You are a key partner in ending homelessness. By sharing trustworthy information, donating, volunteering, and using your voice to influence friends, family, and policymakers, you are making a real difference.
Here are some ideas on ways to get involved:
Share Information
You’re on our website, which means you’re interested in getting accurate, trustworthy information about how to end homelessness.
Sign up for our newsletter, and forward it to your friends.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter (X), Facebook and LinkedIn and share the information you find there with people you know.
Invite RHA staff to come speak at your neighborhood association, business association, church, community event, or even at a gathering at your house (or on Zoom) of your friends and neighbors.
Read and share curated articles from the National Alliance to End Homelessness or Giving Compass.
Visit We Are In to join together with people like you who want to make a difference.
Advocacy
These advocacy organizations are working to improve laws, regulations, and policies that affect housing and homelessness. Make sure you vote for candidates that partner with the RHA to support evidence-based solutions.
Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH)
Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance
We Are In King County
Make your voice heard. Write an email or a letter to your local elected officials, including mayor, city council, county council, as well as state and federal legislators. Keep it short, and focus on one issue at a time.
Review our Regional Services Database to see the full landscape of homeless services to ensure a clear understanding of the resources available, where there are gaps in services, and where additional investments and coordination are needed to achieve better outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
Regional Services Database
Review our Regional Services Database to see the full landscape of homeless services to ensure a clear understanding of the resources available, where there are gaps in services, and where additional investments and coordination are needed to achieve better outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
Media Coverage
These media outlets strive for accurate coverage that presents the perspectives of people experiencing homelessness, as well as our housed neighbors.
Seattle Times Project Homeless
National Alliance to End Homelessness Blog
Make your voice heard. You can write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Keep it short, and focus on one issue at a time. Guidelines and instructions will be posted on the newspaper’s website.
Housing Assistance
City of Seattle affordable housing assistance
King County eviction prevention and rent assistance
People facing eviction can contact the Housing Justice Project by email at hjpstaff@kcba.org
Housing Connector for landlords and property owners
National Resources
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
National Alliance to End Homelessness
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
Eviction Lab data and research
Donate to Our Partners
Money donations allow service providers like shelters and food banks to purchase what is most needed at any given time. If your company offers matching donations, then your money goes even further. These donations are charitable contributions and are tax-deductible.
If you want to donate food, personal hygiene products, warm socks, blankets, first aid supplies, good clothing for work, toys for children, or other items, it is important to call the shelter or food bank ahead of time to make sure you are donating what they need. Shelters and food banks may have limited storage space as well as limited staff to receive donations.
Review our Regional Services Database to see comprehensive information about all homeless services in King County.
Search wa.211.org to find organizations.
Volunteer with Our Partners
Start your own drive for socks, blankets, sleeping bags, or hygiene products (check with your local shelter first).
Covid protections remain in place, but there are still opportunities to donate your time to support the organizations who do this every day. Options range from handing out clothing or serving a meal, to mentoring a young person, providing graphic design and other specialized skills, or serving on a board. Please wear a mask and follow all other public health guidance.
- Seattle Works offers a searchable database of volunteer activities, including opportunities to serve on a nonprofit board of directors, with filters for type of activity
- United Way of King County offers a searchable database of volunteer activities
- Visit the website or call your local church, shelter, or food bank to see if there are volunteer opportunities