Byrd Barr Place
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[voiceover]: Byrd Barr Place is a community action agency founded in 1964.
Andrea Caupain-Sanderson: My name is Andrea Caupain-Sanderson and I am the CEO of Byrd
Barr Place. The one word I would use to describe the work of our organization
is transformative.
Rina Sau (Staff Member): Community
Marlin Johnson (Food Bank Volunteer): Caring
Wanda Walker (Food Bank Volunteer): Lifeline
[voiceover]:
We provide financial assistance to keep the lights and heat on for over 10,000
homes in Seattle, and last year prevented over 300 evictions.Byrd Barr Place
distributes over 44,000 bags of food every year and delivers to almost 100
home bound seniors.
Wanda Walker (Food Bank Volunteer): Hi, my name is Wanda Walker and I just wanted to
say a few words about what Byrd Barr means to me. This building, in and of
itself, has got a really historical meaning and contribution to this community.
It would be a severe loss, to myself and the community, if this wasn't here to
help people.
Byrd Barr Place
Byrd Barr Place nurtures a more equitable Seattle through programs and advocacy that enable people to live healthier, prosperous lives. Our programs help Seattle residents with basic human services-a warm home, food on the table, and immediate financial relief-so they can break the cycle of poverty and build self-sufficiency.
For 50 years, Byrd Barr Place has provided essential human services to Seattle residents who are struggling to make ends meet, most of whom live at 150% or more below the federal poverty level. Our clients come from all parts of the city with varied social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. They include refugees and immigrants, as well as the elderly and disabled. Our programs include housing and energy assistance, healthy food, and personal finance programming, with special attention given to emergency situations, such as power shutoff and eviction.
Formerly the Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP), we are one of Washington's oldest community organizations, founded in the era of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. In 1979, we joined the Washington State Community Action Program, a network of 31 agencies in 39 counties that has partnered to improve the lives of low-income people throughout the state. Today, Byrd Barr Place's programs and services help more than 15,000 people a year.
To ensure our programs and services are effective and meet the needs of the community, we periodically complete a citywide community needs assessment. These survey results allow us to align our strategic plan to the services most valued by Seattle residents. At the same time, we work closely with the Washington State Community Action Partnership to identify statewide issues, as well as social and economic trends, so that we can respond to the most critical issues affecting those who are poor in our city.
