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2.ProjectDescriptionSummary:ProvideabriefsummaryoftheprojectbeingproposedandageneraldescriptionofhowitwilladdresshomelessnessoraffordablehousinginKittitasCounty.Besureandindicatewhethertheproposalisintendedtoprovidedirectclientservicesorconstruction,maintenance,orimprovementofhousingfacilities.(250wordsmax.)Accordingtothe2019KittitasCountySeniorPopulationBrief,inthenexttenyearsKittitasCountywillbehometo1,114seniorswhoareatorbelowthepovertyline.Dataindicatesthatmorethan70additionalseniorscouldrequireassistanceorbecomehomelessinthenextthreetofiveyears.Withonly124senior-dedicatedunitscurrentlyinKittitasCounty,adangerousgapinservicesforat-riskseniorscontinuestodevelop.SSAPistheonlyprogramavailabletovulnerableseniorsovertheageof65whohavenoassetsandinsufficientsupportsystemstopreventtheirreturntooradvanceintohomelessnessbybridgingthegapthroughrentalvouchers.SSAPisadirectclientserviceprogram.TheSeniorSupport&AdvocacyProgram(SSAP),formerlySeniorRentAssistance,addresseshomelessnessforseniorswhoarehomelessoratriskofhomelessnessandovertheageof65andstabilizestheminsafehousing.Theadvocatecasemanageradministersathoroughassessmentofneedandconnectsseniorstofood,energyassistance,publictransportation,mentalandphysicalhealth,socialization,andtoHopeUniversitycoachinginbudgeting,savingmoneywhenyoushop,creditanddebt,energyconservation,healthyeating,andexercise.Thissupportsvulnerableseniorsinmovingasfartowardself-sufficiencyaspossiblegiventheirageandsituation.DuetotheincreasinglackofavailableaffordablehousingandtheprojectedincreaseinseniorsatriskofhomelessnessandwithhealthcomplicationsinthecomingyearsHopeSourceproposesthatthecurrentSSAPprogrambemadepermanent.WefurtherproposeamendingthecurrentcontracttoindicateanannualincreasebasedoftheCostofLivingAdjustment(COLA)aspublishedbytheSocialSecurityAdministration,typically2-3%annually,toensuretheincreasingnumberofseniorsarenotlefthomelessandwithouthelp.5