News

Celebrating Disability Pride Month

June 30, 2025

Emma Riahi July is Disability Pride Month — a time to honor the history, achievements, and contributions of people with disabilities, while also recognizing the ongoing work toward inclusion and accessibility. It’s a celebration of identity and visibility, and a reminder that disability is a natural part of human diversity. At Neighborhood House, we’re proud …

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Oral Health Justice is Health Justice

June 30, 2025
Janice Deguchi at What Matters Most 2024

Janice Deguchi Last month, I was invited to speak on a panel for the Arcora Foundation, whose mission is to bend the arc of oral health towards equity. I was honored to share the stage with Arcora Foundation Vice President, Sunshine Monastrial, and my co-panelist, author and activist, Ron Chew to talk about our deep …

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Reimagining Human Services: Centering Families

May 30, 2025
Whole Family Approach graphic

No one intended for human services programs to cause trauma, or create barriers for families to gain economic opportunity and prosperity. But oftentimes, because of bureaucracy, lack of coordination and planning, and lack of input from those most impacted, many well intended programs do exactly that. The two-generation, whole family approach (2Gen/WFA) is one antidote …

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Budget proposals would devastate regional nonprofit sector’s ability to respond to economic crisis,agencies warn – leaving hundreds of thousands of community members in King County without critical resources

May 22, 2025
all six king county community action partnership logos

King County’s Community Action Agencies, Neighborhood House, Byrd Barr Place, El Centro de la Raza, Hopelink, Multi-Service Center, and Solid Ground, are together calling for action to protect the vital network of programs that serve the region’s most vulnerable community members. As Congress’ negotiations to reconcile its proposed budget with the White House’s FY2026 discretionary …

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Medicaid: A Lifeline for Our Communities 

April 24, 2025

At Neighborhood House, we witness every day the transformative power of Medicaid or Apple Health as it’s known in Washington. This program is not just about healthcare—it is about dignity, safety, and stability for our most vulnerable neighbors.  Aging and Disability Resource Center – is a single point of entry for information, assistance, and referrals related …

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Save Head Start 

April 24, 2025

This month, we’re excited to celebrate 60 years of Head Start! Sixty years of making a difference in the lives of 39 million children, while empowering their families and serving their communities. Yet despite this track record, the future of Head Start is in doubt.  Neighborhood House’s Head Start and Early Head Start program serves …

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Equity IRL: Medicaid

March 26, 2025

This post is adapted from an article written by Statewide Poverty Action Network (SPAN), an anti-poverty advocacy organization located in Seattle, Washington. Read original article here. Massive Cuts to Medicaid Are on the Table. Here’s What You Need to Know. Proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP are working their way through Congress and have passed …

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Celebrating Our Volunteers: The Power of Community in Action

March 26, 2025

Volunteering is not just about giving back—it’s about building connections, creating positive change, and enriching our lives in ways we don’t often expect. April is National Volunteer Month – a time to recognize and celebrate the people coming together to support a cause they believe in. At Neighborhood House, our volunteers play a vital role …

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Washington State Budget Cuts: How $12 Billion in Cuts Will Impact Health Care, Education & Families

February 28, 2025

The outline of an all-cuts budget released by the Washington State House Democrats, illustrates how difficult the task to balance the budget is. If passed, this budget will have a serious negative impact on Washingtonians with  $12 billion in cuts to health care, long-term care, child care, higher education, and more. What’s at Risk? Cuts to Health …

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What Matters Most?

February 28, 2025
Janice Deguchi speaking at What Matters Most 2024

Housing. Education. Health. Economic Opportunity. For over 119 years, Neighborhood House has been a lifeline to our neighbors. M reached out to Neighborhood House because she was facing eviction, in addition to other hardships. A domestic violence survivor, she was getting back to work and had 3 school age children that were not enrolled in …

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Martin Luther King Jr.’s Fight for Economic Justice: Lessons for Today

February 3, 2025
People protesting and someone holding a sign that says "enough"

Martin Luther King Jr. is best known for his leadership in the civil rights movement, advocating for racial equality and justice. However, towards the end of his life, King expanded his vision to include economic justice. He understood that addressing racial discrimination without tackling economic inequality would leave many of the problems facing marginalized communities …

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2025 Advocacy Goals

January 31, 2025
Neighborhood House staff standing in front of Hello Future banner at our summer health fair in Greenbridge.

Happy year of the snake! Washington is one of only a handful of states that recognize Lunar New Year as a state holiday. We live in a wonderfully diverse state that has made meaningful investments in early learning, innovative and cost-effective approaches to serving low income Medicaid consumers, and  new and sustainable community facilities. Just …

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VSHSL investments in King County’s seniors and their caregivers

January 23, 2025

Senior Health Promotion Healthy Living (HL) 6: Senior Health Promotion funds a diverse set of programs that empower King County seniors to address their health and well-being. From fall prevention and nutrition to unique, culturally informed physical activities, chronic disease management and prevention, and health education, these programs offer seniors the options to make meaningful, lasting changes …

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Immigration Basics – Part 2

December 31, 2024
Statue of liberty in greyscale

As we get closer and closer to the inauguration, it’s important that we all understand who may be impacted by changes to immigration policies. We’re adding to last month’s Immigration Basics article here. Please subscribe to our e-newsletter to stay up to date on how Neighborhood House is responding to our new administration’s policies while …

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My New Year’s Resolution

December 31, 2024

Each year, my husband and I pick something new to do – in 2024, we watched 24 movies neither of us had seen, and in 2022, we ate 22 new fruits and vegetables. But in 2025, we’re doing something more altruistic – we’re each committing to volunteering 25 hours for organizations or causes aligned with …

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The election is over. Now what?

December 2, 2024
staff in front of the WA capitol building

“Disrupt systems that keep people in poverty.” This is the first goal of our newly minted 2025-2029 strategic plan – aligning almost perfectly with the new administration’s tenure. Voters sent a clear message by electing a disrupter to the White House, against the status quo. The system as it currently exists isn’t working for most …

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Immigration Basics

December 2, 2024
Statue of liberty in greyscale

The President-elect has threatened to expand deportations of immigrants on“day one,” potentially by deploying state and local law enforcement for immigration enforcement. While he has softened his rhetoric to target “criminals,” according to the ACLU’s analysis, the President-elect has repeatedly sought to rationalize his plans for mass deportation, blending military and national security rhetoric with …

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Moving Forward Together with Hope and Determination 

November 6, 2024

Janice Deguchi, Executive Director The uncertainty many feel after the November 5th election can be stressful and unsettling. This moment may also bring fear and concern about the future. Yet, through it all, there is one constant that we at Neighborhood House hold firmly: our unwavering commitment to advocating for the marginalized communities we serve. …

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