System changes made by HSD and service providers to the homeless services system helped 3,030 households exit homeless services programs to enter housing in the first quarter (January 1 – March 31) of 2018. This represents an increase of 1,241 households in comparison to 2017.
Jason Johnson, Interim Director, presented the first quarter performance outcomes of homeless services receiving city funding to the Human Services, Equitable Development & Renter Rights Committee on Tuesday, June 26. You can watch the committee here and review the full presentation.
In 2018, HSD used a competitive process to award homeless services dollars for the first time in over a decade. HSD awarded these dollars using the following principles:
- Create a person-centered homeless services system where programs work together to help people end their experience of homelessness;
- Invest in programs that work and effectively connect people to housing; and
- Address racial disparities
HSD is supporting agencies that share these principles and is pleased that the system is showing improvement in connecting people to housing over 2017. Even as the scope of Seattle’s homelessness crisis outpaces our resources, HSD and partners are committed to showing results for public dollars and for people experiencing homelessness.
