ActionPlan

Pathways Home: Seattle’s Person-Centered Plan to Support People Experiencing Homelessness
framework that the City must implement in order to reduce unsheltered homelessness and increase the
speed and efficiency in which people move from homelessness to permanent housing. These goals can
be accomplished by:
1. Expanding funding for program approaches that are most effective at exiting people from
homelessness such as diversion, rapid re‐housing and permanent supportive housing.
2. Prioritizing shelter and housing access for people living unsheltered and people who have the
longest histories of homelessness.
3. Orienting all aspects of the homeless response system towards exits to permanent housing.
4. Working together urgently and boldly to implement meaningful solutions.
Each of these recommendations includes many actions, which represent a critical element of Seattle’s
ability to implement system improvements and move us closer to the goal of housing as many people
experiencing homelessness as quickly as is possible.
Investment Principles
The vision of the City of Seattle is that all persons, regardless of their housing status, are members of
this community and deserve access to the best possible intervention to help them exit homelessness. In
order to ensure that the City of Seattle is investing in programs that have the best possible outcomes,
the Human Services Department (HSD) has adopted the following investment priorities and principles:
Create a Person‐Centered Response to Homelessness
The City of Seattle must develop and invest in a comprehensive and integrated system of interventions
that form a person‐centered crisis response system. A systemic response to homelessness involves
more than having quality individual programs available. Those programs must be accessible,
coordinated, and achieving results. A person‐centered approach responds to the unique needs of each
family and individual based on a brief assessment of their needs, strengths and vulnerabilities. Once
assessed, people are matched to the appropriate housing resource. Customized services must fit an
individual’s needs rather than following strict programmatic guidelines. As a funder, HSD intends to
provide increased latitude and flexibility in funding to ensure customized services are not in conflict with
compliance requirements. Individualized services must be altered to fit the participant’s needs rather
than being refused for not being an appropriate referral. Services should also consider a participant’s
culture, as homelessness often looks very different in diverse cultures.
Invest in Models with Demonstrated Success
Moving forward, all funding for homeless investments will be awarded on a competitive basis for
programs which meet critical needs and can demonstrate that the program contributes to reducing
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