[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6081501,"mediaKeyId","2942153-d58878b21cd364064b3e440230fd8e4f","parentId",2942153,"title","Housing Opportunities: Phoenix House reports seven families rehoused, expands services","audioSeconds",1144,"startMs",6155000,"endMs",7299000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942153-d58878b21cd364064b3e440230fd8e4f&start=6155&end=7299","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942153-d58878b21cd364064b3e440230fd8e4f/thumbnail_6155000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081501/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Housing-Opportunities-Phoenix-House-reports-seven-families-rehoused-expands-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081501-70e7c1183090b95d2a014121bfe079d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148970&Signature=ZYzBQcTjccAo~9DTiusBe6FJkzMArqIt2x3-vrOgAgQmXQAkvL2BWaenSUPRMZxHwIwpUFw7Z0R-zSVhknRbxF9z-9vyJn9JDW4gBMuzcga0555-cdJ8Z~SSRZBUKJRA6PA8iDvjjPpthTouwtOqQ7CRSR6r7~6WlGqf3D4~bAiqHtaZHpyxF-Deh0uN6ztljOCv5Gqd66yF3LO2Opx7wA0T3jCmYAcy3wDVY1FfGcRZSPMhQ-2I-RNhBKVpkLFVztlUvxHy417ZuLSjJ-zS4iiHxnDPn3EXyvHyUE7fTZxj28NYt9S2WPgxGy~ljy5gFuRrr79nXfLzKZdGW-9IiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-04-10T10:13:41.807Z","article","Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington updated the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Phoenix House, a 20-unit communal permanent supportive-housing project, reporting increased service activity, a modest annual operating subsidy and early positive outcomes since Housing Opportunities took over onsite services.

Jennifer Westerman, CEO of Housing Opportunities, introduced staff and said the agency brought property-management and supportive-services functions in-house after prior service providers left. Richelle Burch (strategic planner and formerly supportive services manager) summarized last year's service metrics: Phoenix House staff made 63 referrals to community resources and residents accessed those referrals 107 times; the program reported five Department of Children, Youth and Families cases closed and seven children reunited with parents; seven families moved from Phoenix House to other permanent housing in the past year.

Burch said, \"Last year, when we come to speak with you guys, we were awarded approximately $133,000 for the services and the operation,\" describing the award as the principal services and operations funding for the year. Phoenix House operates as five communal \"pods\" of four bedrooms each; each resident rents a private bedroom (with bathroom) and shares kitchen and living space. The project was financed from multiple sources when built and has restrictions set by funders and the Washington State Department of Commerce on maximum allowable rents that limit monthly revenue from some residents.

Housing Opportunities staff described the program as permanent supportive housing that does not require residents to move out when incomes rise, but staff encourage residents to transition to independent housing as they become ready and suitable units become available. Staff said services are on-site and a services provider is on call 24/7; the agency also provides training and referrals that include job-readiness and rent-well education. Housing Opportunities said it subsidizes the difference between rent revenue and operating needs; Commerce O&M grants help but do not fully close the operating gap.

Staff noted several program changes since Housing Opportunities assumed service delivery: the property is now open to men with children in addition to women and children; a rent-success coordinator and on-site case management help residents pursue employment, housing searches and enroll in community services; and the agency has improved turnover so that units become available for new referrals. Staff offered to provide additional cost-per-family and outcome tracking in future updates to better quantify the program's per-family subsidy and time-to-exit metrics.

The board was invited to a June 10 grand opening for the agency's new complex; Housing Opportunities said it will return with more longitudinal data on program costs and participant outcomes in future reporting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners that Phoenix House, a 20-unit communal supportive-housing program, increased service activity over the past year and moved seven families to independent housing.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081505,"Cowlitz County to seek funding authorization for Hall of Justice HVAC and electrical overhaul",3860,2134000,5994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942153-d58878b21cd364064b3e440230fd8e4f&start=2134&end=5994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942153-d58878b21cd364064b3e440230fd8e4f/thumbnail_2134000.jpg","/articles/6081505/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-to-seek-funding-authorization-for-Hall-of-Justice-HVAC-and-electrical-overhaul","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081505-f096646c62c875885bf772b67e27196b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148970&Signature=C4y8nUvw4kOwL2WYWhePorTfZe0~5b14yW5qzI-Sa5A9VkfdQ9Hn7LdKHQAc56CUbNUUtK2STG~C7Z0b0F-O4EIdST~FZy127Q3LMHcccIfzHg4X95oMVZB0WpPSEF~pD5S9If9XzjHmIEBVeU~3c5dpFTE9GdeovJ3is9daCelveLLKWaW-i7E7rdFcwIUwyxkbr16-WwMqrV0FEmv-y1IiTNxrIPF6Ckp5p7vuMtcmrGY4Mlz5bwakp6xiKqhiCOZttWQIxpzGz5~H2ebtTPweNSqRZeKQu9Vu4l8Stqy6tbTe2XBQxk0YYJoJiPr92kzH6cyZsoOStV4dNgnhYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Millig Design Build presented detailed results of bidding and preconstruction work for a planned HVAC, controls and electrical upgrade at the Hall of Justice building and asked the Board of County Commissioners to schedule a funding authorization to allow contracts to be drafted and long-lead equipment to be ordered.

The project aims to reduce the building's high operating costs (staff said electricity alone exceeds $200,000 annually), address life-safety risks tied to recalled Federal Pacific electrical panels, improve occupant comfort and replace an obsolete, proprietary controls system. Millig reported competitive bids and a guaranteed maximum price package that keeps the project slightly under the board's August 2023 $9 million budget target, with a projected net cost to the county of about $8.375 million after preliminary incentive estimates.

Lauren Donnelly of Millig told commissioners, \"we are under budget,\" and described the scope as a full HVAC replacement (rooftop condensing units and air handlers, duct modifications, refurbishment of the perimeter hydronic heating system), replacement of recalled Federal Pacific panels and main electrical distribution upgrades, replacement of the proprietary Siemens building controls with a nonproprietary Niagara-based system, asbestos abatement primarily of pipe insulation, and optional ceiling tile and lighting work added because bids came back favorably.

Millig said the county will receive an open-book guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract drawn through the Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES). Millig forecast nearly 1 million kilowatt-hours in annual energy savings and reported preliminary support from Cowlitz PUD in the form of roughly $300,000 in utility incentives; Donnelly said the state's clean-buildings \"early adopter\" incentive could add roughly $260,000. Donnelly also described a dollar-based energy-savings guarantee: \"If the building fails to meet those energy savings, we write a check for the amount of the shortfall.\"

Bidders and contract strategy: Millig described an intensive preconstruction process with bid walks and targeted packages. Harris Mechanical was the apparent low bidder for the mechanical scope; other firms that bid included JRT, JH Kelly and Harris Mechanical. Electrical bids came from ADK (Vancouver), Core Electric (Longview), Hammer Electric (Longview) and JH Kelly's electrical group; Millig said Core Electric offered competitive pricing for larger mechanical-panel assembly work. Millig also said it specified a nonproprietary control platform (Niagara) so local firms can service the system in the future.

Other technical and schedule notes: Millig said the building's ceiling tiles are nonasbestos and that asbestos is primarily limited to pipe insulation in a three-story chase; the contractor proposed cleaning and replacing ceiling tile and repainting the T-grid, with a potential upgrade to fully replace the grid if the board chooses to add that scope. Millig recommended pushing construction start to October to capture subcontractor availability outside the peak season; the earliest construction phase would be electrical panel work, with lead times for fabricated panels reported at roughly 16 weeks. Millig requested a funding authorization so DES can draft contracts; Millig said bids are valid for 45 days and that ordering long-lead items promptly will lock pricing before tariff or material escalations.

Commissioners and staff asked clarifying questions about baseline maintenance and energy assumptions, the extent of asbestos removal, whether the pneumatic controls will be removed (Millig: pneumatic controls will be eliminated and replaced with electronic controls), warranty and post-construction support (Millig: 12-month workmanship warranty plus manufacturers' warranties and seasonal commissioning), and whether the control system would be proprietary (Millig: nonproprietary). Savannah Clement, deputy director of public services, and Millig staff described collaboration with building occupants and risk staff and said they will provide the full construction proposal to DES and the board before the funding authorization request.

Next steps: Millig said it will deliver the construction proposal to DES about the end of the week or the beginning of next week; DES will review and the county will then be asked to approve a funding authorization so DES can draft the contract documents. Millig and county staff said they are targeting the board meeting on May 16 for funding authorization and urged the board to approve the base scope soon to lock pricing on long-lead items.","Millig Design Build told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners the Hall of Justice HVAC, controls and electrical upgrade can be delivered under the county's $9 million budget after competitive bids; staff will deliver a construction proposal to the Department of Enterprise Services and seek a funding authorization at an upcoming meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081496,"Cowlitz County IT requests an additional summer intern; HR outlines pay and limits",88,1993000,2081000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942153-d58878b21cd364064b3e440230fd8e4f&start=1993&end=2081","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942153-d58878b21cd364064b3e440230fd8e4f/thumbnail_1993000.jpg","/articles/6081496/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-IT-requests-an-additional-summer-intern-HR-outlines-pay-and-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081496-115605d6daaf4d0460a440f8d4aa472b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148970&Signature=MmotkbmlrrOSCrvFTTSor5BKKFA1KWkcxFXQwqru0EKKE777qUM4mhiRDPIYtRTMjt3NTpY4jJQ8krWuxQHYz06jL5gY0JGKu4kTfK-9EdEYSornMwdnHtm9kNqh9m9y05WwPw5GBwh8KFGcrzw9ekaggKR5OnBOvnzeq9jE9ttIU0-VZQz3-FKYPG8a0QYPoocMKi3wb3~8a1MtxJ5dIWxrmBefldJ8-G8US~vnyRskRjYCd~iuRy878m4f2najId6UhUi-68hj2-fBijYAOIZY-99Zw4ARQwLbEMMFIXM~OPfBeDO0PZ4vfjwo8Pxm0Nc~0mUhX2QOmOSzFAc4zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jessica Warren of human resources presented a brief request from the county's IT department to bring on a third summer internship position, a returning student who would join two current interns.

Warren said the internships are hourly, limited to a maximum of 90 days with no benefits; pay is $18.50 per hour for new students and $20.50 per hour for returning students. Interns typically work full time during the 90-day appointment and are students in IT programs seeking practical experience. Warren said the department is already interviewing candidates and expects to bring back a returning student alongside the other two interns.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about pay and benefits; Warren confirmed there are no benefits for the 90-day positions. No formal objection was recorded and the meeting moved to the next agenda item.","Human Resources presented a request from the IT department to hire a returning student as a third summer intern; commissioners were given pay and employment details and had no objections.","actionData","errors"]

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Housing Opportunities: Phoenix House reports seven families rehoused, expands services

Cowlitz County to seek funding authorization for Hall of Justice HVAC and electrical overhaul

Cowlitz County IT requests an additional summer intern; HR outlines pay and limits