Beyond Section 8: Unlocking Every Door to Housing and Stability in Washington State

Giovanne Schachere
Jul 9
6 min read

By Giovanne Schachere | CEO, MystiCares

For many people, the search for housing assistance begins and ends with one question:

"How do I get Section 8?"

That question — while completely understandable — often causes people to miss dozens of other programs that may be able to help them much sooner.

At MystiCares, we regularly meet people who have been told there are "no resources available," when the reality is that they simply haven't been connected to the right system, completed the right assessment, or been referred to the right program.

This article is for both individuals seeking housing and providers navigating the system on their behalf. Understanding how Washington State's housing and support systems work — and how they're funded — is one of the most powerful tools you have.

Start With Coordinated Entry — And Don't Stop There

If you're experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless, one of the most critical first steps is completing a Coordinated Entry (CE) assessment.

Every county in Washington State that receives federal homelessness funding operates a Coordinated Entry system. While administration varies by county, the goal is the same:

Assess your housing needs
Prioritize individuals based on vulnerability and circumstances
Match people to available housing and supportive services as funding becomes available

Many people complete an assessment and assume the work is done. It isn't.

You should:

Ask questions about where you are in the process
Request updates regularly
Keep your contact information current
Ask whether additional referrals are available
Continue advocating for yourself — especially if your situation changes

A missed phone call, outdated contact information, or an expired assessment can delay opportunities that are right in front of you.

Emergency Assistance Exists Beyond Housing Programs

Most families apply for rental assistance and stop there. But emergency assistance in Washington extends far beyond a single application.

Programs may include:

Emergency rental assistance
Utility assistance
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
Water assistance
Local city and county emergency funds
Faith-based assistance
Community Action Agencies
Nonprofit emergency grants
Prevention funds designed to stop evictions before they happen

Many counties, cities, and nonprofits receive their own separate funding streams. The key is understanding who received the funding and what it can legally be used for.

Follow the Money

One of the most effective ways to locate assistance is to follow the funding.

Resources flow from multiple directions:

Federal → State → County → City → Managed Care Organizations → Foundations → Behavioral Health Agencies → Reentry Programs → Veterans Programs → Disability Programs

Each funding source has different eligibility requirements and serves different populations. When you understand how a program is funded, you better understand who qualifies, what documentation is required, what services are covered, and where referrals must come from.

Understanding the funding allows you to advocate more effectively — for yourself and for the people you serve.

Medicaid Covers More Than Medical Care

Many Medicaid recipients don't realize how many supportive services may be available beyond doctor visits. Depending on eligibility and assessment, people may qualify for:

Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
Personal care services
Respite care
Care coordination
Behavioral health supports
Transportation assistance
Community-based services and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Specialized waiver programs

These services are designed to help people remain safely in their homes and communities — long before a crisis occurs.

Personal Care Is About Independence — Not Just Physical Limitation

Many people assume personal care services are only for individuals who cannot physically move. That isn't true. Eligibility is based on an assessment of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and other functional needs. Some people qualify because they experience:

Severe depression or anxiety
Psychosis or memory impairment
Brain fog or cognitive limitations
Developmental disabilities
Other conditions that make daily living genuinely difficult

Support might include assistance with meal preparation, medication reminders, grocery shopping, transportation, attending appointments, household tasks, community participation, and maintaining independence overall.

Many people wait until they're in crisis before asking for help — when these services are actually designed to prevent crises.

Behavioral Health Opens Additional Doors

Individuals receiving behavioral health services may have access to additional housing and support opportunities that most people never hear about. Depending on the county and eligibility, referrals may be connected to:

Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BH-ASOs)
Recovery support services
Medicaid-funded behavioral health programs
Supported employment and peer support
Crisis stabilization
Community behavioral health providers

Recovery isn't just counseling. It often includes housing support, employment support, transportation, and case management.

Foundational Community Supports (FCS)

Washington's Foundational Community Supports program provides eligible Medicaid recipients with two key services:

Supportive Housing — intensive navigation support to help individuals find and maintain stable housing
Supported Employment — support to pursue employment goals

Case managers can help with locating housing, communicating with landlords, completing applications, resolving barriers, and maintaining stability long-term.

FCS does not pay rent directly — but it provides the intensive support that makes stable housing possible.

Reentry Programs: An Often-Overlooked Door

Individuals returning from incarceration often qualify for specialized reentry services, including:

Housing assistance and employment support
Behavioral health and substance use treatment
Identification assistance and benefits enrollment
Intensive case management

Many of these programs are funded separately from traditional homelessness systems — which means people who get told "there's nothing available" through one door may find a very different answer through another.

Recovery Housing and Respite Programs

If someone is leaving inpatient behavioral health treatment, detoxification, or substance use treatment, homelessness should not automatically be the next step.

Washington has recovery housing, respite programs, and transitional options that may provide temporary housing combined with case management while individuals stabilize. These resources vary by county and availability — but they are consistently underutilized because people simply don't know they exist.

Housing Options Beyond Section 8

Housing assistance is much broader than Housing Choice Vouchers. People may qualify for:

Affordable housing developments
Tax credit properties
Permanent supportive housing and transitional housing
Rapid rehousing and shared housing
Recovery housing, senior housing, and disability housing
Rural housing programs and locally funded affordable housing

Sometimes the fastest path to stability isn't waiting years for a voucher. It may involve remaining open to communities with greater housing availability, stronger medical infrastructure, better transportation, or additional support systems.

Understand the Eviction Process

Receiving an eviction notice is frightening. But it's important to understand: eviction is a legal process with multiple steps before a physical eviction occurs.

That time should be used strategically:

Seek legal assistance
Contact emergency assistance programs
Complete Coordinated Entry
Apply for rental assistance
Speak directly with your landlord
Connect with a housing navigator
Explore mediation if available

The earlier you seek assistance, the more options are typically available.

Families Should Know About McKinney-Vento

Families experiencing homelessness often overlook one of the most important federal education protections available to them. Every school district has a McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program.

Students experiencing homelessness — including those living in shelters, motels, doubled-up housing, vehicles, or other unstable situations — may qualify for:

Transportation to school
School stability and enrollment support
Educational advocacy and school supplies
Connections to community resources

Many parents don't realize they qualify — especially if their child attends preschool or another district-connected program.

For Providers: Know the System You're Navigating

This information isn't just for individuals seeking services. Providers who understand how these systems connect make stronger referrals, coordinate care more effectively, and help clients access resources that would otherwise be missed.

No single agency provides every service. Success comes from understanding how programs work together.

There Is No Guaranteed Resource — But There Is a Safety Net

One of the most important truths in this work:

No housing program, benefit, or funding source is guaranteed.

Every program has eligibility requirements, assessments, documentation standards, funding limitations, waitlists, and availability that changes over time. The goal is not to rely on one program. The goal is to understand the entire safety net.

Our Mission

At MystiCares Adult & Family Services, our mission is to help people navigate these systems, understand their options, advocate for themselves, and connect with resources that support long-term stability — not just temporary relief.

Housing stability is rarely achieved through one referral. It's built by understanding every available door and knowing how to unlock it.

Watch: Unlocking Every Door — Beyond Section 8

We invite you to watch our full presentation, "Unlocking Every Door: Beyond Section 8," originally presented at the Housing California Conference — featuring our Washington State leadership team alongside housing experts from across the country.

▶ Watch the full video here: youtube.com/watch?v=GV5Jr3cgWb0

The presentation explores community-based housing solutions, overlooked resources, and practical strategies that individuals, providers, and organizations can use to navigate the housing system more effectively.

The more you understand how these systems work, the more effectively you can advocate — for yourself, your family, or the people you serve.

MystiCares serves individuals and families across Washington State through housing navigation, behavioral health support, reentry services, and community-based care.