Catholic Community Services Receives $2 Million Grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

SEATTLE -- Catholic Community Services of Western Washington will increase their capacity to develop affordable housing by at least 50 percent over the next three years, thanks to a $2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The grant will allow the Archdiocesan Housing Authority's (AHA) shelter and affordable housing programs to add additional staff members to provide stable housing and mental health services and to develop housing from an average of 69 units per year to as many as 100. Additionally, a Resident Support Endowment will stabilize and sustain AHA's ability to provide direct resident services and help attract other funding for both direct resident services and the endowment.

"We are enthusiastic about the work of Catholic Community Services (CCS) and feel privileged to be associated with it," said Bill Gates, Sr., co-chair and CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

AHA currently provides almost 150,000 bed nights annually in shelters for the homeless where they can find access to medical attention, alcohol and drug treatment and job counseling. AHA also currently provides 1,300 units of permanent low-income housing for the poor, elderly and disabled throughout Western Washington.

"We are overjoyed with this award and will do everything possible to multiply the benefits that come from the generosity of Bill and Melinda Gates and their foundation and their commitment to making the lives of our neighbors and communities healthier, happier and safer," said Michael L. Reichert, president of CCS and AHA.

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington has an 80-year history of providing services in Western Washington and is the largest nonprofit provider of human services in Washington State.