Over 700 Gather in Seattle to End Family Homelessness Nationwide

Date: 7 Feb 2008

Author: National Alliance to End Homelessness

February 7, 2008

Contact: Lauren Wright
202-942-8246, lwright@naeh.org

Bill Gates, Sr., Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nan Roman, President of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels among those to address the tragedy of over half a million homeless families in U.S.

Washington, DC – Approximately 700 homeless advocates from across the country—including agency leaders, government officials, service providers, business community members, and homeless people—will gather in Seattle, Washington to participate in the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ fourth annual National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness. Bill Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Nan Roman, President of the National Alliance to End Homelessness will keynote the conference, which will be held from February 7-8 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.

Every year 600,000 families with 1.35 million children experience homelessness in the United States. These families comprise approximately half of the total homeless population.

“When most of us think of homeless people, we think of individuals and adults. We don’t think of the families with children that struggle to find a place to sleep nightly,” said Nan Roman, President of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“We’re gathering to end family homelessness by sharing the solutions that work – solutions like permanent, affordable housing partnered with supportive services to get families back on their feet,” Roman said.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, studies have shown that families exiting homelessness with a housing subsidy are 21 times more likely to remain stably housed than families exiting a shelter without assistance. Unfortunately, there are 10 million low-income families eligible for housing subsidies that do not receive them because of a lack of funding.

“We’re committed to improving lives both around the world and here in the Pacific Northwest, where our focus is addressing family homelessness,” said Bill Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with the National Alliance to End Homelessness to bring awareness to this serious yet solvable problem.”

The Gates Foundation launched the Sound Families Initiative in partnership with numerous public sector partners in 2001 with a $40 million gift to triple the amount of service-enriched housing in the Puget Sound region.

The National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness features workshops and experts who will discuss the most cutting edge research, program models, strategies, and skills needed to work towards ending family homelessness in urban, suburban, and rural communities nationwide.

“By bringing together philanthropists like Bill Gates, Sr., leaders like Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and homelessness experts like Professor Dennis Culhane, we hope to educate communities on the approaches that have worked to end homelessness and encourage the adoption of more federal measures that will prevent and end homelessness for families,” Roman said.

In addition to workshops and discussions, conference participants from across the nation will be able to see first-hand how cities like Seattle and surrounding counties have effectively combated family homelessness by visiting Seattle area housing developments and housing programs supported by the Sound Families Initiative including: The Willows in southwest King County; Broadway Crossing in Seattle; Croft Place Townhomes and the One Community Crossing in Seattle; and the YWCA Edmond’s Highland apartment complex in nearby Edmonds, Washington.

“Across the nation, cities are choosing to focus on ending homelessness among families by providing them with permanent, affordable housing,” Mayor Nickels said. “Seattle is one of those cities. I’m looking forward to sharing the results of our hard work with conference attendees and I hope our success helps encourage and educate them on how to build and increase effective homeless programs in their cities.”

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The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, mission- driven organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost- effective policy solutions. Working collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, the Alliance provides data and research that lead to stronger programs and policies that help communities achieve their goal of ending homelessness. For more information on The National Alliance to End Homelessness, visit: www.endhomelessness.org