Homelessness Diversion Program

The Diversion Program is a critical resource in the homeless crisis response system. This grant provides funding for diversion services to any non-profit organization and Tribal Government. The funding aims to provide diversion services to families and individuals facing a housing crisis (experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness) to reduce in-flow to the homeless crisis response system. Research shows us that people living unhoused or experiencing a housing crisis become stably housed when the system is:

• low barrier, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive; and
• focused on problem-solving and personal advocacy to help people identify practical solutions based on their own available resources.

Service prioritization

The Diversion Program prioritizes service to communities that have a demonstrated disproportionate representation in homelessness, housing instability, and housing affordability:

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), including people identified as socially disadvantaged as defined in 13 CFR Sec. 124.103.
• People with disabilities
• People who are deaf
• People with behavioral health conditions, including substance use disorder
• People who identify as LGBTQIA+
• Survivors of family violence and/or intimate partner violence
• Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals
• Undocumented individuals, immigrants and refugees, and mixed-immigration status, families and communities

We expect Commerce grantees to be leaders in their homeless crisis response systems, facilitating partnerships among service organizations and promoting evidence-based, anti-racist practices.

Grantees must respond to the disproportionality in access to services, service provision and outcomes and cannot simply rely on standard business practices to address inequity. Grantees are responsible for ensuring all people eligible for services receive support and are served with dignity, respect, and compassion regardless of circumstance, ability, or identity.

Resources

• Current funding opportunities (on Box)
• Training resources (on Box)
• Washington State Homelessness Diversion Program Guidelines (PDF)