Family Homelessness Initiative: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Meeting Spotlights Evaluation Findings

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is hosting a 1-day virtual convening on Thursday, February 11, 2021: A Decade of Innovation: The Puget Sound Family Homelessness Initiative on the Family Homelessness Initiative (FHI). The convening will share findings from a Westat longitudinal evaluation of the initiative. Among the speakers will be Westat’s Debra Rog, Ph.D., Vice President; Kathryn Henderson, Ph.D., Principal Research Associate; and Clara Wagner, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate.

The FHI aims to reduce and prevent homelessness among families with children. The initiative has been working to improve coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness of the homeless service systems in 3 Washington State counties for over a decade.

Evaluation findings are highlighted in a recent white paper, A Decade of Innovation: Lessons from the Puget Sound Family Homelessness Initiative (PDF).
A series of final reports will be released later this month. In-depth findings regarding impacts on systems and organizations as well as cost findings will be released in March.
View Westat’s presentation on YouTube: Overview of the Family Homelessness Initiative
Learn more about Westat’s work and findings on the FHI: Evaluating a Washington State initiative to end family homelessness