Extended Programming at Housing Washington

Virtual Program

T‍racks: Homeless Service Fundamentals ‍Youth & Young Adult Homelessness

Please note:

• Most sessions will offer 1.25 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Licensed Social Workers.

• Sessions will take place over Zoom with captions enabled.

• Interpretation may be available if requested by October 12.
  

Tues, Oct 27 ‍ 1:00–2:15pm

S50: Reducing Barriers, Expanding Access: Strategies for Low Barrier Service Delivery HSF 1.25 CEU

Low‑barrier service delivery is essential to ensuring that people can access housing, resources, and support without unnecessary hurdles. This session brings together practitioners who are redesigning systems to meet people where they are—simplifying processes, removing administrative burdens, and building trust through culturally responsive engagement. Speakers will share practical strategies for reducing documentation requirements, streamlining intake, improving cross‑agency coordination, and designing services informed by lived experience. Attendees will leave with actionable approaches they can apply in their own organizations to expand access, strengthen equity, and create service environments that are welcoming, predictable, and easier to navigate for all.

Presented by:

• Heather Schleigh, Washington State Department of Commerce, Consolidated Homeless Grant Program Manager

• Dione Griffith, Washington State Department of Commerce, Community Engagement and Policy Coordinator

• Henry Bennett, Washington State Department of Commerce, Consolidated Homeless Grant Program Manager

• Lea Porter, Family Crisis Network, Assistant Director
  

Tues, Oct 27 ‍ 2:30–3:45pm

S51: Reaching Functional Zero in Washington State ‍YYA ‍ 1.25 CEU

This session provides a statewide overview of the Functional Zero approach to end youth homelessness, as well as exploring what it could mean for Washington’s homelessness response system. Presenters will introduce the core principles and measures of Functional Zero, share where Washington communities are in the work, and discuss the opportunities and challenges of building toward measurable reductions in homelessness statewide. The session will also consider how equity and lived experience can inform efforts to define and achieve meaningful system-level outcomes.

Presented by:

• Sunny Wonder, Chief Operating Officer, Council for the Homeless

• Elaina Darrington, Youth Systems Navigator, The REACH Center & Tacoma Community House

• Tim Meliah, Vice President of Homeless Services for Youth and Families, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington
  

Wed, Oct 28 ‍ 2:30–3:45pm

S52: Understanding the Homeless Crisis Response System in Washington HSF 1.25 CEU

Whether you're new to homelessness services or looking for a refresher, this session provides a high-level overview of Washington's homelessness crisis response system. We'll explore how the system is structured, the roles of key state and local partners, and how people move through the continuum of care, from diversion and outreach to shelter, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, youth homelessness services, and other critical interventions. We will also give an overview of how people access and navigate the Coordinated Entry system in the Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC).

Presented by:

• Ji Soo Kim, Washington State Department of Commerce, State Homeless Housing Strategy Manager

• Melisa Linden, Washington State Department of Commerce, Coordinated Entry Performance Specialist
  

Thurs, Oct 29 ‍ 1:00–2:15pm

S53: Understanding the Shelter Not Penalties Act

This workshop will explore the impacts of the criminalization of homelessness and policy efforts to drive local governments towards solutions that actually end homelessness and that avoid inflicting more harm on unhoused individuals. Come to hear a panel that includes people directly impacted, homelessness service providers and policy experts on what the Shelter Not Penalties Act would mean for our communities. 

Moderated by: Michele Thomas, Washington Housing Alliance, Director of Policy and Advocacy

Panelists:

• Jazmyn Clark, ACLU-WA, Smart Justice Policy Program Director

• Dr. Lamont Green, DSW, LSWAIC, Lived Experience Coalition, Cofounder and Community Organizer

• Julie Garcia, Jewels Helping Hands, Executive Director
  

Fri, Oct 30 ‍ 1:00–2:15pm

S55: Caring for Community During and After Overdose‍ ‍ HSF 1.25 CEU

Overdoses reverberate far beyond the immediate medical crisis—they impact families, neighbors, service providers, and entire housing communities. This session explores what compassionate, community‑centered care looks like during and after an overdose, especially in housing and shelter settings where staff are often first responders. Presenters will discuss practical strategies for supporting residents, reducing trauma, strengthening safety planning, and integrating harm‑reduction approaches that honor dignity and autonomy. Attendees will gain tools for responding to overdoses in ways that build trust, stabilize housing, and foster a culture of care rather than punishment, ensuring communities can heal and remain connected in the aftermath of a crisis.

Presented by:

• Sean Hemmerle, Washington State Department of Health

• Sarah Melfi-Klein, Washington State Health Care Authority

• Lupe Hurtado, DESC

• Callan Fockele, DESC

Fri, Oct 30 ‍ 2:30–3:45pm

S56: Protecting Legal Rights, A Safety Net to Prevent Homelessness‍ ‍ HSF 1.25 CEU

The Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid administers two legal representation programs that implement the state’s appointed counsel program for indigent tenants and legal counsel for Medicaid eligible residents facing discharge from certain long-term care facility types. Both programs are designed to protect legal rights as individuals face eviction or discharge and work in tandem with local and statewide homelessness prevention services. This session will use data, quantitative studies, and anonymized case stories to demonstrate the crucial role legal representation plays in ensuring communities have safe and stable housing and highlight a new safety net for individuals facing homelessness. The audience will have be a better understanding of how these legal protections work with other homelessness prevention services to provide a safety net for those most at risk. 

Presented by:

• Max Mendez Kauffman, Office Of Civil Legal Aid, Long-Term Care Program Counsel

• Ali Kingston, WA State Office of Civil Legal Aid, Program Manager

• Philippe Knab, The Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid, Eviction Defense and Reentry Program Director