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Way Back Inn 

Description

Our program gives parents time to locate employment and locate long-term transitional or permanent housing. Families reside in our short-term program on a "rent-free / utility paid" basis. This gives families a chance to save first and last months’ rent and necessary deposits required for permanent housing. With lower paying jobs, our guests do not have enough money at the end of each month to save money. Everything earned usually goes towards basic needs of food, housing, and basic personal needs. Having a few months to save money towards move-in costs is invaluable to homeless families.  

Mission Statement
Way Back Inn provides transitional housing to homeless children and families helping them rebuild their lives, dignity and self-confidence.
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Way Back Inn
PO Box 621 
Renton 
WA
98057-0621 
(425) 432-6766 

Dorothy Francis 
President 

Programs

Way Back Inn Programs

Short-term Housing Program
Our Flagship program provides 1-3 months of temporary, transitional housing with all utilities paid while the family works towards finding employment and stable housing.

Long-term Housing Program
Families reside in one of our houses for up to 24-months while they are finishing an educational program. All families contribute up to 20% of their income helping to pay the rent and utilities.

Homelessness Prevention
Way Back Inn helps families at risk of becoming homeless by helping pay rent and utilities for one month.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

A recent success involved an Iraq Army veteran who finished her electrical apprenticeship and is now working a good paying job. She and her son transitioned from a Way Back Inn unit to their own apartment.

Our needs include funding to pay utility bills, maintain our homes, etc. Due to turning away over 3,500 homeless families last year, we are looking for another unit in the South King County area -- preferrably Renton, Kent or Tukwila. The home must be suitable for young children and accommodate at least a family consisting of three to four people.

Evaluation

Way Back Inn provides 10 units of transitional housing in Renton, Tukwila and Kent. In 2011 they helped 78 families.

Proven Success
Each year between 80-85% of the families they house move on to permanent or long-term housing.
We also measure the success of our program based on the exit questionnaire we give to each family upon move out.

Collaboration
Way Back Inn is involved with the 10 year plan to end homelessness committee, the South King County Committee to End Homelessness, South King Council on Human Services, The city Human Services Departments in the cities in which they operate (Renton, Tukwila, Kent).

Financial Health
Way Back Inn operates a lean program and relies on foundation grants to meet the majority of their expenses. Their volunteer Development Director retired and the Program Manager and board member are researching foundations and writing grant proposals.

Sustainability
They recently implemented a Program Fee into their housing program. As of August 2012 each incoming family is required to pay a monthly program fee equal to 20% of their cash income. Due to rising costs and lower funds available, they found it a necessity to implement this fee. A benefit they have found is that by paying a small fee for their housing, the families take more ownership of the home and are better at keeping things clean and reporting maintenance issues.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
There are no recent grants awarded to this organization.

Financials

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