top of page
Search

King County, WA — Housing & Help Directory (Updated October 2026)

Writer: Mysti's News
Mysti's News
Sep 19
18 min read

Updated: Oct 23

This is Mysti's working directory of housing and help resources for King County, Washington (Seattle, Kent, Bellevue, Renton, Federal Way and surrounding areas). Every link below was opened and every waitlist status was quoted from its source on October 1, 2026; on October 23, 2026, the housing-authority waitlists, the rent-help programs and the entries marked 'Checked 10/23/26' were re-read at their source, and the links we could reach were re-tested. We re-check the whole page monthly (next refresh: November 2026). Statuses change without notice — confirm directly with the agency before you count on anything.

A straight word about rent help: Mysti's is not a rent-assistance fund and does not hand out rent, deposit or utility money. Any financial help a client receives comes only through a specific funded program, only for people who meet that program's eligibility, and only while its funds last. Nobody — not us, not any agency — can promise it. Work your county's Coordinated Entry, 2-1-1, housing authorities, and the local programs below at the same time as anything you do with us.

Start here — today

  • Call 2-1-1 (Washington 2-1-1 / Crisis Connections (King County provider)) · wa211.org — Free information and referral line; Crisis Connections runs 2-1-1 for King County. You can also call 1-877-211-9274 or text 211WAOD to 898211.

  • Coordinated Entry — King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA)
    . People experiencing homelessness are assessed for Coordinated Entry at a Regional Access Point (RAP), or through CE Assessors at shelters, day centers, and outreach teams. Households can also start the process by calling 2-1-1. This is how most homelessness housing programs decide who gets the next opening — get assessed even if the wait is long.

  • Continuum of Care (CoC) — King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) coordinates the county's homelessness funding and programs; their site lists current providers.

  • Community Action Agency — three agencies, by area
    — King County has no single countywide Community Action Agency. Byrd Barr Place serves Seattle (byrdbarrplace.org), Hopelink serves North and East King County (hopelink.org) and Multi-Service Center serves South King County (mschelps.org) — energy assistance, food, and rent or financial help as funded. See each organization's entry below.

  • DSHS Community Services Office — DSHS Community Services Offices (CSOs) serving King County (offices in Seattle, Kent, Renton, Bellevue, Auburn, White Center and more — use the locator for current addresses) — apply for cash, food, and medical benefits, or apply online at WashingtonConnection.org.

  • Emergency: 911. Mental-health or substance-use crisis: call or text 988. Regional crisis line: Crisis Connections 24-Hour Crisis Line · 988; WA Relay 711

Housing authorities and waitlists

Apply to every list you qualify for — including neighboring counties you could realistically move to. See what is open statewide right now and the statewide programs guide for vouchers, public housing, and how portability works.

King County Housing Authority (KCHA)

Website · (206) 574-1100 · Serves: King County outside the cities of Seattle and Renton (which have their own housing authorities)

  • CLOSED — Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) — "KCHA's waiting list for Housing Choice Vouchers is closed. We do not know when the waiting list will re-open in the future." Not currently accepting applications; check KCHA's waitlists page for reopening announcements. No reopening date is posted. (not accepting applications; check for reopening; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

  • CLOSED — Public Housing / Property waitlists (Subsidized Housing) — "KCHA's waiting lists are currently closed and we are not accepting applications for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) or for Subsidized Housing (Public Housing)." Not currently accepting applications. (not accepting applications; check for reopening; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

  • OPEN — Moderate-Income Housing — "To apply for Moderate-Income Housing, please contact the property managers listed on the property page." Contact the individual property manager listed on KCHA's property pages. This is market-rate-adjacent housing for people who can pay closer to market rent, not the low-income voucher/public-housing programs. (apply now; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

Seattle Housing Authority (SHA)

Website · 206-239-1674 (Housing Choice Voucher list); (206) 615-3300 general · Serves: City of Seattle

  • OPEN — Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) — "Families and individuals may apply at any time. Applicants will be randomly selected from the voucher list whenever vouchers are available." Register for an SHA Portal account at seattlehousing.org and apply online (206-239-1674 for paper applications). Random selection, not first-come; check in monthly with 'Save My Spot' to stay on the list. (apply now; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

  • STATUS NOT POSTED ONLINE — SHA Housing (Public Housing / Seattle Senior Housing Program properties) Apply through the SHA Portal / property search at seattlehousing.org. SHA's wait-times page lists historical average waits for Low-Income and Seattle Senior Housing Program properties but no open/closed status; apply through the SHA Portal. (call or check the site to confirm; checked 2026-10-23)

  • STATUS NOT POSTED ONLINE — Collaborative Housing (senior/disabled and other nonprofit-operated units subsidized by SHA) Apply directly to the nonprofit agency operating the specific property. Eligibility and application steps differ from other SHA programs; apply to the operating nonprofit, not SHA. (call or check the site to confirm; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

Renton Housing Authority (RHA)

Website · Serves: City of Renton

  • CLOSED — Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) — "Our Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Waitlist is closed." Not accepting applications. Check RHA's waitlist page for a reopening notice. RHA says the current HCV list is extensive and adding applications is not feasible; keep your contact information current if you are already on it. (not accepting applications; check for reopening; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

  • OPEN — Project-Based Voucher (PBV) property waitlists — "Our Project Based Voucher (PBV) Housing Waitlist is open." Apply to the property, not a general list. RHA's open PBV list (PDF, June 2026) names Sunset Gardens, Hillcrest Terrace, Evergreen Terrace, Sunset Oaks, Cedar River Terrace and Golden Pines, with manager contacts. Property-specific openings; income limits apply (generally at or below 60% of area median income, lower at some properties). (apply now; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

  • OPEN — LIMITED — Senior / disabled properties (62+ / 55+) — "Our Project Based Voucher (PBV) Housing Waitlist is open." Senior/disabled PBV properties on RHA's open list: Sunset Gardens (55+), Hillcrest Terrace (55+/disabled), Evergreen Terrace (62+/disabled), Cedar River Terrace (62+), Golden Pines (62+). Contact the manager in the PDF. Open only through the PBV property list; no separate senior waitlist is posted. (only some lists/units — read the note; checked 2026-10-23 · source)

Nonprofit housing you can apply to directly

  • Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) — Low-income, homeless, and formerly homeless people across Washington State, including tiny house villages and Urban Rest Stops. Search and apply through LIHI's housing search page for specific properties. Waitlist status varies by property — check each listing. Apply / availability

  • Plymouth Housing — Adults who have experienced homelessness, primarily chronically homeless single adults, housed via Housing First model in apartment buildings throughout King County. Plymouth has no waitlist and takes referrals only through Coordinated Entry: start with an assessment at a Regional Access Point (in Seattle, call Catholic Community Services at 206-328-5900 for an appointment). Rental office: 206-374-9409 x139, rent@plymouthhousing.org, Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Apply / availability

  • DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) — Adults experiencing homelessness with behavioral health and substance use needs; operates shelter, permanent supportive housing, and crisis services in King County. Access is through Coordinated Entry, outreach teams, or DESC's shelter and crisis programs — there is no public online waitlist.

  • Compass Housing Alliance — People experiencing or at risk of homelessness; operates shelter and affordable/supportive housing in Seattle and King County. Unit availability changes; check the Affordable Housing page for current listings. Apply / availability

  • Bellwether Housing — Low- and moderate-income individuals and families; serves about 7,000 residents/year in urban King County near transit. Apply through Bellwether's property search/find-housing page. Check the find-housing page for current vacancies.

  • Mercy Housing Northwest — Low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities; owns/operates affordable housing across Washington, including new King County developments in Kent and Burien. Use the search to check current openings by property. Apply / availability

  • Catholic Community Services — Catholic Housing Services (Western Washington) — Low-income individuals, families, seniors, and people with special physical/mental health needs; 22 shelters, 17 transitional housing facilities, and 52 permanent housing properties across Western Washington. Apply through the property pages on the CCS housing site, or contact CCS housing directly. King County property waitlist status is not posted online — ask the property.

  • Chief Seattle Club — Native American and Alaska Native people experiencing homelessness or poverty in the Seattle area; also operates ʔálʔal permanent supportive housing. Contact Chief Seattle Club directly for housing and services intake. Waitlist status is not posted online — contact them directly.

  • Mt. Baker Housing — Low-income residents of the Mt. Baker/Rainier Valley area of Seattle. See property listings on mtbakerhousing.org for individual applications. Waitlist status is not posted online — check each property listing.

  • Community Roots Housing (formerly Capitol Hill Housing) — Affordable-housing residents across ~42 buildings serving over 2,800 residents in the Seattle area. Apply / availability

  • Imagine Housing — Low-income individuals and families on the Eastside (East King County). Use the 'looking for housing?' pathway on imaginehousing.org or contact Imagine Housing directly for current openings.

  • YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish — Women, families, and communities affected by poverty, racism, and gender-based violence, including housing and homelessness services across Seattle, King, and Snohomish counties. Use the program finder for current housing program details.

  • Africatown Community Land Trust — Black residents of the Seattle Central District and greater King County, focused on permanently affordable housing and anti-displacement. Contact Africatown Community Land Trust directly; no online application or waitlist is posted.

  • El Centro de la Raza — Latino/a community and other low-income residents in King County; provides housing (including Plaza Roberto Maestas) plus early learning, family support, and advocacy. Contact El Centro de la Raza directly for housing program applications. Housing waitlist status is not posted online — ask about Plaza Roberto Maestas and other housing directly.

  • Homestead Community Land Trust — First-time, low- to moderate-income homebuyers locked out of the market; permanently affordable homeownership, not rental housing. Homeownership program (not rental housing): see homesteadclt.org for buyer eligibility and application cycles.

  • Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties — Low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers in King and Kittitas Counties. Homeownership program (not rental housing) with a sweat-equity requirement; see habitatskc.org for current homebuyer application cycles.

Senior housing (55+ / 62+) and housing for people with disabilities

  • SHAG (Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations) communities in King County/Puget Sound · 61+ (or 55+ with a disability) — Affordable and moderate-income senior apartment communities. Search communities at housing4seniors.com/communities/ and apply per property, or call 844-592-SHAG (7424). Availability varies by community.

  • Sound Generations · older adults (Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County) — Information, referral and housing-stability help for older adults — not a housing provider. See its Housing Resources & FAQs page (soundgenerations.org) or call Community Living Connections, listed under Seniors below. Sound Generations says: 'Housing Stability is an extremely high-demand program. Services can sometimes have long wait times and they may close to new clients at times.' Status: OPEN — LIMITED.

  • Mercy Housing Northwest senior properties · Varies by property (many 62+) — Tax credit / HUD-funded senior affordable apartments. Use the Find a Property search at https://www.mercyhousing.org/find-housing/.

  • KCHA and SHA senior/disabled buildings · Varies by property (King County Housing Authority / Seattle Housing Authority) — Public housing / PHA-operated senior and disabled housing. See KCHA and SHA housing search tools; KCHA's overall Subsidized Housing waitlist was closed on our 10/23/26 check (see Housing authorities above).

How to find open senior housing anywhere in Washington: step-by-step in the statewide guide.

Rent help and eviction prevention (funding-dependent)

These programs open and close as funding arrives and runs out, often within weeks. Call first, ask what is open today, and ask what documents to bring. If you have an eviction notice, contact the legal help below the same day — do not move out just because you received a notice.

  • Keep King County Housed (KKCH) — successor to the federal Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP) · 2-1-1 or 1-800-621-4636 (King County Department of Community and Human Services, administered with United Way of King County and six community-based organizations) — Very low-income King County renters behind on rent or facing eviction due to nonpayment. Fill out United Way of King County's Client Intake Form at uwkc.org/renthelp/ (an expression of interest, not a full application). Households are selected at random; those not selected stay on the waitlist. Checked 10/23/26 — United Way: 'Due to limited funding, not everyone who applies will be selected. Submitting a Client Intake Form does not guarantee assistance.' Eligibility is generally King County renters behind on rent at their current address, at or below 80% of area median income, with a landlord willing to participate.

  • Solid Ground — Tenant Services / Housing resources (Solid Ground) — King County renters needing eviction prevention help, tenant-rights information, and referrals. Visit solid-ground.org/housing-homelessness/ for tenant counseling, eviction-prevention resources and tenant-rights webinars; for the King County Tenant Resource Line, see Legal help below. Solid Ground also publishes the weekly Resource Wire newsletter (see Local directories and newsletters below), which lists current housing, rental-assistance and utility resources as they change.

  • Neighborhood House — Tenant Resource Hotline and rental assistance · Tenant Resource Hotline 206-580-0762 or 1-855-485-8767 (Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–1 p.m.) (Neighborhood House) — King County renters at risk of eviction; Seattle residents for NH's own prevention program. Call the hotline for tenant help; for rent assistance the page points King County renters to the United Way intake above. Checked 10/23/26 — NH's page says its Seattle Homelessness Prevention Rental Assistance Program has been 'temporarily on hold and not accepting new applications' since September 2026 and to check back; treat it as not open until NH updates the page.

  • Catholic Community Services — Housing & Essential Needs (HEN), King County · 206-328-5755 (resource and referral line) (Catholic Community Services of Western Washington) — Adults referred by DSHS for the Housing & Essential Needs (HEN) program. HEN starts with a DSHS referral (apply at WashingtonConnection.org or call 877-501-2233), then CCS as the King County HEN provider. Checked 10/23/26 — CCS says new HEN clients are not being offered rent or utility help and new HEN referrals are paused because of funding, so do not count on HEN rent help in King County right now; the 206-328-5755 line is for resource information. CCS housing programs overall: ccsww.org/our-services/housing/.

  • St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle | King County · 206-767-6449 (helpline, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–3 p.m.) (Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Seattle/King County) — Impoverished, underserved, and vulnerable individuals and families in Seattle and King County. Call the helpline or submit the online help request at svdpseattle.org/get-help/ (weekdays 7 a.m.–7 p.m.); staff screen for rent/utility, food and basic-needs help or arrange a home visit. The site does not publish current funding levels, so ask what is available when you call.

  • Byrd Barr Place — Low-income Seattle/King County residents; energy assistance and other poverty-to-self-sufficiency programs. Contact Byrd Barr Place directly via byrdbarrplace.org for energy assistance and other services. Program-specific availability is not posted online; check the site for current application windows.

  • Hopelink — Low-income residents primarily in North and East King County (also Snohomish); services include housing, energy, food, transportation, financial assistance. Contact Hopelink via hopelink.org/programs/housing/ or /programs/energy/ for current program status. Hopelink administers PSE HELP and Bill Discount energy-assistance programs on behalf of Puget Sound Energy per Hopelink's Energy Programs page.

  • Multi-Service Center (MSC) · (253) 838-6810 (Multi-Service Center) — People living within the city limits of Burien, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, or SeaTac (one-time rent help and limited emergency/utility help). Online inquiry only, no walk-ins: it opens the first business day of each month at 9 a.m. and closes once that month's application slots are filled. Checked 10/23/26 — MSC's page says: 'Burien, Federal Way, and Renton are currently out of funding and will not be accepting applications for November 2026.' Kent and SeaTac inquiries are posted; submitting an inquiry does not guarantee help.

  • Wellspring Family Services — Families with children at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Contact Wellspring via wellspringfs.org/get-help/. Prevention and early-intervention help for families with children; start on the Get Help page.

  • Mary's Place · 206-245-1026 — Women and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Call 206-245-1026 or visit marysplaceseattle.org/get-help. Mary's Place also has a homelessness-prevention/rental-help page (marysplaceseattle.org/get-help/homelessness-prevention) referencing the statewide eviction defense screening line 855-657-8387.

  • Regional Access Point (RAP) Diversion Program — help with move-in costs (North Seattle RAP) · 206-694-6833 (leave a message; response within 2 business days) (King County Regional Homelessness Authority Regional Access Point (North Seattle)) — People exiting homelessness who have already found a place to live (including moving in with family or friends or relocating) and are approved to move in. Call 206-694-6833 Monday–Friday 8:30am–5pm and leave a message for the North Seattle RAP Diversion Program. Funding-dependent; confirm availability. Listed in Solid Ground Resource Wire (Sept 30–Oct 6, 2026 edition).

  • The Salvation Army — Kent Service Center · 253-852-4983 (The Salvation Army) — South King County households needing help with rent, utilities, food or employment referrals (availability varies). Call first. Office hours posted: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Checked 10/23/26 — the page describes rent and utility help but does not say whether rent funds are open today; ask when you call.

Shelter and crisis housing

  • Mary's Place (family shelter) · 206-245-1026 — Families with children experiencing homelessness. Multiple shelter locations in King County. 206-245-1026 is also the King County Family Emergency Shelter Access Line for families who need shelter today.

  • DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) — Adults experiencing homelessness with behavioral health needs. Operates shelter, crisis, and permanent supportive housing; access largely via outreach/Coordinated Entry.

  • Compass Housing Alliance — People experiencing homelessness in Seattle/King County. Operates shelter and day-center services in addition to affordable housing.

  • YouthCare · 800-495-7802 — Youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Shelter, housing, education and employment programs; call 800-495-7802.

  • Chief Seattle Club — Native American/Alaska Native people experiencing homelessness. Provides day-center services and permanent supportive housing (ʔálʔal).

  • Mother Nation — Native women and their families, including homelessness prevention services. Cultural healing circles, homelessness-prevention services and mentorship.

  • Broadview Shelter and Transitional Housing (Solid Ground) — domestic-violence survivors with children · 206-299-2500 — Parents and their children experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. Confidential domestic-violence shelter and transitional housing at a secure location, with children's services. Call for confidential shelter services.

Food

  • Food Lifeline — Western Washington's regional food bank; it supplies food banks and meal programs across King County. Use its Find Food search to locate a food bank near you.

  • Northwest Harvest — SODO Community Market — Statewide hunger-relief organization; SODO Community Market in Seattle is a client-choice market model food bank.

  • Solid Ground Resource Wire (food section) — Weekly-updated list of King County food resources, including food bank hours and special distributions, part of the ongoing Resource Wire (see Local directories and newsletters below).

  • Highline Area Food Bank (Burien / greater Highline) · (206) 433-9900 — 18300 4th Ave S, Burien. Households can shop twice a month (one full shop, then produce, bakery and frozen); no proof of income or residency required. Client hours are not posted on the site — call before you go.

  • Des Moines Area Food Bank · 206-878-2660 — 22225 9th Ave S, Des Moines (serves Des Moines, SeaTac and the west hill of Kent). Full service Mon/Wed/Fri 9–11:45 a.m. (senior priority seating 60+), bread and produce Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m., evening service the 3rd Tuesday 6–8 p.m. 'All are welcome.'

  • White Center Food Bank — 10016 16th Ave SW, Seattle. By appointment only (three visits a month). New customers register in person: Mon 12–4 p.m., Wed 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Thu 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (seniors 60+), Fri 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Check the site for closure notices before you go.

  • Tukwila Pantry Food Bank — 3118 S 140th St, Tukwila (Metro route 128 stops there). Open Tue/Thu/Sat 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; closes when Tukwila schools close for bad weather.

Utilities and energy bills

  • Seattle City Light / Seattle Public Utilities Utility Discount Program (UDP) · (206) 684-3000 (SPU Customer Service); (206) 684-0268 (UDP renewal questions) — The Utility Discount Program gives a 60% discount on City Light bills and 50% off Seattle Public Utilities bills. Apply online at utilityassistance.seattle.gov. Only for Seattle City Light/SPU customers.

  • Puget Sound Energy (PSE) HELP and Bill Discount Rate programs — For PSE customers outside Seattle City Light territory (much of East/South King County). Administered in partnership with local agencies such as Hopelink; per Hopelink's site, 'PSE assistance is available to Puget Sound Energy customers with incomes at or below 80% area median income.'

  • Byrd Barr Place — energy assistance — Energy assistance (LIHEAP-type bill help) for low-income Seattle households; apply through byrdbarrplace.org and check the site for the current application window.

  • Hopelink — energy assistance — Administers LIHEAP-style energy assistance and PSE HELP/Bill Discount enrollment for North/East King County residents.

  • Multi-Service Center — utility bill assistance · (253) 838-6810 — One-time utility bill help for residents of Burien, Federal Way, Kent, Renton or SeaTac, through the same monthly online inquiry as rent help (see Rent help above). Checked 10/23/26: Burien, Federal Way and Renton are out of funds for November 2026.

Legal help and tenant rights

  • Housing Justice Project (King County Bar Association) · KCBA main line (206) 267-7100; urgent eviction questions: 2-1-1 — Checked 10/23/26 — free legal help for low-income tenants with an eviction summons or filed case in King County Superior Court. Use the summons form on KCBA's page or walk in: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave, Rm W314, Seattle (Mon–Fri 10–noon); Regional Justice Center, 401 Fourth Ave N, Rm 1281, Kent (Mon–Thu 10–noon). Attorney not guaranteed.

  • King County Tenant Resource Hotline · 206-580-0762 or 1-855-485-8767 (Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–1 p.m.) — Live hotline for King County renters facing eviction, listed on Neighborhood House's housing-assistance page (checked 10/23/26): tenant-rights information and referrals. If you already have a court summons, also contact the Housing Justice Project above the same day.

  • Northwest Justice Project (NJP) / CLEAR line · King County residents: call 2-1-1 (weekdays 8 a.m.–6 p.m.) to be connected; outside King County: CLEAR 1-888-201-1014; statewide Eviction Defense Screening Line 1-855-657-8387 — Free civil legal aid for housing, benefits, family safety and health issues; language-specific help pages available. Washington law (RCW 59.18.640) gives low-income tenants a right to an appointed attorney in eviction (unlawful detainer) cases, subject to screening — the Office of Civil Legal Aid explains it at ocla.wa.gov/programs/eviction-defense.

  • Tenants Union of Washington State · 206-723-0500 (Tenant Hotline, per King County's renter-resources page, checked 2026-09-19) — Statewide tenant-rights education and advocacy organization based in Seattle.

  • Solid Ground Tenant Services — HUD-certified housing counseling agency; tenant counselors, eviction-prevention resources and free tenant-rights webinars.

  • 14-day pay-or-vacate notices and eviction basics (Washington Attorney General) — For unpaid rent, Washington law generally requires at least 14 days' notice before an eviction case can be filed, and a notice is not a lockout. If you receive a court summons, get legal screening the same day. Note: the statewide Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) ended June 30, 2023, so ignore older pages that send you there.

Veterans

  • King County Veterans Program (KCVP) · 206-263-8387 (both Seattle and Tukwila offices) — Offices: 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 300, Seattle (walk-in Mon-Fri 8:30-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.) and 645 Andover Park West, Suite 100, Tukwila (same hours). Help can include emergency support, employment, housing stability (shelter, move-in costs, rent/mortgage/utility help), financial coaching and eviction-prevention legal help.

  • Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) — Housing Resources · (877) 827-3702 (VA Regional Loan Center, foreclosure help); (877) 424-3838 (VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans) — Lists the WDVA Veterans Transitional Housing Program plus links to VA home-loan and foreclosure-prevention resources, downpayment assistance, and adapted-housing tax exemptions.

Youth and families

  • YouthCare · 800-495-7802 — Shelter, housing, education, and employment programs for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in King County.

  • Mary's Place · 206-245-1026 — Family shelter and homelessness-prevention services, including a rental-help page.

  • Wellspring Family Services — Homelessness prevention and early-intervention services for families with children.

  • Mother Nation — Culturally specific services for Native women and families, including homeless-prevention programs.

  • El Centro de la Raza — Family support, early learning, and housing programs serving the Latino/a community and other low-income King County residents.

  • Brightspark Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP) and child-care payment help — Child-care subsidy and financial-assistance programs for low-income families, including funding (with the City of Seattle) that covers child care for families experiencing homelessness under McKinney-Vento in Seattle and Bellevue; the page also lists the King County Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy and the statewide Working Connections line.

  • Kinship Caregivers Support Program (KCSP) and Kinship Navigator — Catholic Community Services, King County · 206-328-6858 · kinshipprogram@ccsww.org — For relatives and close family friends raising a child outside the foster system. The Navigator gives information and referrals (money, housing, medical, legal, support groups); KCSP may give eligible kin caregivers one-time emergency help, including rent or utilities to prevent an eviction, once other resources are exhausted.

  • Non-Needy TANF / SFA (child-only support) — DSHS · 877-501-2233 — Cash and medical assistance for a child living with a relative (grandparent, aunt or uncle, sibling, cousin, niece or nephew), a legal guardian, or an adult acting in place of a parent. Apply at WashingtonConnection.org, by phone or at a Community Services Office; an interview is required and DSHS decides eligibility.

  • School stability for children without stable housing (McKinney-Vento) — OSPI and your school district liaison · OSPI McKinney-Vento questions: 360-725-6505 · homelessed@k12.wa.us — Children sharing housing because of a loss of housing or economic hardship, living in motels, shelters or cars, can qualify to stay in their school of origin with transportation, enrollment and supply help. Every district has a homeless liaison (OSPI posts the list); ask the school office for yours.

Seniors and people with disabilities — services

Local directories and newsletters

  • Solid Ground Resource Wire · weekly (most Wednesdays) — Current edition on the Resource Wire page (checked 10/23/26: 'Welcome to Resource Wire for October 21 – 28, 2026!'). Sections cover housing, rental assistance, utilities, food, child care, legal clinics and events as they change.

  • KCRHA Regional Services Database · continuously updated — Interactive map/database of more than 400 housing, shelter, outreach, navigation, day-service, behavioral health, and substance-use programs across King County, operated by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

Notes from our check

Last full check of every entry: October 1, 2026. On October 23, 2026 we re-read the KCHA, SHA and Renton Housing Authority pages and the rent-help, legal, family and food entries marked 'Checked 10/23/26', and re-tested the links we could reach. A few sites (St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Community Services, Northwest Justice Project) block automated checks; confirm their details directly with the agency.

How Mysti's fits in

Mysti's Adult & Family Services — Washington provides case management, housing navigation and benefit navigation, including Foundational Community Supports (FCS) supportive housing and supported employment for people on Apple Health, and Community Choice Guide services for DSHS clients. New here? Read Need help with housing? Start here, then message us through our contact page or email help@mysticares.org · (800) 524-4827. Tell us your county and your situation and we will do our best to point you to the right door — with us or elsewhere.

Already a Mysti's client? Your case manager is your first call. If you cannot reach them, email help@mysticares.org with your name, county, and the best way to reach you, and use the resources on this page in the meantime — every door on this list is open to you whether or not we are the ones walking you through it.

Partners and case managers: refer through our Partners & Referrals page. Send county, contact details, Apple Health status and housing situation; please do not email medical details.

Learn while you wait

Free, self-paced courses from Mysti's: Housing Search Bootcamp, Speak Up (self-advocacy), Budgeting for Stability, and short guides to SNAP, ABD/HEN, Apple Health, TANF, SSI/SSDI and McKinney-Vento school rights — open the Free Learning Programs. A free member account is all you need.

Get King County updates once a month

Want to know when a waitlist opens, a senior building starts taking applications, or a new program launches in your county? Tell us which counties and topics you care about and we will email you one short update a month — no more, and you can stop any time.

Found a broken link or a status that changed? Email help@mysticares.org and we will fix it in the next refresh. Last full check: October 1, 2026; links and key statuses re-checked October 23, 2026.

bottom of page