Way Back Inn is helping unhoused children & families
A family’s path from a shelter to permanent housing
Janet (name changed) is a single mother, providing for her family of four - 2 teenage daughters and an infant grandson. Janet moved in with Way Back Inn to continue supporting her daughters' education while enrolled in an office training program at Renton Technical College. She had lost her previous job as a convenience store clerk because of limited transportation options from the shelter her family was living in at the time. With Way Back Inn's support, Janet excelled at her courses and upon graduation, she applied for a full-time position working at the college. After a short extension with Way Back Inn, the family was able to get an apartment not far from Janet’s new job, her oldest daughter finished high school and found work while taking some college classes online. The younger daughter transferred to the Renton School district and finished her diploma a few years later. The young grandson thrived at his daycare, while mom, aunt, and grandma improved their skills and all became self-sufficient.
finding a path forward
Coming from a shelter to Way Back Inn and successfully moving into long term housing!
when having a job isn’t enough
Through support from Way Back Inn and going back to school, this family moved on to permanent housing.
Mom’s struggle with not making ends meet even with a job
Lena (name changed) is a single mother of two daughters. She worked at an after-school care program to support her daughters' elementary school education. Unfortunately, Lena’s income was insufficient to support her family and they became houseless after her divorce. Way Back Inn provided her family with a safe place to live and during this time, Lena passed exams to work as a paraeducator along with her other job so the family could afford a moderate apartment. Lena was able to secure permanent housing near her children’s schools. We assisted with some initial move-in costs and the family was able to move in right away.
Why do families experience homelessness?
Families that are poor or experiencing homelessness may struggle with incomes that are far less than they need to pay for housing. In fact, it is often some unexpected event – a lost job or reduced work hours, unexpected death, conflict with family members they are staying with, an unanticipated bill or violence within the home – that leads families to this dire situation and requires them to seek help from homeless service programs. Unsheltered families are usually headed by a single woman with limited education, are typically young, with young children.
the impact of expeRiencing homelessness on children
Being unhoused impacts the education, health, sense of safety, and overall development of children. Fortunately, researchers find that children are also highly resilient and helping them out of their situation means children can successfully move forward following an episode of homelessness. Children experiencing homelessness have been shown to:
Have higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems;
Have increased risk of serious health problems;
Are more likely to experience separations from their families; &
Experience more school mobility, repeat a grade, be expelled or drop out of school, and have lower academic performance.
How does Way Back Inn help?
Most unsheltered families would benefit from assistance to help them move towards a permanent housing situation. By providing transitional housing, Way Back Inn gives families the opportunity to change their circumstances - by giving them a chance to complete their education, find a better paying job, and save money. With our rental and utility assistance program, Way Back Inn may help a family from becoming houseless due to an unexpected event.
How can you help? Supporting organizations such as Way Back Inn (through volunteering or donations) is one way you can make a difference. Your donation is tax-deductible. Way Back Inn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency (EIN 91-1548418).
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Commitment
At Way Back Inn, our unwavering commitment is to cultivate a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible environment across all facets of our mission, which is to support families navigating housing instability and homelessness. We firmly believe that every individual, regardless of their background, deserves a secure and nurturing space while they journey towards stable housing. Our organization is dedicated to a continuous process of learning, growth, and accountability in our efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). We pledge to confront and dismantle systemic barriers, deeply value the unique experiences of each person we serve, and ensure that our programs champion principles of fairness, respect, and equal opportunity. As we strive to establish a welcoming community where families with children experiencing homelessness can rebuild their lives with dignity and hope, we bear a profound responsibility to foster a community where diversity is celebrated, equity is realized, inclusion is ingrained, and accessibility is guaranteed.