KITH is kicking off their “Change A Life” month in July to raise funds and awareness to help Eastside families at the brink of homelessness.
To make the month a great success, KITH is looking for retailers to place jars next to the register where customers may donate their extra change. Such jars will be provided by KITH and decorated by the Kirkland Boys and Girls Club. A volunteer will come to the store once a week to pick up donations. All merchants that participate will be included in the “Change A Life” wrap-up press release and will be informed about how much their business raised towards eliminating Eastside homelessness.
The lack of affordable housing is the number one reason families become homeless.
Affordable housing is defined as not paying over 30 percent of your income for rent. The gap between wages and housing prices is the primary reason people become homeless. Last year, KITH turned away 1,025 families seeking transitional housing. There is a shortage of low-income and transitional housing on the Eastside, and a great need to increase the number of available units, especially for families.
The current economic climate increases the risk for homelessness. Paying high gas and food bills causes people to have less money to pay rent. Gas prices continue to hover near three dollars a gallon and food prices have been on the rise since 2008. Many of the job openings on the Eastside pay $10 or less per hour, earning an employee about $20,800 per year. While these positions may be the beginning of a path to success, if a mother and child paid no more than 30 percent of her income for rent, she could afford monthly rent of $520. However, the average rent in Kirkland is $1100 a month for a two bedroom. There is a gap between what this mother can pay and the going rate for a two bedroom apartment.
In this time of intense need, KITH is calling on the community to accomplish the mission to unite with individuals and families to end homelessness and create safe and healthy communities.
For more information about KITH, visit www.kithcares.org. If you are interested in placing a “Change A Life” jar in your store, please contact KITH at ChangeALifeMonth@gmail.com.
