CSH began its investment in the Pacific Northwest in 2003 with initial grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Taking Health Care Home Initiative. Over five years, more than 1.7 million came to Portland and Seattle to support systems change efforts to create a robust pipeline of PSH. This investment leveraged $468.9 million in direct funding for new PSH as well as several million in ongoing systems change activities.
For Oregon, additional outcomes of this investment include:
- Portland’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, a nationally recognized plan for its level of engagement, comprehensiveness and effectiveness
- Creation of Frequent User projects for Multnomah County Jails and area hospitals
- State investment of $30 million to support Housing Plus, a new funding source for PSH statewide.
- A pipeline of 1,015 new units of PSH in Portland alone
In Washington, the outcomes are even greater:
- A funder’s committee that established a collaborative annual NOFA combining roughly $50 million in capital, operating and service dollars from seven funding agencies that is still operational
- A pipeline of 2,333 units of PSH
- A housing first pilot project serving chronically homeless individuals living in suburban communities showed an 84%, six-month retention rate and was later doubled in size
- A pilot project for high-cost, medically vulnerable individuals living in the City of Seattle that reduced system costs for 20 people by $1.5 million in the first year
CSH is dedicated to continuing expanding our work in the Pacific Northwest as we advance our mission of ending and preventing homelessness through supportive housing.