Committee backs $900 from human services contingency for diaper bank serving Federal Way residents

Human services staff recommended using the remaining $900 from the 2024 human services grants contingency to partially fund Babies of Homelessness’ diaper bank program; the committee voted to forward that recommendation to the June 17, 2025 consent agenda.

Staff presented the agency’s request and said Babies of Homelessness submitted a complete application for $15,000 to operate a diaper bank that serves families across King and Snohomish counties and supports partner agency distribution and a mobile pickup option. Staff said the human services commission recommended allocating its remaining contingency funds to the agency: "That $900 would be allocated to the residents of Federal Way," staff said.

Committee members asked whether the funding would be restricted to diapers or could cover formula; staff replied the request under consideration was specifically for the diaper bank program and that the $900 would be used for that program. The packet shows the human services commission initially recommended 34 agencies in its 2025–26 cycle; Babies of Homelessness had been scored but not included in the first 34 and were next in line when the $900 remained after an earlier allocation to the Federal Way Senior Center.

The committee moved to forward the proposed recommendation to fund Babies of Homelessness with the remaining 2024 human services grants contingency funds to the June 17 consent agenda; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the agency currently serves approximately 25 partner agencies across King and Snohomish counties and that staff believe the organization is based in Bellevue (staff described this location as their understanding). The diapers funding in this action is limited to the program described in the agency’s application.