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• Providing training and cross-agency learning opportunities to strengthen staff skills in trauma-informed care, client-centered approaches, boundaries,wellness and resilience,and consistent service delivery practices. • Exploring the creation of a dedicated funding source, through public, private, or philanthropic sources, to support workforce development, capacity building, and training needs across the homeless response system. This goal focuses on strengthening the professional workforce engaged in the local homelessness response system. Shared learning also contributes to broader collaboration and communication across the system, reinforcing efforts outlined in Goal 1. Measuring success Success will be measured by participation in workforce-focused training opportunities and learning collaboratives; improved staff retention as reported by service providers; and feedback from participants on the value and effectiveness of training. Evaluation and feedback loops will help track knowledge gained and identify opportunities for continued improvement and long-term workforce stability. Goal 3: Prevent episodes of homelessness whenever possible. Preventing homelessness is both humane and financially responsible. Studies34 show it is less costly to prevent a housing crisis through diversion or eviction prevention, than to assist individuals and families after they become homeless. In addition to the financial benefit, keeping individuals and families stably housed avoids the trauma of homelessness and reduces the demand on emergency services and housing programs. Kittitas County already supports prevention through diversion, eviction prevention efforts, and barrier removal funds', but coordination, and communication can be strengthened. Kittitas County's approach to achieving this goal focuses on improving coordination and early intervention through community partnerships. Prevention must be seen as a shared responsibility across the system, including non-profit providers, public agencies, private organizations, and landlords. Partnerships with the private sector, particularly property owners and managers, are an important part of this effort, and creating opportunities to engage landlords as active participants in prevention is a priority. The county will pursue this goal through the following strategies: • Improve coordination of existing prevention resources across the community,with an emphasis on aligning barrier-removal funds,strengthening data coordination,and supporting shared evaluation of outcomes. • Strengthen partnerships with private organizations and landlords to increase early identification of households at risk of homelessness and promote collaborative prevention efforts. • Expand and support diversion practices that resolve housing crises without system entry, including consistent referral pathways and cross-sector collaboration. • Increase public awareness of available prevention resources and promote early help-seeking by individuals and families at risk of homelessness. s National League of Cities:Eviction Prevention as a Tool for Cities °Urban Institute:Cost Effectiveness of Eviction Prevention Programs s Barrier Removal Funds: Flexible financial assistance used to help individuals and families overcome obstacles (transportation, identification documents,utility deposits,rental application fees,minor repairs,etc.)that may prevent someone from securing or maintaining housing.