Seattle Relief Fund provides cash assistance to more than 9,000 families

The City of Seattle has provided 5,257 individuals and 4,135 households with direct cash assistance through its Seattle Relief Fund.

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The fund was created to support income-eligible Seattle residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the applicants, 5,585 adults received $1,000, 827 two-adult households received $2,000, and 2,980 households with children or adult dependents received a payment of $3,000.

“With the Omicron variant now here in King County, we know that COVID-19 is far from done with us, which is why we continue to launch programs to aid residents, households, and small businesses that continue to feel the impacts from this pandemic,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan in a written release. “Nearly 50 community organizations focused on equitably outreach for both in-person and over-the-phone to help thousands apply for this crucial funding, and now, more than ever this cash assistance will help pay for groceries, bills, and housing.”

The official application for the Seattle Relief Fund launched Monday, Oct. 25. In the three weeks the application was open, the program received 63,672 submissions.

Seattle-based tech nonprofit organization Scholar Fund managed the application process and says a majority of households who received funding (61.1%) experienced a death, hospitalization, or long-term health impact or crisis related to COVID-19. Additionally, 92.4% of awardees experienced some form of recent housing instability, and 82.7% of all applicants reported a job loss or loss of income. Of all applications awarded, 78.4% of recipients identified as BIPOC, and 30.7% of all forms were submitted in a language other than English.

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The source of money for the Seattle Relief Fund came from a $25 million appropriation as part of the “Seattle Rescue Plan,” passed by Mayor Durkan and the Seattle City Council in June 2021.

Find a list of existing COVID-19 relief resources and policies in Seattle here.

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