Homeless Services Grantee Training
Homelessness in Washington State is multifaceted. While housing affordability and wealth inequality are leading causes of homelessness, we also know certain experiences may compound an individual’s experience of homelessness, making it harder for them to find or access available resources. We know that trauma and mental health challenges are common amongst homeless populations and that people of color and LGBTQ communities are disproportionately impacted. To this end, many Commerce homeless grants require service providers to demonstrate competency in best practices. Our goal is that these trainings prepare grantees with the knowledge and tools needed to foster resiliency on an individual, programmatic and agency-level, strengthening their community’s response to homelessness.
Program Contact
OFAH Training and BVS Coordinator
Introduction to Housing First
Housing First is a homeless assistance approach that provides permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness. This video will explain how this approach is guided by the belief that people need a place to live before attending to anything less critical, such as getting a job or seeking treatment.
Working With Survivors of Domestic Violence
Working with survivors of domestic violence in the homeless housing world requires careful attention. This video will explain the intersection between domestic violence and homelessness, how to recognize and respond to domestic violence, safety planning and how to best partner with advocates.
Introduction to Rapid Rehousing
Rapid Rehousing is a critical intervention in every crisis response system. This video will explain the program design and how to help individuals and families that don’t need intensive and ongoing supports to quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing.
Introduction to Problem Solving (Diversion)
Diversion is a creative problem-solving approach to help people resolve their housing crisis, ideally before entering the crisis response system. Diversion uses exploratory conversations to help people identify realistic housing options based on their resources. Diversion may be accompanied by short-term services, including one-time financial assistance.
Progressive Engagement For Programs and Systems
Progressive Engagement is an approach to helping households end their homelessness as rapidly as possible, despite barriers, with minimal financial and support. This video will explain the different frameworks between program and system strategies.
Landlord Engagement In Rapid Rehousing
Landlord Engagement reviews the core components of Rapid Rehousing and explains landlord incentives. This PowerPoint presentation presents the concept of working with landlords as partners. It will help you discover how to find landlords, build relationships, and gives details about the Washington Landlord Mitigation Program.
Trainings
Racial Equity in Homeless Services
This training helps participants achieve a shared understanding of the present-day manifestations of institutional racism and how to implement tools and practices designed to ensure your organization’s operations, policies, and programming are aligned with the values of racial equity and social justice.
LGBTQ+ Informed Training
The Queer-Informed Care Training prepares providers with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to provide safe and affirming services to LGBTQ+ clients in their programs.