Mayor Ed Murray announces $620,000 in homeless diversion funding

Seattle, WA – April 17, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — City of Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) announced today a total of $620,000 in funding for rapid rehousing services for non-chronically homeless single adults to ensure that these instances of homelessness are rare, brief and occur only one time.

“The evidence is clear: homeless diversion programs work,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “We look forward to working with service providers to scale this and other best-practices in reducing and preventing homelessness. This funding will leverage the investments we have already made to reduce disparities and create better outcomes.”

Funding will be awarded to the YWCA of Seattle, King County and Snohomish County ($310,000) and Catholic Community Services ($310,000).

“The City continues its effort to institute performance-based investments and uses data to steer the department’s resources to nonprofits who demonstrate their ability to serve the community’s most in need,” said Catherine Lester, Director, Seattle Human Services Department.

This funding is intended to assist single, homeless adults without accompanied children, with a focus on individuals who have served in the US Armed Forces. The funds will provide for a variety of assistance, such as: short-term or medium-term rental assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services that include activities like mediation, security or utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance and employment navigation. Clients will also receive referrals for credit counseling from the Financial Empowerment Center and to the City Utility Discount Program.

Last year, Mayor Murray joined First Lady Michelle Obama and 432 U.S. Mayors in the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness to ensure there are no veterans sleeping on our streets and every veteran has access to permanent housing. This funding announcement brings the City one step closer to fulfilling this goal.

Find more information about HSD’s investments in ending homelessness here.

Katherine Jolly (206) 684-0253
Viet Shelton (206) 684-3952