS mencionado anteriormente.

Mi oficina sigue recibiendo sus mensajes sobre sus pensamientos y preocupaciones, así que puede sentirse libre para contactarnos para hacernos saber cuáles asuntos son importantes para usted y su comunidad en este momento difícil.

Atentamente,

Senadora Rebecca Saldaña

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Dear neighbors,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. As the state starts to consider the transition to reopening, please remember that in order to avoid another spike in infection rates, we have to stay the course by staying home to stay healthy.

The scientific data tells us if we were to lift all restrictions right now or even two weeks from now, the decline in cases would almost certainly stop and the spread of COVID-19 would increase. That would set everything back, which would bring more illnesses and more deaths, and businesses would remain closed for even longer.

King County residents have been directed to wear face coverings in most public settings beginning May 18. As a community, it’s our job to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be a carrier of the virus who could spread it to others.

Starting now, show the people in your community that their health matters to you, even if you are not concerned for your own. Do others the courtesy of wearing a mask to protect them and their families.

Learn more about the King County directive here.

Paying Rent in Times of COVID-19

Pay your rent if you can. Here’s why:

#1  The eviction moratorium does not forgive rent amounts you owe. Paying rent will help you avoid eviction after the moratorium is lifted.

#2  Tenants who keep paying rent free up resources for landlords to give a break to neighbors who can’t pay due to income loss.

#3  Willful failure to pay could end up getting you evicted later, which will limit your ability to rent a home in the future.

#4  Eviction courts are unlikely to give you a break if you had the ability to pay rent and did not.

#5  Smaller landlords are also struggling during this time, and if they are forced to sell their properties because they’re not receiving rent, even more of the rental market could end up dominated by large corporate landlords.

#6  Landlords have costs to keep properties open, healthy and safe, including:

• • Utilities
  • Repairs
  • Staff
  • Insurance
  • Mortgages
  • Property taxes

 If you can’t pay your rent:

Reach out to your landlord or property manager. In writing, explain your situation and request an accommodation. Here are some ideas:

• Ask for a waiver of rent for a certain amount of time.
• Propose a partial payment.
• Ask to apply whatever deposits you have on file to the missed rent.
• Request a payment plan for missed rent.

And remember:

• Keep copies of all communications between you and your landlord.
• Make sure any agreement you reach with your landlord is in writing.
• Make sure to follow that agreement. If your circumstances change, talk to your landlord about changing it.

Note: If you are in subsidized housing, contact your local housing authority or your property manager to recalculate your rent due to your change in income.

If your landlord evicts you or threatens to evict you in violation of the moratorium, report it here. (Form is in English and Spanish).

Rental Assistance Programs

Call 2-1-1 Washington Information Network for current information about agencies providing rental assistance. Keep in mind that several rental assistance programs can only be accessed through a 2-1-1 telephone screening.

• Write down the contact information, hours of operation and eligibility info for agencies suggested by the 2-1-1 operator
• When you contact the agencies, make notes about the conversations (examples: “left message, need to call back” “appointment on Monday at 2:00”)
• Generally, lowest call volumes are on Wednesday –Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• Call from a landline if you have limited cell phone minutes

Tip: If agencies report that funds are not currently available, ask when they will receive funding again so that you can contact them at that time.

Unemployment Insurance Updates

At this point, 810,000 people, or one in five of the estimated 3.6 million working Washingtonians, have applied for unemployment benefits since the start of this crisis. Of those, two thirds have received payments.

That’s why I want to share information and recommendations from the Employment Security Department to help you or those you know obtain the full benefits for which you or they might be eligible.

Top tips:

#1  File your claims every week. Many people who are eligible and qualified for benefits haven’t filed weekly claims. If you’ve already applied for unemployment benefits but have not yet filed a weekly claim, be sure to file your weekly claim and check this useful information out first before doing so. That will ensure you get through as smoothly as possible.

#2  Apply for expanded benefits. If you applied for regular unemployment insurance and were deemed ineligible, you may be eligible for the new expanded unemployment benefit called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). On the ESD website, go to your e-services account and if the “PUA” link is there, you may be eligible. Check out this guide before you apply.

#3  Answer the phone. The Employment Security Department (ESD) team members are reaching out and calling people to resolve their cases.

#4  Check your spam filter for emails and check your e-services account for notes from ESD asking for information. In some cases, they’ve reached out and haven’t heard back.

#5  Be prepared if you’re new to making a claim. Use the ESD materials like the checklist and the guide – these will help. Also make sure that the information is correct before you submit the application.

#6  Tell the truth. As you fill out, for example, your weekly claim – make sure you’re truthful. If asked whether you’ve been offered work, answer truthfully. If you refused the offer, state why. While it’s possible you’ll no longer be eligible for benefits, if you still have a  COVID-19 reason why you are unable to go into the workplace, such as kids home from a school that’s closed due to COVID-19, you may still be eligible for benefits. Here’s more information.

#7  Rest assured. The money will not run out and you will not miss out. There have been rumors/concerns that the money will run out before someone can obtain their benefits, but the money will not run out AND benefits will be paid retroactively to the date of eligibility. Even if you go back to work, you’ll be able to get benefits for all the weeks for which you were eligible.

If you’ve applied and your claim is “in adjudication”, the ESD just launched Operation 100% to quickly catch up on cases that need adjudication. Here’s their webpage with more information.

Has someone obtained your identity from some other source and then used it to apply for unemployment benefits? This page on ESD’s site has the information you need to report it. If you run a business and have seen this happen to multiple employees, ESD can also obtain the information in bulk from you and will soon have a template up on that same webpage. In the meantime, you can reach them via their email here: esdfraud@esd.wa.gov.

We’ve been successful in slowing the spread of the virus because the people of Washington have stepped up and sacrificed for each other to save lives. I know this is lasting much longer than we expected, but it’s important to stay the course and keep up the keep up the good work to protect the health of all Washingtonians.

My office welcomes your thoughts and concerns, so please feel free to reach out and let us know what issues are important to you and your community at this time.

Sincerely,

Sen. Rebecca Saldaña

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We know immigrant communities have been hit especially hard by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.  Click here for a comprehensive bilingual English/Spanish list of resources to help our state’s immigrant population through the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll find links to:

• general COVID-19 information in various languages
• federal, state and county resources
• information on education, housing and unemployment
• resources specifically for undocumented folks
• resources for Muslim communities
• mutual aid, well-being, and anti-racism resources

Sabemos que las comunidades de inmigrantes en particular han sufrido mucho debido a los retos que enfrentamos por la pandemia de COVID-19 y la crisis económica.  Haga clic aquí para ver una lista comprensiva bilingüe de recursos en inglés y español. Encontrará enlaces a:

• información en general sobre el COVID-19 en varios idiomas 
• recursos federales, estatales, y del condado
• información sobre la educación, el alojamiento, y el desempleo
• recursos específicamente para las personas indocumentadas
• recursos para comunidades musulmanes
• recursos de ayuda mutual, bienestar, y en contra del racismo

The information for this resource was provided by OneAmerica.

La información para este recurso fue proporcionada por OneAmerica.

Not eligible for most state cash assistance programs?  You may qualify for the Disaster Cash Assistance Program. Please see the information below for an update from the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services about this program.

Economic Services Administration to administer Disaster Cash Assistance Program (DCAP)

April 17, 2020

Effective today, the Department of Social and Health Services’ Economic Services Administration (ESA) received approval to begin administering a Disaster Cash Assistance Program (DCAP) in response to the Governor’s declaration of a statewide emergency related to COVID-19.

DCAP was originally designed to provide emergency assistance with natural disasters in mind, like wildfires and flooding. In order to expand DCAP to families and individuals affected by COVID-19, the Department adopted emergency rules allowing these funds to be used during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

DCAP benefits are available for one month, in a 12-month period, to all Washington families and people without children, who meet income and resource rules and who are not eligible other cash programs, such as:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) cash
• Pregnant Women Assistance (PWA)
• Unemployment Compensation, or
• Paid Family & Medical Leave through ESD or their employer.

DCAP Overview:

• Applicants must be living in Washington before the emergency declaration happened.
• Applicants must first apply and be determined not eligible for other cash assistance programs available.
• Under DCAP, applicants are not required to:
  • Meet citizenship requirements;
  • Provide a social security number; or
  • Be pregnant or have a minor child.
• Program benefits are available for one month in a 12 month period.
• The program is not a public charge program since it is disaster relief.
• Payment standards are based on income and need and may not exceed the TANF payment standards for their household size. For example, to be eligible for DCAP, a one person household must have less than $363.00 in income after deductions are applied in the month of application (approximately 34% of the Federal Poverty Level). If an individual has no income and is resource eligible, they may qualify for the maximum payment amount of $363.00 in DCAP.

People may apply for DCAP or other ESA administered assistance programs online at WashingtonConnection.org or by calling the Customer Service Contact Center at 1-877-501-2233.