Washington Food Coalition News: Food Lifeline Update: Local Budgets and Visiting Olympia

ADVOCACY UPDATE

It's a busy time of year for Food Lifeline and the food banks and meal programs we support as we head into the busy holiday season. We're still busy fighting for funding for hunger relief programs and right now local city and county governments are finalizing their budgets for 2014. For Food Lifeline, the City of Seattle and King County are key partners in our efforts to relieve hunger. We've provided a quick update about their budgets and the important support they provide for the agencies and clients we serve.

During the holiday season Food Lifeline partners with many local organizations to help raise food and funds during what can be a challenging time of year. In the coming weeks, stop by your local QFC where you can support Food Lifeline in a variety of ways through Bringing Hope to the Table.

Sincerely,
Gina Clark and Katharine Ryan
Food Lifeline Public Policy Team

CITY OF SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY BUDGETS APPROVED

King County
On November 13th, the King County Council adopted an $8.9 billion budget for 2014 including $718 million for the general fund. Out of the general fund, 4% will go towards public health and human services, including $1.3 million of one-time funding

to countywide regional services for domestic violence shelters and housing, among others. The total human services funding remained fairly level at $2.4 million, however, the budget included no new funding for food banks or other programs that would improve access to emergency food.

In passing the budget, the council noted that many programs remain underfunded due to the lingering effects of the Great Recession. The slow recovery underscores the need for new sources of revenue to fully support those programs.

City of Seattle
The City of Seattle's $4.4 billion budget passed yesterday, November 25, includes a 3.4% general fund increase for a total of $1 billion. This budget is the first one since the start of the Great Recession in 2009 that maintained program funding, and in some cases increased funds.

The Mayor's proposed budget includes investments in public safety,

transportation and human services. The city's Food Action Plan strategy to provide "Healthy Food for All" will receive $136,000 to further advance the goals of the Healthy Food for All strategy. This strategy provides access to healthy local food for at least 1,250 children and older adults, and connects 30 senior and child care programs to local farms and locally grown produce. Additionally, $28,000 is provided for the Human Services Department to glean fresh fruits and vegetables to be distributed to Seattle food banks. These funds are in addition to the $200,000 in funding for the emergency food system and food banks in last year's 2013 fiscal budget and continues into next year.

The Seattle city council is set to vote on the final budget at the end of November.

CONNECTING WITH LAWMAKERS IN OLYMPIA

Each November, prior to the start of the state legislative session, legislators meet for two days in Olympia. This provides an opportunity to ease back into legislative issues and to meet with lawmakers who can be difficult to connect with in the interim. Through several meetings Food Lifeline continued to talk with both Representative and Senators, Democrats and Republicans about the key state programs that help alleviate hunger in Washington.

Want to come help us advocate for food bank funding and other key hunger relief programs? Hunger Action Day is scheduled for Friday February 7th - so save the date! More information to come.

ON THE HORIZON

A quick snapshot of upcoming hunger relief issues!

Farm Bill Conference Committee continues to meet but is unlikely to meet theDecember 13 deadline
State Legislative Session starts January 13
Hunger in America 2014 Study results released in May

Food Lifeline feeds hungry people. We stock the shelves and fill the tables of 275 food banks, meal programs and shelters throughout Western Washington.