Family Housing Connection starts today

Are you a family without a place to stay or know some folks who are? I want to let you know about Family Housing Connection, an easier way for families experiencing homelessness to connect with housing resources in King County. Starting today, one call to 2-1-1 now connects you to multiple housing resources in King County. Family Housing Connection provides a single access point for shelter and housing resources.

If you are pregnant or an adult with at least one child in your care and do not have a place to stay:
Schedule an appointment by calling 211 or 1-800-621-4636 to:
Meet with a Family Housing Connection specialist
Receive a follow up phone call when a housing resource becomes available
Meet with housing staff to ensure the best fit for your family

Family Housing Connection reduces the burden on families experiencing homelessness in King County by providing a single access point for shelter and housing resources. With one phone call to 211, an appointment will be scheduled for your family to meet with a Housing Specialist at a convenient, child friendly location. Your appointment will take about one hour. During that time, your family will discuss your housing needs and barriers with a Housing Specialist. After your appointment, you can stay in touch with Family Housing Connection for updates while you wait for an opening in a shelter or housing program. When a housing resource becomes available, Family Housing Connection will call you to ask follow up questions. If your family is eligible for the available housing resource, they will arrange a meeting between your family and that housing program.

Types of programs included in Family Housing Connection are:
Emergency Shelters
Transitional Housing Programs
Service Enriched Housing Programs
Permanent Supportive Housing Programs

Family Housing Connection is not creating additional housing resources and this new process will not get your family into shelter or housing faster. This new process will make it easier for your family to navigate the housing system in King County; instead of calling 80+ programs individually, you will now have a single access point to current shelter and housing resources. Families are prioritized based on the date you entered shelter, were placed on a housing waiting list or on the date that you call 211 on or after today, April 23, 2012. With one call to 211, your family will be placed onto a housing roster for 80+ shelter and housing programs in King County. Interpretation services are available for families who speak limited or no English. Family Housing Connection welcomes families of all sizes and backgrounds. More information is available on the Family Housing Connection webpage. Just call 2-1-1 or 1-800-621-4636, to schedule an appointment with Family Housing Connection today.