Housing and Essential Needs
Providing housing assistance for people with short-term incapacity.
The Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program provides funding to local governments and homeless service providers to help individuals referred by the Department of Social and Health Services with:
- Time-limited rent assistance.
- Services connected to housing stability.
- Limited essential needs items, such as personal hygiene and transportation.
Eligible participants have a disability, are low income, and are experiencing homelessness or are at-risk of becoming homeless.
Results and Achievements
In state fiscal year 2018, 1,191 formerly homeless households received rent assistance through HEN. Of the formerly homeless households who left the program in state fiscal year 2018, 57 percent exited to stable housing.
In state fiscal year 2018, 5,283 households at-risk of homelessness received rent assistance through HEN. Of the households previously at-risk of homelessness who left the program in state fiscal year 2018, 71 percent exited to stable housing.
Additional Resources
Contact
Kathy Kinard, Operations Manager
Phone: 360-725-2939
Email: Kathy.Kinard@Commerce.wa.gov