Children's Home Society of Washington is happy to announce the receipt of a $70,000 grant from the Seattle-based Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The funds will support the creation of an Emergency Relief Fund at CHSW's North Seattle Family Center.

The North Seattle Family Center allows children and families to access parenting education, health and nutrition programs, life-skills education, youth and school success activities, as well as emergency assistance support. The Center serves the highest number of CHSW clients statewide, with close to 17,000 visits annually.

In recent months, the North Seattle Family Center has reported significant increases in requests for emergency financial assistance. In 2009, 88% of clients reported their income as low or very low and made more than 1,500 requests for information, referral, family advocacy services, and financial assistance. 60% of these requests were for emergency financial assistance related to rent and eviction assistance, foreclosure, move-in funds, utilities, basic needs like food and medicine, transportation.

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