UCEF Summer 2025 Newsletter
(sent in June 2025)
A Message From Our Board President
My name is Ray Moser, and I am honored to be the new president of the United Churches Emergency Fund Board of Directors. I began as a volunteer in 2019, and I enjoy and strongly believe in my work with UCEF. My overarching goal for UCEF is to servemore people in need by broadly communicating our mission to significantly increase donations.
My wife and I live in Seattle and have two adult children and four grandsons. I have a master’s degree in economics from the UW and worked in economic development for 38 years.
Since the advent of Covid in 2019, inflation in the prices of rent, food, gas, health care, and other necessities has made life much more expensive. The total reduction in staff at the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program risks financial assistance many families rely on to avoid utility disconnections. The proposed 21% reduction in the Federal Supplemental Nutrition AssistanceProgram would result in 900,000 Washingtonians losing some benefits to purchase groceries. And potential cuts to Medicaidwould further add to the financial distress of Seattle residents. These and other factors reflect the rapidly increasing demand for UCEF services.
As rents rise, UCEF’s work to help people in Northeast Seattle stay in their homes, and off the streets, has never been more relevant. Your benevolence is vital to providing our services, and we would very much appreciate your continued support. And please encourage your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to consider donating to UCEF.
Surviving in Seattle on $2,000 per Month
At a recent board meeting, our director, Jo, challenged us to imagine living on $2,000 per month, like many of our clients. For me,this is just an exercise—I’m fortunate to have a secure home.
Suppose I received an eviction notice and had to find a new place to live on that budget. Searching Zillow, I learned landlords often require tenants to earn 3.5 times the rent, giving me a maximum of $571 per month for housing. Optimistically, I started my search.
I found a studio in downtown Bellevue for $265, but it turned out to be a misprint—the real rent was ten times higher. Another studio was in my price range but only allowed for office use. A garage rental was available, but only for vehicles. Even searching outside Seattle didn’t yield better options.
I decided to look for a roommate to share expenses. Most rooms in shared spaces were around $1,000 a month, but I eventually found listings under $600—though none had pictures, which worried me. One listing, from Constantino, offered a room for $425 with no photos. Desperation made me consider it.
I even entertained unconventional ideas: renting an art studio and sleeping there, or moving into a storage unit. My most daring thought was to buy a cheap van and live in it, using resources like The Ultimate Guide to Van life in Seattle for tips. The prospect was frightening. Just as I was running out of options, Jo from UCEF called to say my landlord had accepted their assistance, stopping my eviction. Thanks to the generosity of UCEF donors, I could stay safely in my home.
Laurel Ailie, UCEF Board Member
Thank You to UCEF Donor Organizations
As we approach the end of our fiscal year this June, we want to recognize and thank the many generous organizations that have donated to our mission. We couldn’t do our work without your support. Thank you so very much!
Blessed Sacrament Church Food Programs
University Congregational United Church of Christ
Christ Episcopal Church
University Congregational United Church of Christ Love & Justice Ministry
Emerald City MCC
University Gathering
United Methodist Church
Haller Lake United Methodist Church
University Lutheran Church
Keystone United Church of Christ
University Masonic Lodge 141
Sand Point Community United Methodist Church
University Presbyterian Church Deacon Fund
The Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund
Wedgwood Community Church
The Windermere Foundation
Wooden Cross Lutheran Church
University-Ballard Lions Foundation