Washington Youth & Families Fund (WYFF)

Washington Youth & Families Fund (WYFF) is sponsored by Building Changes. The Washington Youth & Families Fund combines public and private dollars to support organizations and tribes in Washington state working to end homelessness.

WYFF focuses on community-led, equitable solutions, including innovative strategies to meet urgent needs, supporting Black, Indigenous, immigrant, and refugee families, and helping young people, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ youth, move from systems of care into safe, stable housing.

Apply for Funding - Building Changes Washington Youth & Families Fund Homeless Student Stability Program Centralized Diversion Fund Workgroups and Coalitions Take Action with Building Changes Coalition-Building Advocacy Toolkit Homelessness Prevention & Diversion Fund Youth Diversion Infrastructure Project (YDIP) What we’re funding currently and how to apply.

Requests for Proposals and Application Materials Download Request for Proposals for Projects Serving Youth and Young Adults (PDF) Download Request for Proposals for Projects Serving Families (PDF) FAQ for Projects Serving Youth and Young Adults Q&A Session Recording for Projects Serving Youth and Young Adults Q&A Session Recording for Projects Serving Families (see below) Building Changes is pleased to make funding available through two Requests for Proposals—one for projects serving families and one for projects serving youth and young adults across Washington state.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, regional and statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations, federally recognized Indian Tribes, local housing authorities, and public development authorities. Building Changes will provide funding, technical assistance, and capacity building support for up to three years per project.

Culturally Specific Organizations or smaller organizations led and staffed by persons of color that primarily serve communities of color (By-For Organizations) are encouraged to apply, even if not currently delivering homeless and housing services. If selected as a grantee, Building Changes will provide training and technical assistance.

Projects Serving Youth and Young Adults Approximately $250,000-$500,000 in total funding will be awarded to organizations advancing Diversion-first approaches that prevent and resolve youth homelessness. This RFP will support organizations building community-led systems that center Diversion as a primary strategy to help young people ages 12–24 achieve housing stability.

The goal is to strengthen local coordination, expand flexible funding, and increase access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA2S+, and other historically underrepresented youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Building Changes seeks projects that: Advance Diversion-first approaches that meet young people where they are and help them identify and achieve their own housing solutions.

Expand access to flexible funds that remove barriers—such as deposits, documentation, or transportation costs—so youth can secure stable housing quickly and safely. Strengthen local system coordination through Fiscal Administrators and community partnerships that train, support, and align providers around Diversion principles.

This funding opportunity recognizes that ending youth homelessness requires both immediate, flexible responses and long-term system change. Through the Washington Youth & Families Fund, Building Changes aims to sustain and expand the Diversion model statewide, ensuring that every young person in crisis can access the help they need through trusted providers in their community.

Applications are due Monday, January 12, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST. A virtual Q&A session will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 12:00–1:00 PM PST. Projects Serving Families Approximately $250,000-$500,000 in total funding will be awarded to organizations advancing equitable, healing-centered approaches to prevent and address family homelessness.

This RFP will award grants to organizations supporting families—particularly Black, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, Asian, immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQIA2S+ households—who are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. The goal is to strengthen family housing stability through approaches that connect flexible housing supports, healing-centered engagement, and access to culturally grounded services.

Building Changes seeks projects that: Use flexible funds to help families secure and sustain stable housing through rent, deposits, or creative supports that remove barriers such as transportation, childcare, or documentation. Integrate healing and wellness services that help families recover from trauma, restore cultural connection, and rebuild belonging and stability.

Expand food access and family nourishment by increasing families’ access to healthy, culturally relevant food as a foundation for housing stability and wellbeing. This funding opportunity recognizes that preventing homelessness requires addressing both the immediate crisis and the deeper impacts of trauma, exclusion, and disconnection.

Through the Washington Youth & Families Fund, Building Changes aims to test and expand innovative, culturally responsive strategies that support families’ housing stability, healing, and long-term wellbeing. Applications are due Monday, December 8, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST. Please direct questions to WYFF@BuildingChanges.

org . Building Changes makes funding available in Washington State to test and learn from promising practices. We are able to do this through state allocations made to the Washington Youth & Families Fund (WYFF) and private investments.

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