Access our student homelessness trainings.

Building Changes is pleased to offer virtual trainings for homeless student liaisons, school building staff, and community-based organizations in Washington State to help them better support students and families experiencing homelessness.

Upcoming Trainings in 2025:

• Diversion 101
  Tuesday, December 16 | 11:00am-12:30pm Pacific Time
  Gain an introductory overview of Diversion and Courageous Conversations and learn how this approach can be used in school districts and non-profits to bring housing resources to families and students. Learn about existing Diversion programs (HPDF & YDIP) and how to access them for your students and families.
  Register here
  

Upcoming Trainings in 2026:

• Meeting & Communicating with Decision Makers with National Network 4 Youth
  Thursday, January 22 | 10:00am-11:30am Pacific Time
  Tools for preparing and leading effective conversations with elected officials and staff, from framing your ask to building long-term relationships.
  Register here
• Know Your Rights: Attendance Policy Training
  Thursday, January 29 | 10:00am-12:00pm Pacific Time
  Led by the Office of Education Ombuds, this training will outline Washington State attendance laws and school responsibilities around excused and unexcused absences. Explains what schools can and cannot do when a student misses school, and the supports they must offer. Families understand how to protect their child’s attendance record, avoid unnecessary penalties, and push for supportive solutions when absences happen.
  Register here
• Rent Smart: Learning the Basics
  Tuesday, March 31 | 10:00am-11:30am Pacific Time
  Are you a renter in Washington state and want to know more about your rights, general procedures, landlord and tenant responsibilities, making a repair request, or even what to do if you decide you need to break your lease legally? Join us to learn from Solid Ground’s tenant counselors about landlord duties under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, tenant responsibilities while living in a residential rental, repair issues and process for requesting repairs, and how to break or end your lease under Washington state laws. 
  Register here
• Rent Smart: Repair Issues & Landlord Duties
  Tuesday, May 19 | 10:00am-11:30am Pacific Time
  Do you need repairs done in your rental home and don’t know if you or your landlord is responsible for fixing them? Are you having a hard time getting your landlord to make repairs? And what exactly are your rights as a tenant? Join us to learn from Solid Ground’s tenant counselors about how to make a formal request for rental repairs, your options if your landlord doesn’t respond to your request, what the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA) in Washington state says about mold, and landlords’ repair responsibilities under the RLTA.
  Register here
• Rent Smart: Options for When You Can’t Pay Rent
  Tuesday, September 15 | 10:00am-11:30am Pacific Time
  Has your landlord increased your rent? Are you unable to make your rent this month? Will you be evicted – and if so, how does that work? Do you think you should move out to protect yourself? Join us to learn from Solid Ground’s tenant counselors about current laws on rent increase and housing stabilization, an overview of the legal eviction process, and information on the moving out process and getting your deposit back.
  Register here
• Rent Smart: Mold & Your Rights as a Tenant
  Tuesday, November 17 | 10:00am-11:30am Pacific Time
  Mold is a serious problem in the Pacific Northwest. It poses serious health risks to people who live in rentals with mold – and many tenants don’t know their rights or understand Washington state’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA) laws on dealing with mold. Join us to learn from Solid Ground’s tenant counselors about how to recognize when a house has a mold problem, what the RLTA states about mold and tenants’ rights, landlords’ responsibilities to solve mold and repair problems, and what you should and can do as a tenant if mold problems are not remedied.
  Register here

To find recordings of our past trainings, see 2021-2023 Response to Student Homelessness Training Series