$2.7M in new Washington Youth & Families Fund Systems Innovation grants awarded.
Building Changes has awarded $2.7 million in new Washington Youth & Families Fund Systems Innovation grants to local organizations with a goal of easing access to services that will help families stay stably housed. Pilots will benefit pregnant or parenting young adults, those living in rural areas, and parents with behavioral health care needs, while improving the match between family needs and services provided.
Washington Families Fund Systems Innovation Grant Awards:
A $1.553M two-year grant to the Committee to End Homelessness to redesign King County’s Coordinated Entry System for families. The goal is to make coordinated entry more efficient at matching families in need of housing with whatever they need to be housed. The redesign will create regionally based hubs called Housing Resource Centers, where families may receive assistance to avoid homelessness (Diversion), be re-housed quickly, entered into shelter, or placed on a roster for long-term housing placement.
A $625,650 three-year grant to Cocoon House to enhance Snohomish County’s new coordinated entry system by developing outreach, assessment, referrals and services to meet the unique needs of pregnant and parenting young adults up to 24 years old. Funding for the Homeless Youth Parent Outreach and Coordinated Entry Project will support two Young Parent Navigators to facilitate access to housing and a range of critical services provided by partner agencies.
A $298,678 two-year grant to Snohomish County Human Services Department to expand access to Snohomish County’s new coordinated entry system for vulnerable families living in four rural areas of the county. Funding for the Rural Outreach and Coordinated Entry Project will support 1.5 FTE Housing Navigators at two Family Support Centers—Lutheran Social Services Northwest and North Counties Family Services—creating new ports of entry for families living in rural communities to access coordinated and tailored services that meet their housing and associated needs.
A $203,342 two-year grant to Sunrise Services/Community Trades and Careers in Snohomish County to help homeless parents with behavioral health care needs access supported employment, among the most rigorously tested models for addressing integrated treatment and employment opportunities. This pilot project will fund 1.5 FTE Specialists to provide supported employment services for homeless families in Snohomish with behavioral health care needs who are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This pilot is co-funded by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Washington State Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR).
