Meeting Notes: Bridge Coalition Meeting on February 25th
Opening Comments (Jim):
- Chat Introductions were done,
- A broad overview of NorthStar Advocates Mission and purpose was discussed,
- Focusing on return to community: safe housing, relationships, and supporting young adults facing unaccompanied homelessness interests and passions.
The Bridge Scope and Vision (Jim):
- High rate of return to homelessness for young people exiting inpatient care,
- Cross-system information sharing and training,
- Developing Return To Community Plan,
- Developing opportunities for systems reform.
Jim Theofelis on the HPDF Report: A Proven Model for Preventing Youth Homelessness
Jim Theofelis, founder and executive director of NorthStar Advocates, opened the meeting by presenting findings from the newly released HPDF Report. Jim originally launched the HPDF Fund while serving as the Executive Director at A Way Home Washington, recognizing the urgent need for a flexible, youth-centered approach to preventing homelessness. The report highlights the remarkable success of HPDF in helping young people secure stable housing quickly, with 93% of program participants remaining housed after one year. Moving forward, the Fund will now be managed by the organization Building Changes, ensuring its long-term sustainability and impact.
Originally piloted in four counties, HPDF has now expanded to ten counties statewide, offering a cost-effective and flexible approach to preventing homelessness. The program provides one-time financial assistance and problem-solving support, allowing young people to secure housing outside of the traditional homeless system—often in less than 72 hours.
Jim emphasized that equity remains central to HPDF’s impact, with 59% of participants identifying as BIPOC, 38% as pregnant or parenting, and 20% as individuals with disabilities. As Washington continues to see a decline in youth homelessness, HPDF stands as a model for scalable, mission-driven solutions that empower young people to take charge of their housing journey.
Jim finished his segment by sharing an exciting update: Excelsior has been awarded the contract for 1929 Bridge Housing, a significant step toward expanding transitional housing options for young adults in Washington State.
Excelsior Awarded 1929 Bridge Housing Contract: Enhancing Support for Young Adults
Next, Ryan Kiely from Excelsior shared an overview of Excelsior’s existing programs and excitement to spearhead the 1929 Post Inpatient Behavioral Health Transitional Living Housing Program.
Excelsior Wellness is a nonprofit organization based in Spokane for the past 40 years, dedicated to providing integrated behavioral health, wellness, and primary care services. Their holistic approach combines education, behavioral health, primary care, and social services to offer comprehensive support to the community. This integrated model ensures that individuals receive coordinated care tailored to their unique needs.
In addition to the new 1929 Bridge Housing program, Excelsior operates a range of services aimed at addressing youth homelessness and behavioral health needs, including:
- Wellness Center: Offers wraparound wellness and counseling services for young people aged birth to 21 with complex behavioral needs. Programs include individual and group counseling, care coordination, peer support, and therapeutic recreation, all designed to prevent out-of-home placements and support family unity.
- Family Medicine: A trauma-informed primary care clinic serving all ages, providing medical care, medication management, and outpatient mental health counseling. The clinic emphasizes a dual focus on physical and mental health, empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare journey.
- Integrated Care Center: Focuses on youth recovery programs for mental health and substance use disorders. Services include intensive outpatient programs, day treatment, respite care, and the LifePoint program—a comprehensive transition initiative supporting young adults aged 17-21 in achieving wellness and independent living.
- Holistic Schools: Provides educational services for children with special needs, offering a person-centered approach to learning. Students can work toward high school diplomas, prepare for GEDs, acquire college and work readiness skills, and participate in vocational training, all within a therapeutic educational environment.
The 1929 Bridge Housing program will build on Excelsior’s existing programs by offering safe, transitional housing with wraparound support services. The goal is to ensure that young people not only have a place to stay but also receive personalized guidance to help them navigate housing, employment, and education pathways to obtain long-term stable housing post residential inpatient. With this expansion, Excelsior continues to fill critical gaps in the housing continuum, ensuring that young adults have access to stable, supportive environments that promote long-term success.
Rachel from HCA: Navigating the Westside 1929 Housing Provider Process
Rachel Baxter from the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) provided an overview of the Westside 1929 Housing Provider process, outlining the next steps for providers interested in running these programs. She emphasized that providers must complete the Market Research – Letter of Interest Form, which was shared by Sarah Spier from NorthStar Advocates.
This updated process is intended to streamline applicants and provide HCA with a clearer understanding of the landscape of interested Westside providers. Rachel emphasized that this is a fluid process, and the responses from the Market Research – Letter of Interest Form will determine whether HCA will need to release a full Request for Proposal (RFP).
Jim Theofelis: Legislative Update & Advocacy Priorities
Jim provided a brief but critical update on this year’s legislative session, emphasizing key deadlines and funding challenges:
- State Budget Deficit: The legislature is facing a $6.2B–$14B shortfall, depending on who you talk with, making funding requests more competitive.
- Policy Cutoff: As of last Friday, all bills must be approved by their policy committee in their respective chamber (House or Senate) to move forward.
- Fiscal Cutoff: Any bill with financial impact must pass out of the fiscal committee by this Friday to remain viable.
- Missed Deadlines: Bills that fail to meet these deadlines will most likely not advance this session.
Jim emphasized that NorthStar continues to advocate for:
- The addition of two new 1929 Bridge Housing programs (North & South).
- The full $5 million in funding for the HPDF program.
Despite the current deficit hurdles, continued advocacy is crucial to securing investment in youth housing solutions. Jim closed with a powerful reminder: “Democracy is not a spectator’s sport. It requires active participation.”
Community Updates:
- Johnny Ohta discussed an interest in visiting Spokane to see the new site for the 1929 Bridge Housing Program- Excelsior Wellness.
Closing Comments:
- Jim closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their support and active participation in this work.
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