SEATTLE- United Way of King County today announced the receipt of a $1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support its Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness in King County.

The United Way initiative - in partnership with the City of Seattle, King County, the Seattle Housing Authority and the King County Housing Authority - will focus on 1,000 individuals in King County who have both experienced long-term homelessness and been intensive users of publicly-funded support systems.

These 1,000 individuals will gain permanent housing with onsite, wrap-around supportive services. Research has shown that such "supportive housing" - combining permanent housing with services such as mental health care, drug and alcohol counseling and job training - can help in stabilizing the lives of those emerging from long-term homelessness.  

"We are very excited to have the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation support for our work to end chronic homelessness," said Jon Fine, President and CEO of United Way of King County. "The foundation is a highly focused organization that is making a significant impact across the globe, and we here at United Way share that focus to achieve fundamental change here in King County."

United Way is raising $25 million over two years for its Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness. These dollars will leverage additional investments of more than $200 million from partners in the public sector.  

"Solving the most critical problems facing our community demands that all of us to come together," said United Way's Jon Fine. "Addressing chronic homelessness makes sense as a matter of both humanity and economics. United Way is uniquely positioned to link the expertise, the public and private sector partnerships, and the financial resources to truly make a difference on this urgent issue. We are honored to have the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a new investor in such work."

About United Way of King County
United Way of King County envisions a community in which every child is ready to succeed in school, every person has a home, and every individual can pursue a productive and satisfying life. United Way of King County leverages its health, human services and public advocacy expertise, a powerful base of donors and volunteers, and outcome-based funding efforts to identify and solve chronic community-wide issues - and to achieve lasting change. For more information, visit unitedwayofkingcounty.org.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.  In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.  In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.  Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.