Ending family homelessness

Ending homelessness through prevention

The most effective way to end homelessness is to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. At LifeWire, we’ve known this for a long time. Now, we have the data to prove it.

In 2009, LifeWire participated in a three-year pilot project called Domestic Violence Housing First. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project helped survivors of domestic violence move into stable housing as quickly as possible. With the pilot project funding, LifeWire created our Housing Stability Program. The program provides flexible funds to pay for expenses that enable a family to remain or become safely housed. That could be helping with a month’s rent, a phone bill, or even a car repair.

Housing first works

The program works. In 2015, 94% of the families we served were still stably housed six months after receiving Housing Stability funds.

LifeWire’s success during the Domestic Violence Housing First pilot project showed such promising results that King County Executive Dow Constantine is using it as a model for the Kids, Youth, and Family Homelessness Prevention Initiative. This is the first initiative funded using money from the Best Starts for Kids levy, approved by voters.

Expanding the housing first model

LifeWire hosted a forum on the importance of using Best Starts for Kids funds for homelessness prevention. Together with Dow Constantine, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, we discussed why the Kids, Youth, and Family Homelessness Prevention Initiative will save lives and keep families across King County safely and stably housed.

Following Tuesday’s forum, KING 5 News sat down with LifeWire Program Director, Maria Williams, to discuss how LifeWire’s innovative Housing Stability Program has been so effective in keeping domestic violence survivors in safe, permanent, and stable homes and why King County leaders are taking it to scale to keep families across the county out of homelessness.

Take Action

Make a difference

You can make a difference to your family, friends, and community by taking these simple actions:

1. Practice healthy relationship skills: Learn about the skills necessary to practice healthy communication with others. Talk to others about what healthy relationships mean to you and model respectful behavior in your relationships.

2. Be supportive: If you think someone close to you is experiencing abuse, ask them about it and offer your support. If you think someone you know is engaging in abusive behavior, talk to them and encourage them to seek help. Continue to check in and remain connected and supportive.

3. Stay in the conversation: Help shape the movement against domestic violence. Speak up to stop attitudes and behaviors that oppress others. Be a source of information about domestic violence.

4. Learn about and share resources: Everyone has a role to play in creating healthy, safe, and vibrant communities. Explore our website to find out how you can get involved and make a difference.