Emergency Housing Services
What to Expect
Emergency Housing Providers will place you in a limited hotel or shelter stay. The goal is to move you into permanent housing quickly.
1. Getting Started
The Emergency Housing provider will:
- Review important housing forms
- Have you sign an information sharing agreement
- Talk about your needs and housing goals
- Make a housing plan
- Answer your important questions
2. Finding You a Safe Place
The Emergency Housing Provider will place you in a shelter or hotel room that fits your family's size and any special needs or accommodations, with the goal of moving you into permanent housing quickly.
Note: You may receive up to 30 days of emergency housing assistance, depending on how soon a permanent housing option becomes available to you.
3. While You Stay at the Shelter/Hotel
The Emergency Housing Provider will:
- Place you in a hotel or shelter that fits your family and provide you with an orientation
- Explain how long you can stay in Emergency Housing and ensure you move comfortably and on time
- Offer you services in your preferred language
- Work alongside you, your case manager, and Housing Navigation provider to prepare you for moving into permanent housing
- Check in with you at least every 7 days to make sure you are safe and see if you are ready to move into your own place
- Check you out of the hotel or shelter when your permanent housing is ready to move into
4. Moving to Your Own Home
Emergency housing is a limited stay solution intended for a maximum of 30 days. While staying in Emergency Housing, you will be connected to a Housing Navigator Provider who will help you find permanent housing (an apartment).
Important: Emergency Housing is limited and ends when you move into permanent housing.
Housing Navigation Services
What to Expect
Housing Navigation Providers will help you find and move into safe, long-term housing (an apartment). Typically, clients who are in WA MASS Project emergency housing are referred to Housing Navigation providers for this service. Housing Navigation providers may also provide short-term rental assistance (housing subsidies) to other clients who qualify. Eligible clients may receive up to six months of housing assistance. If you are referred to a Housing Navigation Provider, you can expect the following services:
1. Getting Started
The Housing Navigation provider will:
- Have you sign an information sharing agreement
- Ask questions to understand your specific circumstances and needs
- Explain possible housing services
- Make a housing navigation plan for you
2. Finding Your Housing
Housing Navigators will help:
- Search for apartments if one has not already been identified for you
- Assist with rental applications and lease agreements
- Negotiate rent and other housing costs
- Help you understand lease agreements and housing responsibilities
- Help you plan for rent responsibilities once subsidies from this program end
- Share other available community resources such as rent and utility assistance when possible and as needed
- Work to get you into your own permanent housing
3. Moving In
Your Housing Navigator will notify you and your WA MASS Project emergency housing provider of your scheduled move-in date and coordinate your move out of the hotel or shelter.
Note: You are expected to work with your housing navigator and emergency housing provider to check out of the hotel or shelter.
Important Notes
- Housing Navigation providers work hard to find affordable housing solutions so that you can pay rent on your own after rental subsidies in this program end.
- Not everyone qualifies for a full 6 months of housing support through the WA MASS Project. Your provider will explain how much help is possible for your situation.