Issaquah Community Services (ICS) serves residents living within the Issaquah School District.
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Needs Your Help
Our annual fundraising campaign kicked off with our winter newsletter. You can read it right here and learn about our 50 year history, our volunteers and how we helped our neighbors in 2022.
Our fundraising goal this year is $100,000. As of January 31, 2023, we have raised $82,060.
A Big Thanks to all who have donated!
That is not quite enough to continue our mission at our current level through 2023. With rents at record high levels and many neighbors struggling to keep up, we are still hoping to raise more than ever this year.
Your donations can make the difference between home and homelessness for families in this community. Thank you!
Click below to see the names of many of our generous donors. This list is updated periodically.
Learn about our 50 year history here.
Emergency
Financial Aid
Issaquah Community Services (ICS) helps pay rent and utilities for residents of the Issaquah School District who find themselves in a financial emergency. This assistance has prevented many families and individuals from becoming homeless.
Since the COVID pandemic, the application process has been conducted online and over the phone. Volunteers listen to stories of clients and look for ways to help, sometimes with finances, or referrals, or a sympathetic ear. Payment is made directly to the landlord or vendor on behalf of the client; cash is never given.
Client Stories
In December 2019, Jenna* and her two young daughters were homeless, living in a motel. Jenna had a retail sales job, but she couldn’t afford both childcare and move-in expenses. Finally, in February, she was accepted for subsidized housing in Sammamish.
A huge burden was lifted only to be replaced by the weight of COVID. Jenna got very sick in March and required hospitalization. She thought it was COVID but tested negative. Her store remained open, but her hours were reduced, and she did not have paid sick leave to cover the hours she missed while sick. At this point, Jenna contacted ICS for help because she was worried about paying the rent and other bills. Fortunately, ICS has been able to help twice with rent during the pandemic and this has alleviated some of Jenna’s stress.
Jenna is back to full-time work, but always juggling childcare, work, and other responsibilities, always on the financial edge. She is very thankful for the help she has gotten from her community. It has kept her family afloat in these rough times.
*name changed for privacy.
Make a difference!
Donate. Volunteer.
Issaquah Community Services is a 100% volunteer organization. It takes at least 25 dedicated volunteers to meet with clients and to conduct all the necessary administrative functions. Most volunteers work in the office between two and four mornings per month. Most communication with clients is online or on the phone.
Volunteers may also choose to work on other critical activities such as social media marketing, website maintenance, fundraising, community outreach and grant writing. In addition, we are often seeking new board members.
You, too, can help – either with a tax deductible donation or as a volunteer.