A Seattle-based nonprofit has provided about 80,000 meals to people impacted by the spread of the novel coronavirus and plans to continue scaling up its abilities to help even more people in need.
Grant M. Haller/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Thousands in the Seattle have been laid off as the impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak become more and more widespread. But even as workers struggle to make ends meet in a time of uncertainty, tenants are still expected to pay rent come April 1.
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Gov. Jay Inslee has issued a statewide 30-day moratorium on residential evictions for the nonpayment of rent. That means tenants can't be evicted for falling short on their rent for the time the moratorium is in place.
Under the order, landlords are prohibited from issuing a notice of unlawful detainer for default payment of rent. Local law enforcement is also barred from acting on eviction notices issues for the nonpayment of rent.
Elaine Thompson/AP
On Monday, Seattle City Council passed a resolution calling for Inslee to impose a moratorium on rent and mortgage payments "such that no Seattleite should be required to pay rent during this health emergency or accumulate debt for unpaid rent." The resolution also urges Inslee to call on federal legislators and the Trump administration to do the same across the country.
By Genna Martin/SeattlePI
If you're looking for rental assistance at this time, here are some organizations that might be able to help.
First off, calling 2-1-1: can help you get information on what services are available to meet various needs.
How can you help out vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 outbreak? Click through the gallery to find out.
Genna Martin/seattlepi.com
The Union Gospel Mission, which operates shelters and does a number of outreach services, suspended most of its volunteer opportunities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Now, the organization is in need of some items that have been hard to find lately. Terry Pallas, the chief program officer at UGM said the organization could always use more hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies.
For now, Pallas said UGM Is looking for the really critical items it needs to operate. Other items that would help include cold weather gear, such as socks, hats, gloves and coats, Pallas said. Even though the weather looks like it’s starting to warm up, temperatures have been dropping overnight. Canned food or other items like that are always of use, he said, and UGM will continue to help our food banks as well when there is extra supply.
Genna Martin/seattlepi.com
Mary’s Place, which serves families and people experiencing homelessness through a number of programs and shelter services, is asking for people to donate items off of its Amazon Charity list, including thermometers, twin sheet sets and blankets and alcohol wipes.
Mary’s Place is also encouraging people to prepare “isolation kits” for people who might need to be quarantined due to the spread of COVID-19. Examples of things the kits could include are: bottled water, cough drops, hand sanitizer, individual Tylenol or Advil packets, tissue packets, snacks, coloring books, Pedialyte, puzzles.
Donations will help to cover the costs associated with the organization’s enhanced cleaning measures, which include adding hand washing stations, the organization said in a blog post.
Genna Martin/seattlepi.com
Bloodworks Northwest, which serves hospitals in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, is urging people who are healthy to donate blood if they can. The organization is warning the region’s blood supply is reaching emergency levels as blood drives typically held at schools and businesses have been canceled as the virus has forced closures.
Courtesy Bloodworks Northwest
Food banks are also in need of donations. Food Lifeline, which distributes supplies to food banks, shelters, and meal programs throughout Western Washington, is asking for donations, saying a large proportion of people it serves are children and seniors. Seniors are in the at-risk category that is more likely to experience severe symptoms if they are infected with COVID-19.
“In-kind donations to Food Lifeline, accounting for 85 percent of the food we source annually, have declined dramatically in the last week. But the need for the nutritious foods has increased,” the organization said in a post on its website.
The organization is also now operating without the typical 500 volunteers it sees in a normal week to keep it running. With donations, Food Lifeline said it will be able to help get healthy food to those in need.
Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com
United Way of King County is asking for volunteers for people to help distribute Grab and Go meals. As schools are closed across the county, students in need can pick up meals at schools during certain hours. United Way is also asking for volunteers to call low-income families to “identify community needs and connect people with critical community resources.”
Eastside Baby Corner is seeking donations for packaged diapers, cans of formula, unopened packages of diaper wipes, new clothes and shoes for families in need in Washington.
RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images
A delivery driver leaves a Domino's Pizza restaurant in downtown Seattle on a bike, Sunday, March 15, 2020. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Sunday night that he would order all bars, restaurants, entertainment and recreation facilities in the state to temporarily close to fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Inslee said that restaurants could continue take-out and delivery services.
A Seattle-based nonprofit has provided about 80,000 meals to people impacted by the spread of the novel coronavirus and plans to continue scaling up its abilities to help even more people in need.
The nonprofit, FareStart, has been working since the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region to provide meals to places including isolation and quarantine sites, senior centers, childcare sites and homeless shelters. The organization's mission is to help people in poverty overcome barriers by "teaching them work and life skills they need to succeed in the food service industry — and in life."
As of April 3, the organization had provided about 80,000 emergency meals, with plans to make about 15,000 meals per day going forward, more than 600% of its usual volume.
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In a blog post on its website, the organization said it is continuing to follow social distancing guidelines in its kitchens and is reaching out to restaurant workers who have been laid off to "provide paid, back-up support to staff" in its mission to make even more meals.
The organization has also launched a response and recovery fund to help with costs associated with food and meal production, staffing and labor and student and graduate support.
As the COVID-19 outbreak has continued, several organizations throughout King County have been left with fewer resources as they struggle to provide for an increased need. Organizations that operate shelters in the region have had to suspend many volunteer programs and food banks have faced a shortage of donations.
Officials in recent days have said social distancing measures put into place appear to be working to slow the spread of the virus. But the orders will need to be in place for longer to be able to really effectively fight the virus.
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Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee extended his stay-at-home order through May 4. On Monday, the governor announced all public and private K-12 schools across the state would remain closed for the rest of the academic year.
The Washington State Department of Health has reported more than 8,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus across the state, including 372 deaths.
