WASHINGTON FAMILIES FUND

Solutions for Homeless Families

Families with children now make up about half of our nation's homeless population. In Washington state, the trend is no less grim: Last year, 50 percent of individuals who accessed emergency homeless shelters were families with children.

But experts agree there are solutions at hand. Research proves that housing linked with well-coordinated support services—like job training, childcare, domestic violence counseling, and substance abuse counseling—can make the difference between a family's successful transition to permanent housing and repeated episodes of homelessness.

In 2004, the Washington Legislature took notice—and action. Based in part on early findings from the Sound Families Initiative (the foundation's program for homeless families in the Puget Sound region), and on a growing recognition that the state's service providers lacked necessary public financing, the Legislature allocated a one-time appropriation to create the Washington Families Fund, a first of its kind resource for homeless families statewide. The $2 million appropriation also makes Washington the first state in the nation to create a reliable, long-term source

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched Sound Families in 2000, a program to develop new transitional housing and to expand support services for homeless families, or families in danger of becoming homeless in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Early evaluation data from the program has indicated positive outcomes, including the following:

• 89 percent of families went on to permanent housing;
• 49 percent of families increased their incomes;
• 16 percent fewer families relied on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

The Washington Families Fund could top $5 million by the end of 2005. In addition to the $2 million in seed money from the Legislature, private sector partners have pledged support, including $100,000 from the Medina Foundation, $25,000 from the Seattle Foundation, and $1 million from the Gates Foundation. The foundation also has pledged an additional $1 million in matching funds to draw additional private dollars.

The Washington Families Fund fills an acute need—stable, long-term funding for both on- and off-site support services tied to affordable housing, allowing nonprofit organizations to increase comprehensive and individualized case management services for homeless families throughout the state.

Lorenzo DeVargas, a program director with a Clark County-based service provider called Share, understands the potential impact of the fund first-hand. “Simply put, this fund means fewer families will be sleeping in cars or tents or on neighbor's couches. Organizations like mine have never had access to stable funding—we now will be able to help hundreds of homeless families get back on their feet and into stable housing.”

For Pamela Roberts, a formerly homeless mom living in Spokane, intensive case management services are the reason she and her family are back in stable housing. “A car accident and other unexpected bills left me and my children without a place to turn. But my case manager was there for me at every key decision point, and walked alongside me when I needed a strong supporter most. Today my kids and I are on our feet and working towards financial stability, and I'm studying to attend medical school. I'm looking forward to giving back to my community.”

AIDS Housing of Washington (AHW), a long-time partner of the foundation and Sound Families, is administering the fund. The first round of grants is expected to be distributed in the summer of 2005.