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3 <br /> )15%, Washington <br /> t Families Fund <br /> Vie• A Public-Private Partnership <br /> Memorandum of Understanding <br /> This Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is being executed by the undersigned effective as of <br /> March 19, 2009 for the purpose of articulating a shared intention to continue and expand the <br /> public-private partnership administered by Building Changes and known as the Washington <br /> Families Fund, as further described below. This MOU replaces the former Homeless Families <br /> Services Fund MOU executed in November 2004. <br /> RECITALS <br /> Whereas, in 2004, the State of Washington (the State) created a public-private partnership called <br /> the Washington Families Fund (formerly known as the Homeless Families Services Fund) and <br /> selected Building Changes (formerly known as AIDS Housing of Washington) to administer the <br /> Fund; <br /> Whereas, the purpose of the Washington Families Fund has been to fund services in supportive <br /> housing programs for families with children experiencing homelessness within Washington; <br /> Whereas, since 2004, the State has allocated $12 million to the Washington Families Fund and 19 <br /> different private funders have invested nearly $9 million to the Fund, affirming that public and <br /> private sector collaboration provides the opportunity to address the needs of homeless families with <br /> children in new and creative ways; <br /> Whereas, Building Changes has worked in collaboration with the State of Washington, counties, <br /> cities, and regional housing authorities since 2004 and has funded 36 programs that collectively <br /> provide 522 units of housing with support services throughout the State which are projected to <br /> serve over 5,000 families over the next decade; <br /> Whereas, although current efforts have shown great potential, children and their family members <br /> continue to comprise nearly half of the 21,947 people who lack a safe place to sleep on any given <br /> night in the State of Washington; <br /> Whereas, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with local, state and national organizations, <br /> have identified emerging promising practices and have visited other communities in the country that <br /> have implemented practices which resulted in significant reductions in family homelessness; <br /> Whereas, Building Changes seeks to expand the purpose of the Washington Families Fund to test <br /> and implement new county-and state-level system responses that will help end family homelessness <br /> in the future while continuing to serve families who are experiencing homelessness right now; <br /> Now therefore, the undersigned agree to the following: <br /> (1 <br />