King County residents to vote on expanded human services levy

Last week, the King County Council unanimously approved legislation putting the Veteran, Seniors and Human Services property tax proposal on the Nov. 7 ballot.

If approved by voters, it would set the levy rate at 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for six years. The proceeds would be divided into three portions and used for veterans, seniors and caregivers, and vulnerable populations. Over six years, the levy is expected to bring in $342 million.

Currently, the Veterans and Human Services Levy is in place. The proposed levy expands the scope by adding seniors and increases the levy rate from 5 cents per $1,000. For county residents with a home at the median assessed value of $450,000, it would mean a yearly increase from $18 to $45.

Family Place opens in lower level of former VYFS PlaySpace building

After the sale of the building to Coco and Brennan Banks, Vashon Youth & Family Services has relocated its family education and support services to the lower level of the former PlaySpace building and is now open.

A large new play area for children has been set up, with several offerings available each week, including a drop-in playgroup, a parent support group with child care provided, drop-in child care and parents’ nights out. Program manager Christine Wood said she plans to offer new classes in the fall, including a book group for parents of preschoolers.

The play area is smaller than before, and Wood said she had to downsize, but looking around the room last week, she said she believes it will work well. Kids will still be able to be physical there, but it will be more contained than the former space upstairs.

“It will be playing with blocks, reading books and doing art projects,” she said.

Indeed, the room is full of kids’ items: a kitchen area, dress-up supplies, a large doll house, parallel bars and a small play structure, among other toys.

There is plenty of room for new families to join, Wood said. Membership fees are on a sliding scale, from free to $50, depending on income level and family size.

Vashon Youth & Family Services has a one-year lease with the Banks. Currently, Wood said the situation is working well.

“It feels like a good collaboration,” she said.

For more information about the Family Place, including a program schedule, see vyfs.org.