One of A Way Home Washington’s most impactful programs is our Homelessness Prevention & Diversion Fund (HPDF). We recently launched a new department that the HPDF is now integrated with called Training & Engagement (T&E). So not only can we share the success of the HPDF, but we can teach and train others on what we have found to work best when implementing flexible funds to prevent and end homelessness among young people. In this interview with Kiki Serantes, T&E Director, and Anjali Riddick, Prevention & Diversion Training Manager, they detail facts about the HPDF, highlight the successes we’ve seen with it, and explain why it’s critical to the effort to prevent and end homelessness.
01:11 Training and diversion history with A Way Home Washington
04:00 What is the Training & Engagement (T&E) Department?
07:10 The role of the Homelessness Prevention & Diversion Fund (HPDF)
08:28 Accessing the HPDF through our four pilot Anchor Communities and expansion to six more counties
09:30 The impact of the HPDF
10:51 Youth and young adults who are pregnant and/or parenting
11:42 Housing young people of color
12:14 What is diversion?
15:07 What is a “housing first” approach?
16:47 What is appropriate housing and how can we / how are we redefining it?
19:39 How does the HPDF compare to other vital housing programs?
23:40 How is the HPDF tailored to individual needs?
25:24 Why is the HPDF tied to the Anchor Community Initiative?
28:28 What will happen with the HPDF and T&E within the next year?
32:30 How can folks learn more about the HPDF and/or get in contact with T&E staff?
34:04 Shout-outs!