The Best Starts for Kids levy includes $19 million for a Youth and Family Homelessness Prevention Initiative that is intended to “prevent and divert children and youth and their families from becoming homeless.”
King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted that initiative on March 1, 2016 to the Metropolitan King County Council for their review and approval. The prevention initiative marks the first step in the implementation of Best Starts for Kids.
If approved by the County Council, the program will provide flexible funding and case management for children, youth and families who are at imminent risk of homelessness. The goal is to prevent children from experiencing the stress and uncertainty of homelessness, which the latest neuroscience shows can have a lifelong negative impact on health and development.
The prevention plan was developed in collaboration with new Children and Youth Advisory Board and other key stakeholders. Read more here: