This document summarizes the findings of the Washington Families Fund, a public-private partnership that provides supportive housing to homeless families. It finds that moderate-needs families generally achieve housing stability, but high-needs families with multiple barriers require more intensive services. It also identifies challenges in affordable housing availability and exits without stability. Moving forward, the Fund will target services to families' specific needs and pilot multi-county programs to break the cycle of homelessness.

1. Meeting the Needs of Families
Prepared for Washington State House of Representatives
Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee
January 15, 2010

2. Building Changes

3. Building Changes
Core Strategies

4. Building Changes
Grantmaking
Washington Families Fund – Authorized by
Washington State Legislature in 2004
A public-private partnership that
expands the availability of
supportive housing for families
in need by providing stable,
long-term funding to agencies
with the best models for ending
family homelessness and
strengthening communities
throughout Washington State.

5. Washington Families Fund
A Public-Private Partnership
• Funding partners: 23
• Fund total: $26 million
• Awards-to-date: $15.8 million
• Counties: 15
• Nonprofit programs statewide: 43
• Service-enriched housing units: 618
• Families supported: 1,009

6. WFF Funded Programs by DSHS Region
$4,072,130
163 units
$1,032,195
47 units
$4,448,877
152 units
$2,109,290
126 units
$2,864,185
$1,225,000
95 units
35 units

7. Washington Families Fund
Primary Goals for Families
• Greater housing stability, including a transition to
permanent housing upon program completion
• Improved economic and educational advancement
• Increased access to and use of needed community
based services and support
• Greater likelihood of family stability including re-
unification and increased stability in childcare and
school attendance

8. Washington Families Fund
Family Outcomes to Date
Who Are The Families Served and
Are We Meeting Their Needs?

9. Moderate-Needs Families – Profile
Typical parent is:
• Female (92%)
• Average Age 31 years
• Average of 2 children
• HS Diploma or greater (66%)
• First time Homeless (60.74%)
• Experienced DV (66%)
• Disabling Condition (34%)
• TANF Recipient (66%)
• Working (24%)

10. Moderate-Needs Families – Overview
(Five Year Data)
• Total families served: 940
• Adults: 1,103
• Children:1,755
• Families exited housing: 491
• Average length of stay: 11.4 months

11. Moderate-Needs Families – Housing
(Five Year Data)
Majority of Families Secure a Permanent Home
After Completing a WFF Program
73%
80%
60%
40%
20% 9% 6% 6%
6%
0%
Permanent Living with Transitional Homeless Other
Housing Family/Friends Housing Situation

12. Moderate-Needs Families – Sources of Income
(Five Year Data)
Increase in Economic Stability
Intake Exit % Change
TANF 68% 55% -13
Employment 24% 36% 12
SSI/SSDI 9% 12% 3

13. Moderate-Needs Families – Monthly Income
(Five Year Data)
Majority of Families Increase Monthly Income;
Yet Remain Far Below Self-Sufficiency Standard
$3,300
$3,500
$3,000
$2,500
$2,000
$1,249
$1,500 $987
$1,000
$500
$-
Intake Exit Self Sufficiency

14. Moderate-Needs Families – School Stability
(Five Year Data)
School Stability Improves with Housing Stability
• School age children attended
2 schools, on average, in the
last year
• With housing stability: 80%
increase in the number of
children remaining in the
same school

15. Moderate-Needs Families – Programs
Helping Hand House: Rural Bright Futures
Case management and support services in rural Pierce County.
Consejo Counseling and Referral Service: Villa Esperanza
Case management, health services and legal advocacy services for
Latino families who are homeless due to domestic violence in
South King County.
Transitions: Spokane Family Futures
An innovative collaboration between four organizations to provide
support services in conjunction with Section 8 vouchers.

16. Washington Families Fund
Making Progress
Housing Stability
Increased Income
School Stability

17. Washington Families Fund
Meeting Challenges
• Affordable market
rate housing
• About a quarter of
families exit
program without
stable housing

18. Washington Families Fund
Creating Solutions
High-Needs Family Service Model
• Developed a screening tool to better identify needs and
target families with multiple barriers
• Fund programs targeting families with greater needs
 mental health
 substance abuse
 domestic violence and trauma
 children living away from home

19. High-Needs Families – Programs
Volunteers of America:
Housing First – Sky Valley
Case management, dedicated drug, alcohol, and mental health
treatment, access to basic medical and dental care, and life skills
training in Snohomish County.
Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services:
A Place of Our Own
Intensive case management and wrap-around supportive services in
Seattle to chronically homeless Deaf and Deaf-Blind adults and their
children who are also victims of domestic violence.

20. High-Needs Families – Initial Findings
(Baseline Data)
• Initial baseline assessment data on 57 High-Needs
Families; composed of 66 adults, 88 children and
an additional 35 children living away from the
household
• Initial findings reveal that 85% of parents have
substantial housing barriers and service needs

21. High-Needs Families – Profile
Typical parent is:
• Female (86%)
• Average Age 33 years
• Average of 2.4 children
• Has a child living away (42.1%)
• HS Diploma or greater (52%)
• Homeless > 3 times (51%)
• Experienced Violence (93%)
• Disabling Condition (68%)
• TANF Recipient (63%)
• Working (12%)

22. High-Needs Families – Barriers to Housing
(Baseline Data)
Emerging Profile of Chronically Homeless Families
Average number of times homeless in lifetime 9.9
At least one child living apart 42%
Open Child Protective Services (CPS) plan 25%
Experience of physical or sexual violence 93%
Chronic or ongoing medical problem 68%

23. Washington Families Fund
Looking Ahead
• The Right Services to Families at the
Right Time
• Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness
• Three-county Pilot Program

24. Washington Families Fund
Making Progress
• Most families are stably housed with rising
employment and incomes; children are stable in
schools
• Identifying and working on solutions to address
chronic family homelessness
• Supporting systems change through pilots in
three counties