Site is eyed for Issaquah human services campus
July 31, 2012
The long-gestating plan to build a human services campus in Issaquah is a step closer to reality, as organizers inch closer to selecting a site for the facility.
Together Center receives $35,420 grant for renovation
February 7, 2012
The Together Center in Redmond, which helps local residents, has received a grant of $35,420 from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound to support renovation of recently vacated space for use by nonprofit, direct-service agencies.
Previously, the center was the recipient of two $5,000 grants from the Microsoft Corp. and the Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation, while the Rotary Club of Redmond pitched in an additional $1,500.
Supporters outline future for human services campus
April 5, 2011
The push to select a location and raise dollars to build a long-planned human services campus in Issaquah — envisioned as a clearinghouse for employment assistance, food aid, health care and more — should start in earnest this spring and summer after years spent on discussions and studies.
Organizers plan to launch a fundraising campaign for the campus, identify anchor tenants and, most critically, select property or a building to house the facility.
John Rittenhouse
The result could resemble the nonprofit Together Center, a similar campus in Redmond. In 2007, Issaquah leaders and the Together Center — then called the Family Resource Center — partnered to spearhead a feasibility study for a campus in Issaquah.
Together Center Executive Director Pam Mauk and John Rittenhouse, a former Issaquah councilman and a Together Center board member, presented the study to City Council members March 29.
“So, what does the study conclude?” Rittenhouse asked. “It concludes that a human services campus being sited in Issaquah is feasible. Under all scenarios that were studied by the consultants, a campus is doable in Issaquah.”
Plans for the campus hinge on the location, and whether organizers opt to build a campus or lease space in existing structures.
Issaquah residents use human services campus
November 16, 2010
Together Center — a human services campus in Redmond — served more than 67,000 people last year, including 1,186 Issaquah residents. The campus, formerly known as the Family Resource Center, also served 762 people from Sammamish.
Overall, the number of people using the services at the campus jumped from 42,000 in 2009. The campus serves as a source for food, shelter, medical and dental care, and youth and family counseling. Read more
Human services campus study is due to city next month
September 7, 2010
City leaders last week outlined ideas for a human services campus — a clearinghouse for charities providing food, healthcare and employment services to the needy.
Mayor Ava Frisinger and other top officials met representatives from the San Francisco-based consultant conducting a city-funded feasibility study of the proposed campus.
Former Councilman John Rittenhouse — a longtime proponent of the campus — updated council members about the study Aug. 16.
“I’m very confident that you’ll find the end product useful as you deliberate how to make this vision a reality,” he said.
The nonprofit Family Resource Center is a similar human services campus in Redmond. Rittenhouse serves on its board of directors.
The city and Family Resource Center partnered to study the need for a campus. The council started the process in December by spending $35,000 for the study.
Rittenhouse said the study should be completed and delivered to the city by late October. Officials used impact fees paid by the Talus developer to fund the study.
Issaquah human services campus study is due in October
August 24, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 24, 2010
City leaders last week outlined ideas for a human services campus — a clearinghouse for charities providing food, healthcare and employment services to the needy.
Mayor Ava Frisinger and other top officials met representatives from the San Francisco-based consultant conducting a city-funded feasibility study on the proposed campus.
In addition to gathering input from Issaquah leaders, the consultant collected demographic information to determine a possible service area for the facility.
Former Councilman John Rittenhouse — a longtime proponent of the campus who left the council in December and then joined the Family Resource Center board of directors — updated council members about the study Aug. 16.
Press Editorial
March 30, 2010
City should not own a human services campus
The idea of bringing human service nonprofit agencies together in one location to best serve the clients is not a new idea. It has been tried and proven successful at the Family Resource Center in Redmond. Read more
Survey shows strong interest in human services campus
March 30, 2010
The proposed Issaquah human services campus could offer a range of services — healthcare, youth and family counseling, assistance to seniors — supporters said last week. Read more
Development of Issaquah human services campus inches forward
March 22, 2010
NEW — 4:45 p.m. March 22, 2010
Issaquah stands a step closer to opening a human services campus, after a Redmond nonprofit completed a city-funded survey to gauge interest in a campus.
Family Resource Center officials announced the completion of the survey Monday. The nonprofit surveyed 50 organizations; 25 responded and 14 respondents indicated interest in participating in the Issaquah campus.
Officials envision the campus as a clearinghouse where needy people can receive food, healthcare and employment, in a place where several organizations share campus space. Family Resource Center pioneered the model in Redmond 20 years ago.
John Rittenhouse is proud of human services impact
January 5, 2010
John Rittenhouse
During a single City Council term, John Rittenhouse advanced watershed legislation to reshape city elections and establish a human services campus in Issaquah.
The former councilman led the effort to cap city campaign contributions at $500 for cash and in-kind donations from a single party — a measure the council overwhelmingly approved in May.
Rittenhouse led the push to open a proposed human services campus, a clearinghouse where needy people can receive food, healthcare and employment. The council OK’d the first steps toward a campus — location scouting and business planning — in a unanimous vote last month.
Before Rittenhouse left the council last week, colleagues praised him as affable and effective. Read more
