Washington Families Fund, a public-private partnership led by Seattle-based non-profit organization Building Changes, is embarking upon a bold new approach to end homelessness among families with children throughout the state. The goal is to reduce the problem by 50 percent in the next decade.
The state of Washington, local governments including the city of Tacoma and Pierce County and philanthropic and corporate partners have affirmed their deep commitment to ending family homelessness by signing a new memorandum of understanding (MOU).
All parties pledged to redouble their efforts to minimize shelter stays and provide critical, ongoing support services for homeless families with children, and to help families on the brink of homelessness. The signatories agreed to align existing family homelessness funding streams so that current resources can be used more efficiently and effectively and, where possible, to tap new resources to address the growing problem.
Later this year, Pierce County will pilot and tailor new strategies. These will test innovative ways to help stabilize homeless families with children, as well as those struggling to pay their mortgages or rents before they lose their homes. Lessons learned will eventually be applied statewide.
Funders from the private sector – including the United Way of Pierce County, Boeing, Microsoft, Campion Foundation, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and Ben B. Cheney Foundation – pledged to coordinate resources to help support this work. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is committing up to $60 million over 10 years.
Despite an estimated $200 million in combined annual funding by the state, counties, cities and the private sector, the number of homeless families appears to be on the rise. Economic conditions have continued to worsen, dramatically increasing the demand for services and support.
To meet this growing need, the MOU partners have embraced five proven principles: early intervention and prevention; coordinating access to support services; rapid re-housing; providing services tailored to meet each family’s individual needs; and increasing economic opportunity through education and workforce services. The new strategy is based on innovative work across the country that has reduced family homelessness rates.
“We are building on the work of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness and looking at ways to make the greatest impact on the root causes of family homelessness,” said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. “Every child in Pierce County deserves a safe, stable place to call home.”
“The city of Tacoma is committed to making our existing resources work as effectively and efficiently as possible for families on the brink of losing their housing,” said Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma.
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