Opening Comments & Introductions
- Sarah Spier opened the meeting on behalf of Jim Theofelis and V.
- Formal introductions were held, with an added emphasis on community building—participants were encouraged to share how they were doing personally to foster connection and dialogue.
- Sarah gave a brief legislative update regarding the funding for the Bridge Coalition and informed the group that Jim will do a formal and in-depth legislative update during the April meeting.
Presentation: Isaac Fall – Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) Shifting Services and Systems to Prevent Youth Housing Instability
Overview:
Isaac Fall delivered a comprehensive presentation on Washington State’s official prevention strategy, “Shifting Services and Systems to Prevent Youth Housing Instability.” The strategy, developed in response to a legislative mandate, focuses on transforming the way systems interact with and support young people—moving from a reactive crisis response model to a proactive, prevention-based approach.
Background & Legislative Mandate
- In 2020, the Washington State Legislature tasked OHY with creating a statewide strategic plan to prevent youth homelessness.
- The work was conducted in partnership with:
- C3 (Crisis Connections Collaborative)
- Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative (IHTC)
- A Steering Committee of young people and caregivers with lived experience of homelessness or system involvement
- The initial plan relied on focus groups and input sessions; the final plan, released in 2021, incorporated more formal guidance from the Steering Committee and reflected broader community input.
Steering Committee Formation
- Comprised of:
- 12 youth with lived experience
- 10 caregivers
- Partners from OHY, C3, and IHTC
- The committee was intentionally intersectional:
- 95% BIPOC
- Included queer, trans, neurodivergent youth, and youth with mental health considerations
- Designed to ensure community-led, equitable strategy development
Prevention Continuum: The strategy outlines a Prevention Continuum to shift services upstream:
- Primary Prevention – Addressing root causes before instability emerges
- Early Intervention – Identifying youth at risk and offering supports
- Crisis Prevention – Preventing system involvement or loss of housing
This model reframes prevention as a system-wide responsibility—not just the role of housing providers.
Root Causes and System Gaps
- Systemic racism
- Poverty
- Family instability
- Inadequate mental health access
- Lack of youth-centered services
System Gaps:
- Inconsistent access to family crisis support
- Disconnected services across state systems
- Schools under-resourced for prevention
- Existing services don’t effectively support youth of color, autistic youth, or those with disabilities
- Overemphasis on tertiary prevention, leaving early-stage families without support
- Rigid funding streams that don’t allow for flexible prevention work
Data Insights
- Youth of color, LGBTQ2S+, and neurodivergent youth are overrepresented in homelessness
- Youth in rural areas face limited access to services
- Many youth-serving organizations are urban-based and lack cultural or geographic representation
- Youth of color and QTPOC often report not feeling welcomed or supported by existing programs
High-Priority Recommendations
- Create a non-punitive, single-entry service system for family well-being
- Update zoning laws to allow more diverse, dense housing options
- Develop job programs for communities most impacted by homelessness
- Offer respite services for caregivers and youth without stigma
- Address parental consent barriers in youth housing
- Focus on anti-racism in all policies and programs
- Promote cross-agency collaboration on flexible prevention funding
- Fund state-supported housing for pregnant/parenting youth
- Implement comprehensive family relationship education
- Partner with the private sector to create youth-accessible, entry-level jobs
Prevention Workgroup & Ongoing Implementation
- A $200,000 annual proviso funds OHY’s ongoing prevention work
- The Youth Homelessness Prevention Workgroup, co-led by OHY and DCYF, is guiding implementation
- The group includes state agencies, CBOs, and individuals with lived experience and will coordinate statewide reforms, including:
- Family Reconciliation Services
- SSB 6560, ESSB 5290, and other prevention-focused laws
Closing:
Isaac emphasized the need for broad engagement in implementing the plan. Prevention must be embedded across systems—education, juvenile justice, child welfare, behavioral health—not just within housing programs. He encouraged participants to review the strategic plan, connect with OHY for technical assistance, and seek out opportunities to elevate youth voice and localized prevention strategies.
Contact:
Isaac Fall, Prevention Manager
isaac.fall@commerce.wa.gov
RFP Update: Rachel Baxter – Health Care Authority: Rachel Baxter shared updates regarding the Westside RFP application:
- The application is currently open and accessible through the HCA website.
- Providers were reminded of the April 4th deadline to submit their proposals.
- Rachel emphasized that any proposed contract changes providers may want to see need to be submitted during the RFP process, not after contracts are awarded.
- She also shared information about the process for submitting questions related to the RFP, which are addressed publicly in a Q&A format on the HCA site.
East Side 1929 Housing Programs Update: Sarah Spier shared a brief update on behalf of Excelsior Wellness: “We’re currently focused on the start-up phase as we prepare for the formal launch of services. This includes facility preparation, recruitment and hiring for essential positions, and outreach to discharge planners and referral agencies.”
Closing Comments:
- Sarah closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their support and active participation in this work.
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