May 27, 2011 - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry a grant to develop a congregational-focused education process over the next two years for a faith-based response to family homelessness. One of the goals of the project is to complement the good work of many organizations working on homelessness issues in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties. The grant is also intended to create new conversations—in faith communities and in the society—about homelessness among families and new models for the role people of faith and their organizations can play in addressing this tragic issue.
 
The STM Family Homelessness Project is funded by the foundation as part of their northwest regional priority of “preventing and ending family homelessness.” This project will research and identify best interreligious models of congregational-based programs addressing family homelessness, and develop workshops on family homelessness, advocacy and best congregational practices in social issue advocacy. The project includes selection of 12 Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish and Muslim congregations in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties.