Advocacy Updates: City of Seattle Budget

Our city is stronger and safer when everyone has access to food, housing, senior and youth services, and healthcare. Our next city budget needs to deepen investment in human services and wage equity to address the significant challenges we face.

At Ballard Food Bank we see the increased demand at our market, Kindness Café, and for our financial assistance program that helps prevent homelessness. Agencies across the city are facing similar challenges as they work to build capacity and meet the increased need. To address the challenges our neighbors are experiencing around food, housing, behavioral health, and more, our city needs to invest in organizations and agencies that are deeply trusted by the communities they serve.

Ballard Food Bank Executive Director Jen Muzia is a co-chair of the Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC), which is made up of coalitions of social services organizations addressing different issues in our city. Ballard Food Bank belongs to member coalitions Seattle Food Committee and Meals Partnership Coalition.

The SHSC and member coalitions urge the city to pass a budget that ensures our neighbors can access the services they need. Recommendations include:

  • Allocate $2.5 million in emergency food funds to support neighborhood-based food banks

  • Invest $1 million in meal programs to feed our neighbors

  • Make other significant investments to support seniors, youth, and survivors of gender-based violence

  • Ensure that agencies have capacity to pay workers equitable wages and keep up with rising costs from inflation

You can help advocate for these priorities!

Three cafe volunteers stand near a stove and scoop food from a large pot into a small bowl.

The Kindness Cafe is part of the Meals Partnership Coalition to share resources and information.

Email the full Seattle City Council at council@seattle.gov to lend your voice in support of these recommendations from the SHSC and member coalitions.

You can also find contact info for your district councilmember and other city council members here.

Find the full recommendations and further context on city budget advocacy on the Seattle Human Services Coalition’s website.



Ballard Food Bank