2020-2023 Shelter Program Grant Guidelines

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Page | 6 1.1 Overview The Shelter Program Grant funds equitable and creative approaches to develop or expand shelter programs and bring people inside with the goal of exiting participants to permanent housing and positive destinations quickly. Programs enact strategies to ensure racially equitable access and racially equitable outcomes at shelter exit, provide outreach to unsheltered individuals and provide housing stability focused services. 1.2 Program Purpose The Office of Family and Adult Homelessness in the Housing Assistance Unit at the Department of Commerce administers state and federal funds to support homeless crisis response systems in WA State. The Shelter Program Grant is a critical resource in the crisis response system. People living unhoused become stably housed when the system is low barrier, trauma informed, culturally responsive and Housing First oriented. People living unstably housed become stably housed when the system is oriented toward problem solving conversations and personal advocacy to help people identify practical solutions based on their own available resources. We expect Commerce grantees, including county governments and nonprofits, to be leaders in their crisis response systems, facilitating partnership among service organizations and promoting evidence-based, anti-racist practices. Grantees must respond to the disproportionality in access to services, service provision and outcomes and cannot simply rely on standard business practices to address inequity. Grantees have the responsibility to ensure all people eligible for services receive support and are served with dignity, respect and compassion regardless of circumstance, ability or identity. This includes marginalized populations, Black, Native and Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, people with criminal records, people with disabilities, people with mental health and substance use vulnerabilities, people with limited English proficiency, people who identify as transgender, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and other individuals that may not access mainstream support. We are here to support your efforts. The Housing Assistance Unit provides access to continuous learning on trauma informed services, racial equity, LGBTQ+ competency and more. We can help you strategize outreach, coordinated entry and help you understand your data so we can meet Washington’s vision that no person is left living outside. 1.3 Fund Source The Shelter Program Grant is funded by the Home Security Fund as appropriated by the Legislature. 1 Grant Basics