OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE services
PLEASE READ

We got this, Seattle!

For decades, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle has been on the front lines in times of crisis. We have been, and remain, a place of solace, refuge, and support for our most vulnerable communities, families, and people. We are committed to supporting our community through these unprecedented times! We may not be a hospital but we are, and will remain, first responders for those most vulnerable and in need.

Please use this page to keep track of and connect with the emergency assistance services provided through the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle for the remainder of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle has returned to our normal hours of operation. 

Our main office will be operating on the following adjusted schedule:

Monday – Friday from 9AM – 5PM | Walk-Ins welcome until 4PM | Appointments preferred. 

If you are sick or unable to make it to our office, we will gladly work with you via phone. Simply call (206) 461-3792 and press 0 to speak to our receptionist.

Please wear a mask when entering our office. If you do not have a mask, we can provide one for you.

WA State protocol advises if you are feeling sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please isolate yourself for 72 hours before coming to receive emergency services.

If symptoms persist past 72 hours, please contact your medical care provider immediately.  

Learn more about ULMS here:

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Black Lives Matter, which means Black Health Matters too.

Vaccine education & outreach for us, by us.

VIEW OUR COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE

our doors are open
Our Response to COVID-19

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle team has not flinched as we face this deadly giant together as a city, region, and nation. We stand firmly next to our neighbors and friends providing necessary resources to ensure that those most in need still feel seen, valued, and protected through these times of uncertainty.

Here is a brief overview of what we’ve done thus far to combat Coronavirus in our community. To view a complete list of ULMS emergency services, please click the button below.

Our main office now provides telecom and/or virtual options for appointments and access to most programs and services. 

Monday – Friday from 10AM to 4PM | Walk-Ins welcome | Appointments preferred. 

If you are sick or unable to make it to our office, we will gladly work with you via phone. Simply call (206) 461-3792 and press 0 to speak to our receptionist.

Since April 2020, ULMS has partnered with local sponsors and community leaders to provide three different emergency food assistance programs in an effort to supply food for families with limited access to (or resources for) food. 

  1. Family Emergency Kits via Drive Thru Pick Up: In collaboration with Together Washington, World Vision, and City of Seattle Parks & Recreation, ULMS offered Family Emergency Kits to 50 families with children each Monday via drive thru pick-up between the months of April – June 2020. These kits include basic groceries, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, school supplies, and children’s in-home activities. Pick ups were made from 12PM – 2PM and locations rotated between 1 of 4 local community centers to ease transportation limitations for families.
  2. Grocery Delivery: With the help of Byrd Barr Place, ULMS now be offered a staff driven emergency food package delivery service to 50 families in need each week from May – July 2020. These packages included basic food essentials such as meat, fruit, fresh produce, and boxed goods. This service was extended to individual families, families without children, and local seniors.
  3. Hot Meal Distributions: Since November 2020, ULMS — in collaboration with C. Davis BBQ and a host of local partners — has provided monthly opportunities for community residents in need to receive free hot BBQ meals and access to a variety of resources including (but not limited to) COVID-19 testing, vaccine pop-up clinics, health screenings, employment assistance, PPE, hygiene care kits, and more.  

In April 2021, ULMS launched our ‘Black Health Matters’ campaign to help promote vaccine education and outreach opportunities for us by us. As a part of this effort, we have created and distributed custom physical and digital vaccine education materials, provided vaccination appointment opportunities and aftercare supplies, and connected with local community partners to provide healthcare services and resources. 

To learn more about the Black Health Matters campaign, please click here

In April 2020, restaurants in King County who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 were given the opportunity to partner with ULMS for civic engagement outreach in exchange for grant funding. 

Restaurant owners were given ULMS Census outreach materials to include in their take-out or to-go orders and in turn, received $2,500 grants.

Participating restaurants included: 

  • June Baby
  • Salare 
  • Jerk Shack
  • That Brown Girl Cooks
  • Where Ya At, Matt
  • Emerald City Fish & Chips
  • Urban Connoisseurs 
  • City Teriyaki 

In June 2020, we partnered with our friends at The Plate Fund to provide expedited access codes worth $500 each to 25 local restaurant industry workers whose pay or employment status were severely impacted by COVID-19. 

ULMS has collaborated with a local church partner to establish a new Young Adult Shelter in the Central District. The shelter will operate on a 24 hour schedule throughout the remainder of the pandemic. Participants must be aged 18-24 and referred by a case manager for admission and intake. Referral assistance available.

To learn more about the shelter, please click here.

Small Black-owned businesses were among those hit hardest during the pandemic. In an effort to promote Black businesses local to King County, ULMS launched our custom Black Business directory in June 2020. The directory is promoted monthly to our ULMS email subscribers and on our official social media channels. 

As of September 2021, more than 70 businesses from a variety of industries have been added to the directory — at no cost! To view our Black Business directory, click here

In an effort to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19, the WA State Department of Corrections is currently in the process of releasing hundreds of low-level offenders back into the community — many of whom will be in need of basic necessities and employment opportunities. 

To assist with this effort, ULMS has donated gently used clothing from our workforce clothing storage to the DOC. This clothing will be sorted and provided to more than 1,100 men and women scheduled to be released from the DOC in the coming weeks.

Clothing items included:

  • shirts
  • jackets
  • ties
  • dresses
  • pants
  • socks
  • shoes

The Urban League’s signature Career Bridge job readiness program has now gone virtual! Participants may now continue to work toward professional development outcomes in our virtual classroom. 

In lieu of the traditional Monday – Friday schedule, classes will now be held virtually Tuesdays & Thursdays from 1PM – 3PM.

These classes will cover topics such as:

  • Job Readiness
  • Life Skills
  • Cover Letter Assistance
  • Resume Assistance

Students also have the option of earning the following certifications: 

  • OSHA 10
  • Industrial First Aid
  • CPR
  • Flaggers

To learn more about the Career Bridge program, please click here

In August 2020, ULMS launched a special community social project entitled the Black Voices Project. The Black Voices Project is a virtual Black book club and community dedicated to uplifting Black literary/creative voices through a range of mediums including books, essays, podcasts, and more! Our goal is to facilitate meaningful conversations about systemic racism and Black history while addressing current political, racial, and social issues impacting Black culture.

Each month ULMS staff choose a literary work to read with the group. Once the selected work for the month is finished, project facilitators host a virtual meet up for participants to discuss the work, how it applies to the current state of society, and lessons that can be applied to conversations and experiences involving racism and Black culture.

Participants receive monthly updates via email subscription and have the option of joining our private slack group to continue discussions and share information and resources. In addition, 10 book club members are selected at the beginning of each month to receive a copy of the current month’s book via first come first served basis.

As of September 2021, 120 people from both locally and across the country have joined the book club! To learn more about the Black Voices Project, click here

BY THE NUMBERS
$ 1 M
spent on rental assistance & evicton prevention
$ 1 M
spent on general support services outside of rent
$ 1 K
to support small businesses via grants & contracts
$ 1 K
spent on PPE equipment (masks & sanitizer)
$ 1 K
provided in direct cash assistance
$ 1 K
in ride share credits disbursed
$ 1
spent to feed protestors at local marches/rallies
1
families fed
1
individuals fully vaccinated via 12 local pop-up clinics
$ 1 M
spent in total support services (including rental assistance)

LOOKING FOR A LOCAL VACCINE OPPORTUNITY?

WORKFORCE
Career Bridge Classes Now Offered Virtually

The Urban League’s signature Career Bridge job readiness program has now gone virtual! Participants may now continue to work toward professional development outcomes in our virtual classroom.

The Career Bridge program is designed to help individuals with multiple barriers access education, employment, and economic career pathway opportunities in order to improve their quality of life.

To learn more about the Career Bridge program, please visit https://urbanleague.org/careerbridge/ 

In lieu of the traditional Monday – Friday schedule, classes will now be held virtually Tuesdays & Thursdays from 1PM – 3PM.

These classes will cover topics such as:

  • Job Readiness
  • Life Skills
  • Cover Letter Assistance
  • Resume Assistance

Students have the option of earning the following certifications: 

  • OSHA 10
  • Industrial First Aid
  • CPR
  • Flaggers

Students must register for a cohort before the official first day of class. All upcoming Career Bridge cohorts are open to any  student participant who meets the following requirements: 

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Authorized to work in the U.S.

All cohorts are open to any individual with a diverse background, including but not limited to:

  • Those who are formerly justice involved
  • Those experiencing homelessness
  • Veterans
WORKFORCE
Priority Hire Assessments
Now Offered Virtually

We recognize the lack of representation for workers of color when it comes to construction and other related industries. Our goal to not only provide training and job access within this specific workforce, but also emphasize and support women and people of color as valuable contributions to the industry.

Priority Hire is a City of Seattle ordinance that was enacted in 2015, to prioritize individuals for recruitment, training, and employment into the construction workforce.​

For more details about the Priority Hire program, please visit https://urbanleague.org/priorityhire/

Participants have the option of earning the following certifications: 

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Flagger
  • Forklift 
  • OSHA-10
  • HAZWOPER

All Priority Hire participants must meet the following guidelines in order to successfully enroll in the program:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be authorized to work in the U.S.
  • Availability to attend trainings
  • Have a willingness and interest in working in construction and completing an apprenticeship

The following qualifications can improve a participant’s chances to receive additional services and job placement opportunities, but aren not required: 

  • Have a valid driver’s license 
  • Possess a high school diploma or equivalent 
workforce
Weekly Zoom Webinars with ULMS Job Developers

The ULMS job development team will now offer digital webinars to clients in need of job training an/or access to available employment opportunities.

  • Each Wednesday, ULMS job developers will host career development training and consultation via Zoom for the first 15 clients to register each week. 
  • Webinars will cover topics such as resume building, assistance finding and submitting job applications, virtual interview etiquette, and more. 
  • Those who participate in the webinars will also be offered assistance with connecting with and applying to real, available job opportunities.

Due to limited space capacity per webinar session, clients will need to connect with our job development team first before receiving the zoom invitation link and login information.

If you are interested in attending a job training webinar with our Job Development team, please contact click the ‘Get Started’ button to begin. 

Housing
New 24 Hour Young Adult Shelter Now Open

ULMS has collaborated with a local church partner to establish a new Young Adult Shelter in the Central District. The shelter will operate on a 24 hour schedule throughout the remainder of the pandemic. Participants may call the shelter line for admission and intake.

  • 25 socially distant (6 feet apart) beds. One per client.
  • Daily meals 
  • Gloves, masks, and sanitizer provided
  • Hygiene items & shower access
  • Clean clothes provided
  • Permanent/transitional housing search and secure assistance 
  • Professional development opportunities (resume building, mock interviews, job searching, etc.)
  • Case management assessment 
  • On site staff members for at all times immediate assistance
  • +More
  1. Must be 18 – 24.
  2. All gender identities are welcome
  3. All races are welcome
  4. All sexual orientations are welcome

The shelter operates under a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for all harmful or inappropriate behaviors and/or activities including, but not limited to the following:

  • No Drugs: marijuana, non-prescription opioids/opiates, narcotics of any kind, steroids, inhalants, drug paraphernalia, etc.
  • No Alcohol: wine/wine coolers, beer, liquor, champagne, lean (or other drug/alcohol mixed beverages), alcoholic paraphernalia, etc.
  • No Weapons: guns/bb guns, knives, shanks, baseball bats, brass knuckles, mase, tasers, fists, etc. 
  • No Violence: fighting, bullying, intimidation, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual violence, property destruction, etc.) 

Any violation of the aforementioned shelter rules will result in immediate loss of shelter privileges. 

Any person who meets the client guidelines and is interested in utilizing the shelter can call the shelter directly at (206) 639-7477

Housing
Rental Assistance & Transitional Housing

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle is currently working with local community partners and government organizations to address an overwhelming amount of emergency rental assistance and housing requests received.

Thus far, ULMS has built 3 new tiny homes for families in need of transitional housing, with several more currently in development for the establishment of a second Urban League Village community. 

These tiny homes are constructed with the help of our Priority Hire program participants in order to provide hands-on experience while working towards trade certification. 

Those who are interested in occupying one of our Tiny Homes should contact our Lead Outreach Coordinator, Helen Gaines, via hgaines@urbanleague.org for more information about the enrollment process. 

Due to high demand, United Way of King County has had to pause the application process for assistance with April Rent. 

Please visit this following link for additional details: https://uwkc.org/renthelp

support
Community Support & Relief

Since the Stay Home, Stay Healthy mandate was put into effect for WA state in March of 2020, ULMS has been working with local minority-owned businesses and government organizations who are navigating the impacts of COVID-19 with financial and essential needs support.  

In April 2020, restaurants in King County who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 were given the opportunity to partner with ULMS for civic engagement outreach in exchange for grant funding. 

Restaurant owners were given ULMS Census outreach materials to include in their take-out or to-go orders and in turn, received $2,500 grants.

Participating restaurants included: 

  • June Baby
  • Salare 
  • Jerk Shack
  • That Brown Girl Cooks
  • Where Ya At, Matt
  • Emerald City Fish & Chips
  • Urban Connoisseurs 
  • City Teriyaki 

If you are a restaurant owner and interested in future civic engagement outreach grant opportunities with the ULMS, please contact our Civic Engagement Coordinator, Maya Manus, via email at mmanus@urbanleague.org for more! 

In an effort to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19, the WA State Department of Corrections is currently in the process of releasing hundreds of low-level offenders back into the community — many of whom will be in need of basic necessities and employment opportunities. 

To assist with this effort, ULMS has donated an entire truck load of gently used clothing from our workforce clothing storage to the DOC. This clothing will be sorted and provided to more than 1,100 men and women scheduled to be released in the coming weeks.

Clothing items included:

  • shirts
  • jackets
  • ties
  • dresses
  • pants
  • socks
  • shoes

ULMS has partnered with the South Seattle Senior Center to provide weekly basic grocery delivery for seniors who are unable to access food resources safely.