Heads Up
Building Changes Announces Bold New Washington Families Fund Initiative
Building Changes is extremely pleased to announce a bold new Washington Families Fund initiative to reduce the number of homeless families in Washington State by 50 percent by the year 2019.
On Thursday, March 19, more than 20 public and private community partners affirmed their deep and shared commitment to reducing family homelessness in Washington State, pledging to reduce by 5000 the number of children and their family members experiencing homelessness in our state over the next decade.
The historic agreement was formalized at a ceremony in South Seattle where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Governor Gregoire, County Executives from King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, the Mayors of Seattle, Everett and Tacoma, and numerous representatives from local housing authorities, the philanthropic community, corporate allies and beyond.
The MOU partners pledged to redouble efforts to minimize shelter stays and provide critical, ongoing support services for homeless families with children. They also vowed to better coordinate in meeting the needs of families who are on the brink of homelessness. And they committed to aligning existing family homelessness funding streams so that current resources can be used more effectively, and, where possible, new resources could be tapped to address this growing problem.
"We have a unique opportunity to reduce, and one day end, family homelessness through stronger prevention efforts aimed at helping families increase their incomes and stability," said Betsy Lieberman, Building Changes Executive Director. "Building Changes has a proven record of success in assisting communities in their design and implementation of employment and job training programs targeting people who are homeless, and we look forward to deepening our work in this arena as a partner in the MOU."
The approach detailed in the MOU is based on strategies, interventions and supports which have been tested and proven in other communities nationwide. We call them The Five Pillars, and they include:
- early intervention and prevention
- coordinating access to support services
- rapid re-housing
- providing services tailored to meet each family's individual needs, and
- increasing economic opportunity through education and workforce services.
As the economic crisis worsens, the need to support families in, and/or at risk of, homelessness has never been more important. Building Changes is thrilled to serve as a central catalyst and organizer for this historic, collective effort.
Building Changes is also extremely grateful for the leadership shown by our colleagues at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, whose record of success with the Sound Families Initiative helped pave the way for the MOU announced today. Moving forward, the Gates Foundation has pledged to invest up to $60 million in this new effort, a commitment which has encouraged other public and private partners critical to our success to join us in finding long term solutions.
The MOU is an important first step toward reducing family homelessness by 50 percent over the next ten years. But the real work is only beginning. We look forward to working with you, and all our partners, to make this ambitious, but attainable goal, a reality.
Thank you for your support.
Watch video clips from the event
Related Documents:
Washington Families Fund Memorandum of Understanding
Washington Families Fund at a Glance
Washington Families Fund Family Profile
Washington Families Fund 2008 End of Year Report
Related Press Coverage:
Tacoma, Pierce housing agencies sharpen shovels
The News Tribune, 4/18/09
Editorial: Homeless kids, families deserve improved help
The News Tribune, 3/30/09
Editorial: Homeless Families - Taking a smarter approach
Everett Herald, 3/20/09
City, county align to end homelessness
Tacoma Weekly, 4/2/09
Pierce County signs on to end homelessness
Tacoma Daily Index, 3/30/09
Gates Foundation joins others in goal to cut homelessness
The Seattle Times, 3/19/09
Gates Foundation targets Washington state homelessness
Puget Sound Business Journal, 3/19/09
TV/VIDEO
Gates Foundation puts focus on homeless kids
KING 5 News, 3/19/09
Washington Families Fund: New Strategy to End Family Homelessness
(46-minute video clip of entire event)
Washington State Public Affairs TV Network, 3/19/09
RADIO
Gates Foundation to Fund Homelessness Plan
KPLU, 3/19/09
$60 Million for Housing (Note: Interview with Alice Shobe, Building Changes Deputy Director, begins at 3:50 in the program)
KUOW, 3/19/09
NEW MEDIA
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation curbing Seattle family homelessness
Examiner, 4/1/09
Homeless families at the Gates
The Weekly Volcano, 3/30/09
Public-Private Family Homelessness Partnership Redoubles Investment for Washington State
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness e-newsletter, 3/20/09
Gates Foundation Commits Up to $60 Million to Address Homelessness in Washington State
Philanthropy News Digest, 3/23/09
Washington State in the News: Gates Foundation Commits Up to $60 Million to Address Homelessness in Washington State
Serve Our Vallejo Homeless, 3/23/09
Bill and Melinda Tackle Homelessness
Change.og, 3/19/09
Gates Foundation Pledges $60 Million to Help End Family Homelessness
First Place blog, 3/19/09
Gates to Give Up to $60-Million to Help the Homeless
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 3/20/09
Grantee Announcement: Washington Families Fund Launches New Strategy to Prevent and End Family Homelessness
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 3/19/09
