Second Report on High-Needs Family Model Released

Second Report on High-Needs Family Model Released

Since 2008, the Washington Families Fund, led by Building Changes, has provided grants to community organizations serving families with the highest needs. Building Changes supports our community partners to make continuous improvements to a permanent, supportive housing model specifically designed to help families struggling with the cycle of homelessness.

The Washington Families Fund High-Needs Family model emphasizes family stability, and in addition to providing housing, it provides supportive services that address the serious barriers that undermine that stability. These barriers can include mental illness, chronic health problems, chemical dependency, domestic violence, involvement with Child Protective Services, and/or criminal histories.

Our most recent data about the High-Needs Family models is the product of a six-month follow-up to a baseline assessment of families enrolled in the programs and participating in the evaluation. This is our earliest look at how the programs and services are impacting struggling families. Here’s what we’re learning:

• Service Needs: On average, families are indicating fewer service needs at six-month assessment than at baseline (3.3 service needs at baseline, 2.5 at six months).



• Improved Mental Health: At baseline 63 percent of heads of household indicated moderate or severe levels of anxiety. At six months that number dropped to 38 percent.



• Improved Health Care: Families report a routine source of health care: 78 percent of heads of households had a routine source at intake. At six months that number increased to 93 percent. 93 percent of children at intake and 100 percent at six months.



• School Stability: Absences among school children has decreased.

This early data does not show significant change among these families at this time, and we attribute to the short duration of time (six months) that the reporting families have been in the programs. We will continue to use it to inform our future grantmaking and to identify areas for additional technical assistance and intervention that will help improve programs and support case managers to better meet the needs of their clients. More importantly, the data we continue to collect will assist us in raising awareness about solutions that support increased stability among families experiencing chronic homelessness.

Learn more:

Washington Families Fund High-Needs Family Model: Six-Month Evaluation Findings 

Washington Families Fund High-Needs Family Program: Year 2 Evaluation