Shelter and Housing

Transitional Housing

Transitional housing programs provide temporary housing and supportive services to help homeless individuals and families make the transition to long-term housing within two years.

Transitional programs offer a wide range of services including searches for long-term housing, counseling, job training and employment, education, life skills training, health care, child care, transportation, and referrals to other assistance programs.

Increased access to “service-enriched” transitional housing is an essential part of Seattle’s “housing first” strategy and its implementation of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homeless in King County. The City has adopted a “housing first” strategy, which provides homeless people permanent housing and immediate access to services critical to stabilizing their lives. This includes education, job training, or finding treatment for a medical, mental health or addiction problem.

The City of Seattle started funding transitional housing in 1985. City of Seattle General Fund and federal Housing and Urban Development allocations to nonprofit, community-based organizations are determined through a competitive process that is conducted by the Seattle Human Services Department at least once every four years. Funding during funding cycles depends upon program performance and funding availability. The current four-year cycle ends on December 31, 2009. In 2008, $1 million was distributed; the 2008 allocation was $5.8 million.

2009 Funded Agencies and Programs

• Church Council of Greater Seattle
• Compass Center - Community Transitional Housing
• Compass Center - Hammond House
• Compass Center - Housing Stability
• Compass Center - Pioneer Square Men's Program
• El Centro de La Raza
• Family & Adult Services Center Families in Community
• Family Services
• First Place - Family Stabilization Program
• Muslim Housing Services – Transitional Housing Program, 206-723-1712
• Plymouth Housing Group - Begin at Home
• Plymouth Housing Group - Housing First - Langdon & Anne Simons Senior Apartments
• Salvation Army - Rental Stabilization Program/Transition in Place
• Solid Ground - Broadview Transitional Housing Program
• Solid Ground - Sand Point Santos House
• YWCA of Seattle-King County - East Cherry Transitional Housing Programs

Information

For more information about transitional housing programs for homeless people, please contact the agencies listed above or the 211 Community Information Line by dialing 211 or 1-800-621-4636.

If you don't need transitional housing services but you have questions about Seattle Human Services Department program policy, call 206-684-0266 or e-mail emergencyservices@seattle.gov

Links

• Current Funding Opportunities
• News