At the beginning of March 2022, five member agencies of the Vashon Social Service Network (VSSN) partnered to put together an application for funds that would support existing COVID-related social service programs.

The group learned about this opportunity in Feb. 2022, through a request for proposals (RFP) released by the King County Department of Community and Human Services to fund social service access and navigation for residents of Vashon-Maury Island who have been adversely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS), Vashon Maury Community Food Bank, The DOVE Project, Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness and the Vashon Senior Center were among the agencies that applied for funding.

These organizations recently learned that they will be receiving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds totaling $150,000. The goals of the program are to improve channels of access to services, increase access to basic needs and reduce isolation and loneliness for home-bound/isolated residents.

This collaboration ensures that the island’s social service organizations are not competing for limited resources but are partnering to ensure the most critical needs of the community are met.