Meeting the Needs of Families

Prepared for Washington State House of Representatives

Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee

January 15, 2010

Building Changes

Building ChangesCore Strategies

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.

Building ChangesGrantmaking

Washington Families Fund – Authorized by Washington State Legislature in 2004

Washington Families FundA 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

WFF Funded Programs by DSHS Region

$1,032,195

47 units

$1,225,000

35 units

$4,072,130

163 units

$2,864,185

95 units

$4,448,877

152 units

$2,109,290

126 units

Washington Families FundPrimary 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

Washington Families FundFamily Outcomes to Date

Who Are The Families Served and

Are We Meeting Their Needs?

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%)

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

Majority of Families Secure a Permanent Home After Completing a WFF Program

Moderate-Needs Families – Housing(Five Year Data)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Permanent Housing

Living with Family/Friends

Transitional Housing

Homeless Situation

Other

73%

9%6% 6% 6%

Increase in Economic Stability

Intake Exit % Change

TANF 68% 55% -13

Employment 24% 36% 12

SSI/SSDI 9% 12% 3

Moderate-Needs Families – Sources of Income(Five Year Data)

Majority of Families Increase Monthly Income; Yet Remain Far Below Self-Sufficiency Standard

Moderate-Needs Families – Monthly Income(Five Year Data)

$-

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

Intake Exit Self Sufficiency

$987

$1,249

$3,300

• 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

School Stability Improves with Housing Stability

Moderate-Needs Families – School Stability(Five Year Data)

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.

Washington Families FundMaking Progress

Housing Stability

Increased Income

School Stability

Washington Families FundMeeting Challenges

• Affordable market rate housing

• About a quarter of families exit program without stable housing

Washington Families FundCreating 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

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.

• 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

High-Needs Families – Initial Findings(Baseline Data)

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%)

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%

High-Needs Families – Barriers to Housing(Baseline Data)

• The Right Services to Families at the Right Time

• Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness

• Three-county Pilot Program

Washington Families FundLooking Ahead

• 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

Washington Families FundMaking Progress