Washington Families Fund Awards More Than $3 Million to Nonprofits Across the State
Washington Families Fund Awards More Than $3 Million to Nonprofits Across the State
On April 7, 2010, the Washington Families Fund, a public-private partnership led by Building Changes, announced its fifth round of grant awards to agencies across the state. Grants totaling more than $3 million will go to eight organizations working to move struggling families out of homelessness into housing, school, and economic stability in Clallam, Clark, King, Pacific, Snohomish, Thurston, and Walla Walla counties. These new awards come on the heels of the Fund’s most recent report on five years of demonstrated success for homeless families served by Washington Families Fund programs.
Washington Families Fund grantees work directly with families to address the causes of homelessness and help build stability and self-sufficiency through a variety of support programs. These programs combine affordable housing with comprehensive case management in employment and job training, parenting skills, and substance abuse and domestic violence counseling. “Combining immediate access to housing with coordinated support services and employment training improves stability and the likelihood that families will stay together during rough times,” said Betsy Lieberman, Executive Director of Building Changes. “We are proud of the tireless effort these service providers put into their programs and the contribution they are making to their communities across Washington state.”
To date, the Washington Families Fund has awarded five- and ten-year grants totaling $15.8 million to 43 nonprofit providers of 618 service-enriched housing units. These providers serve more than 1,000 families and 3,000 individuals who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Washington Families Fund 2009 Awards:
Blue Mountain Action Council (Walla Walla, Walla Walla County)
Paine Court Supportive Housing
$385,000
WFF funds will support case management and support services for families with multiple barriers to self-sufficiency.
Community Services Northwest (Vancouver, Clark County)
Family Housing Northwest Expansion
$375,000
WFF funds will provide housing and case management support services for 10 homeless families that are experiencing co-occurring disorders and multiple barriers to self-sufficiency, including mental health and chemical dependency.
Community Youth Services (Olympia, Thurston County)
Employing Parents to Inspire Change
$700,000
WFF funds will support a full-time employment specialist to focus on job development for young parents with children in 20 units of transitional housing.
Crisis Support Network (Raymond, Pacific County)
The Pacific Pearl
$300,000
WFF funds will support a full-time advocate to assist domestic violence victims and their children who reside in 11 permanent supportive housing units.
Housing Hope (Everett, Snohomish County)
Avondale Park
$301, 570
WFF funds will support case management, employment, life skills and related services for 14 homeless families.
Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation (Seattle, King County)
Families First
$518,877
WFF funds will support services and case management for high-needs families in 20 units of permanent supportive housing.
West End Outreach Services (Forks, Clallam County)
Homestead II
$334,500
WFF funds will support case management and support services for chronically homeless families in 10 units of permanent supportive housing.
YWCA (Seattle, King County)
$168,000
WFF funds will support the placement of Housing and Employment Navigators at local Worksource and housing sites, who will focus on improving participation by WFF program families in employment and education programs.
