For youth and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, compassionate, culturally responsive support can be transformative, providing the foundation for housing stability and the opportunity to thrive. For the past 20 years, the Washington Youth & Families Fund has been at the heart of our state’s efforts to provide this vital support. Led by Building Changes, the Fund brings together public, private, and community resources to invest in organizations and tribes that have built trust within their communities and can quickly respond to the unique needs of youth and families. Last week, we had the honor of celebrating two decades of this impactful work, surrounded by our supporters, partners, and community advocates. Thanks to the generosity of attendees and community partners, more than $100,000 was raised for the Fund!
The event was nothing short of inspiring. The incredible Kenzo Collective gave an energizing performance, adding to the festive and celebratory atmosphere. Jonathan Houston, a long-time colleague of Building Changes, performed a moving spoken word poem that touched on themes of possibility and growth, ideas especially relevant to the tone of the event. The room was filled with those who have been instrumental in the Fund’s evolution, as well as new faces eager to advance this work. Building Changes is grateful to those who joined us, offered their support, and contributed to the event’s success. There was a real sense of community, commitment, and momentum to grow the Fund to meet the needs of youth and families across the state.
Watch the video to learn how the Washington Youth & Families Fund is making an impact across our state.
An engaging community conversation featured State Representative Frank Chopp, an outspoken champion of housing initiatives, and Reuben Twin of Mother Nation, a current grantee of the Fund. Representative Chopp outlined how the Washington Youth & Families Fund has been instrumental in changing the landscape of our state’s homeless response and discussed the continued determination of the state legislature to address the current housing crisis. Reuben Twin shared that the flexibility of the Fund is crucial, as it allows Mother Nation to respond to the needs of their community with relevant, culturally appropriate support. He described how difficult it can be to access housing services outside of King County and expressed gratitude that the Fund has supported them to expand the reach of their programming to alleviate this concern.
Building Changes’ Executive Director, Daniel Narváez Zavala, emphasized the importance of community partnerships in addressing the complex and ever-changing landscape of housing insecurity in our community. He highlighted how this effort can only be successful with collaboration from stakeholders at every level—from government to those who are on the ground providing essential services. “Looking ahead, the next era of the Fund must focus on deepening connections between program cohorts and building long-term partnerships…. We have the power to address the needs of youth and families experiencing homelessness and work toward a future where everyone has safe and stable housing. The Washington Youth & Families Fund embodies this long-term commitment to change,” said Zavala.
The evening was a celebration, but it was also a reminder of the work still to be done. Over the years, the Fund has evolved into one of our state’s most important resources for equitable and innovative solutions to homelessness. By combining resources from both public and private sectors, the Fund has supported organizations and tribes who understand that solutions must be as diverse as the people they serve. The Washington Youth & Families Fund is a testament to the power of collaboration, and our 20th Anniversary Celebration was a strong reminder of just how many people are committed to this work. The message was clear: together, we can create lasting change and ensure our communities thrive.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed their time and effort to make the event a success: Building Changes’ Board of Directors and staff; State Rep. Frank Chopp; Kathy Kinard, Washington State Department of Commerce; Reuben Twin and Megan Bartels and everyone at Mother Nation; Michelle Sandoval and everyone at the Foundation for Youth Resiliency and Engagement; Kenzo Collective; Jonathan Houston; The Elite Collective; Synchronicity Events; FareStart; and Profigroup.
We would also like to thank our longstanding public partners—the Washington State Legislature and Washington State Department of Commerce—as well as our community partners for their generous support: Aven Foundation, Bank of America, Nayamode, Raikes Foundation, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, United Way of King County, Ben Bridge Jeweler.
