An initiative to end family homelessness in Snohomish County

We envision a Snohomish County where every family has ready access to the housing, economic opportunities, and support needed to lead lives of dignity and fulfillment.

The Investing in Families Strategic Advisory Coordinating Committee has been formed to develop a high-performing system to transform services and programs to prevent and end homelessness among families in Snohomish County.

Vision and Mission

Core Values

Research and data-driven, continuous improvement

Standardized across the entire system Guided by the voice of families and providers Culturally relevant and accessible Services tailored to the specific needs of the

family Long-term, flexible, collaborative, and designed

to serve families until they become optimally self-sufficient

Open to new opportunities and partners Inclusive of local priorities, such as serving

unaccompanied youth

System Goals

Develop an early warning, outreach, and diversion system

Develop a screening/initial assessment system

Develop a system for accessing family plan development and stabilization services

Develop a system for accessing economic opportunity services

Develop a housing supply continuum

Sustainable System

Early Deliverables

Eighteen month grant funded planning process Landscape Assessment Strategic Plan Implementation Plan

Plan was approved by Snohomish County and accepted by Building Changes and the Foundation

75+ family pilot project beginning July 1, 2011

Dashboard (3.2012)

138 families enrolled 419 individuals 174 children

75 families accessed $67k in flexible funds Housing, childcare, transportation, health,

education, employment, clothing, food, emergency services, misc

Report – Housing (11.2011)

46 families 72% found housing within a month 32% found housing within a day or a few

days Success in advocating for families with

significant barriers (lack of credit, poor credit, evictions, criminal background)

Biggest challenge is finding housing for undocumented and not work-authorized families

Use of other IIF partner services has been instrumental for all families

Report - Legal (2.2012)

91 families 30 referred to legal services 5 referred to dispute resolution services 55 received credit and background checks

67% had criminal background and financial history red flags

26% owed $5k-$10k on unpaid accounts Fast and ever-growing fines

Dire, complex needs in a daunting system Legal services saving the day for many

Data - Education (3.2012)

94 families 2% elementary school education 2% middle school education 20% some high school education 19% GED 14% high school diploma 40% some training beyond GED or high school 3% AA, BA, or advanced degree

70 interested in school or training but 29 had significant barriers to pursuing goals

Report - Employment (3.2012)

94 families 88 were in crisis (unemployed with no

prospects) or at risk (temporary employment with no benefits)

Some employment successes Biggest success was working with

partners to design a new approach to offering employment services for vulnerable families

Employment Services Flow Chart

Next Steps

Refinement and revision of strategies (“5 S’ing”)

Development of early warning, outreach, and diversion processes

Expansion plan Investing in Families University Development of long-term governance

and leadership structures Transformation of system capable of

serving 500 families per year

Ultimate Result

At the end of the six-year Implementation period, investments coupled with the efforts of funders and partners, will transform the local system for addressing the needs of families experiencing and at risk of homelessness, reducing family homelessness by 50% and contributing to the body of knowledge to ultimately eradicate family homelessness in our nation.