New Vouchers Will Help Keep Families Together and Prevent Homelessness

New Vouchers Will Help Keep Families Together and Prevent Homelessness

June 3, 2011 - Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that Washington State will receive 199 new Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers, one of the highest awards in the country.

This is great news for families, young adults, and children in our state. Families are often separated from their children due to housing problems. Bringing parents and children back together in safe, secure housing is the first step in moving them forward. HUD's Family Unification Program provides rental assistance in the form of Housing Choice Vouchers to communities to help preserve and reunify families involved in the child welfare system and transition youth aging out of foster care.

In 2010, Building Changes facilitated a Memorandum of Agreement among the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, public housing authorities around the state, and community partner agencies to ensure that Washington families receive this vital resource. The housing authorities will administer the vouchers, and child welfare agencies will provide support services to families and youth. The award of 199 new FUP vouchers is a testament to this statewide collaborative effort and our collective commitment to keeping families together and preventing homelessness.

Read HUD's Press Release:
HUD PROVIDES $15 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP NEARLY 2,000 FAMILIES STAY TOGETHER