Program Description The THOR program provides homeless families with children with up to two years of rental assistance, transitional facility operating subsidies, and case management to help them transition to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. The program is funded through the State General Fund.
The key to client success in the THOR program is the Housing Stability Plan. Participants must collaborate with case managers to identify long and short-term goals and strategies that will address and alleviate any barriers to reaching self-sufficiency. The case manager is responsible for connecting families to a wide variety of services, tracking the family’s progress, and modifying the Plan as goals are reached or problems arise. THOR contractors may use up to 40% of their funding to pay for the costs of case management.
Eligibility Requirements Eligible clients are homeless families with children under the age of 18 or pregnant women, with incomes at or below 50 percent of the median household income for their county. THOR clients must be willing to create and actively participate in a Housing Stability Plan for achieving permanent housing and self-sufficiency. Typical goals include:
Service DeliveryProgram services are delivered through housing authorities, community action agencies, and units of local government that collaborate with other local service providers to provide a wide variety of services. Click here for a map of service providers in Washington state.
FundingCTED awards THOR funds to local agencies according to a modified version of HUD's allocation formula for funding homeless shelters. Approximately $2.2 million has been awarded each year for rent assistance, operating subsidies for transitional housing facilities, case management, and administrative costs. Currently there are 29 local agencies covering 31 counties that operate the THOR program.
Helpful Links:Program ManualContactCheryl Bayle (360) 725-2997 Program ManagerJessica Stines (360) 725-2938Jeff Spring (360) 725-2991