Housing Stability Fund

Geographic Scope: Vancouver Public Schools district (Vancouver, WA)

Overview:
The Housing Stability Fund provides one-time emergency rental assistance to Vancouver Public Schools families facing housing instability to prevent homelessness. This fund recognizes that stable housing is critical for student success and academic achievement.

Background:

• Created approximately 2 years before the article date (around 2016-2017)
• Over 200 VPS students and families have been able to stay in their homes and avoid eviction since inception
• More than one-thousand VPS students experienced homelessness during the prior school year
• Almost 50% of Vancouver Public Schools students are from families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines

Focus Areas:

• One-time emergency rental assistance: Financial bridge to prevent eviction
• Housing stabilization: Helping families regain stability so students can focus on education
• Referral-based support: Identification of critical housing needs through schools

Eligible Beneficiaries:

• VPS students and families facing housing instability
• Families at risk of eviction
• Families struggling to find and keep stable housing

Administration:

• Partnered with Council for the Homeless (CFTH) to administer the fund
• VPS Family-Community Resource Coordinators identify and refer eligible families
• CFTH provides timely and targeted one-time emergency housing assistance
• Families work with CFTH to access the financial bridge

Impact:
Through Foundation for VPS support, 200 students did not experience homelessness, representing a small investment compared with the cost of homelessness.

Related Services:
The Foundation for VPS also provides funding for basic needs support:

• Food assistance
• Clothing
• Personal hygiene items
• Utility assistance
• Transportation
• School supplies
• Diapers and car seats

Contact Information:

• Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools
• Phone: 360.313.4730
• Email: foundationvanps@vansd.org
• Address: PO Box 6039, Vancouver, WA 98668

Partner Organization:

• Council for the Homeless (CFTH)
• Founded: 1989
• Mission: Lead the community's efforts to prevent and end homelessness in Clark County
• Works with social service providers, government, faith communities, and businesses