CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION concerning wage equity for non-profit human services workers; expressing the City Council's intent to consider increasing human services contracts to support wage equity in collaboration with other funders; and requesting information and action from the Executive to advance human services workers wage equity.
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WHEREAS, the Human Services Department (HSD) connects people with resources and solutions during times of need; and
WHEREAS, HSD contracts with more than 170 community-based partners that work together to build the infrastructure to provide services that strengthen Seattle's communities and achieve the vision of a just and thriving society; and
WHEREAS, partnerships with community-based organizations allow HSD to serve thousands of vulnerable neighbors every year, including to prepare youth for success, support affordability and livability, support safe communities, address homelessness, promote public health, and promote healthy aging; and
WHEREAS, non-profit and government leaders connect low wages to problems with hiring and retaining employees to perform crucial human services work; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC) states that it is increasingly difficult for human services workers to live in our communities and stay in human services jobs due to low wages, resulting in high turnover, extreme difficulty in recruiting, additional recruitment and training costs, soaring costs in overtime, lost productivity, and the disruption of relationships between providers and program participants which are essential for successful outcomes1; and
WHEREAS, the Five Year Plan for the King County Regional Housing Authority (Authority) states that an informal survey of the five largest homelessness services providers revealed 300 vacant positions and that low wages paid to direct service staff are believed to be one of the most substantial reasons for the vacancies; and
WHEREAS,...
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