State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson and House Democrats proposed
an exciting new idea in 2010—an “opportunity portal” to provide fast,
efficient, one-stop access to a wide array of federal, state and local benefits
that are available to Washington residents. The result was a
new law and the nation-leading Washington Connection
(www.washingtonconnection.org) portal.
An important milestone was reached yesterday when Seattle
Mayor Mike McGinn announced that City of Seattle benefits and services can now
be accessed through Washington Connection. He noted that it’s the “first partnership of its kind in the nation
between a state and a large city.”
Thanks to Washington
Connections, Washington residents can quickly learn about and apply for
services and benefits that include food assistance, medical assistance, cash, education, veterans benefits,
home care services, housing assistance and more. It is safe, secure and
lightning fast.
Washington
Connections is the best kind of public-private partnership. Thanks to state and
local leaders and great partners like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
children, adults and families in Washington are getting help they need in
record time.
Making government work faster and better for people is a
leading priority of the HDC. Washington Connections shows how that leadership
is helping residents and communities throughout our great state.
Want to learn more? Take a look at Mayor Mike McGinn's press release and the Puget Sound Business Journal article: Gates Foundation helps fund centralized city/state public assistance website.
