[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6479268,"mediaKeyId","5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423","parentId",5701946,"title","RHC weighs adding lived-experience and provider voices to regular meetings","audioSeconds",437,"startMs",898205,"endMs",1335295,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423&start=898&end=1335","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423/thumbnail_898205.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479268/Thurston-County/Washington/RHC-weighs-adding-lived-experience-and-provider-voices-to-regular-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479268-8ecbd55edbbe94429cb52292c95db31d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606838&Signature=c2D2bgzpPC~3IXDZRuJ0Ne2oocqYM8uWNn6Chbw7V-B6JCCA9SmH2NSdC9q~q5U9GZzJN-AbZ3q1gktoEVQ~rJsdH4UVIUgzEQxSMmlwRmNQsRVMc2wnjeUnTP2gCf38QSc1MJ6B5~-1dhmW8dMsJ~j~r3cMDco8adWGX3zGeIeVpmg97I1VSduyyqTWAVp4QaFsyiZ1HAZ3VS2er1Haxb38GyaFSgu-vJZk6zfpVHpb~EfCgZpIW1K09IsHeFgZ2H4dRu6DD7SXAwwOmg4Oe19nYqW5oK727yHoKb0myoEZOB78OsNxwJjy4EZI8B9YdeecmaJGqqAx8INhQfN69g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thurston County Washington","date","2025-08-29T19:16:34Z","article","Thurston County staff proposed two steps to increase the Regional Housing Council's engagement with people who have lived experience of homelessness and with shelter and housing providers.

Tom Webster outlined the first idea: invite a rotating member of the Lived Experience Steering Committee (LESC) to attend RHC meetings as a nonvoting participant, with a regular standing agenda item for brief updates. \"The idea is to have a standing agenda item on RHC meetings and invite a member of the LESC to attend these meetings, to provide you a brief update...and participate as a nonvoting participant,\" Webster said. Staff said they would seek LESC interest before implementing the change.

The second proposal would bring provider input on focused topics (for example, policy or funding impacts on shelter providers) by inviting two to three providers to answer three predetermined questions in a short presentation and allow limited discussion. Webster said the format is intended to avoid giving any single agency an unbalanced advocacy opportunity when the council makes funding decisions.

Council members broadly supported the ideas but raised practical concerns about agenda time and frequency. One member suggested alternating the two approaches across months; another recommended limiting presentations to short blocks of time or conducting the provider briefings on a case-by-case basis. Staff agreed to return in September with a more detailed proposal, including scheduling options and suggested topics.

Why it matters: The RHC makes funding and policy recommendations used by jurisdictions and providers across Thurston County. Members said direct input from people with lived experience and frontline providers can improve policy design and ground decisions in operational realities.

What happens next: Staff will consult the LESC about member participation and will prepare a more detailed calendar and topic list to present at the September meeting.

Ending note: Members noted the value of diverse perspectives and urged staff to design formats that keep meetings focused and time-limited while ensuring meaningful input.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Thurston Regional Housing Council meeting August 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Thurston County staff proposed two new engagement approaches to give people with lived experience and shelter providers more direct input to Regional Housing Council meetings: a rotating LESC attendee and short, focused provider briefings.","taxTitle","Thurston County, Washington","taxId",4614,"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},6479277,"Regional Housing Council recommends $51,562.69 emergency repair funding for Sandy's Flats",233,248895,482565,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423&start=248&end=482","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423/thumbnail_248895.jpg","/articles/6479277/Thurston-County/Washington/Regional-Housing-Council-recommends-5156269-emergency-repair-funding-for-Sandys-Flats","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479277-aee0b6dde6b1ab5e182e9e46d22bd887/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606838&Signature=PU7sAcGCBTRNd1eAmTg-ZaAh4k0U~S~R0UONLsJdxAuUATR400EtIcdYuzyEILDy8cYPl9wYYwr-GgVQecLZULEcLGMmlfvnNREfKyBHk3K0O8D5NWAL3mmE4H261Su5bp-81rJaoYryD5Db1tdC-GvQ-eIQF-qg3WqPEeo7RtSjzn~3IQW0zRz8zbHaeW5pdwhm8uCBpesms0LfSANuqgQWaDWBgDFw7OwQcN06pJsNigeDedeLLUFSfXow8Tk3VGhchSj5oWxgXPUiyT6KN95X2wx2toB7utGZJl0lcrliQCKoHb~KUaWYmgZHKeDmO10LR7Jj7lmNAFBasUP2Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Thurston County Regional Housing Council on Wednesday recommended that the Board of County Commissioners contract $51,562.69 in homeless services emergency funds to Interfaith Works to repair a permanent supportive housing unit at Sandy's Flats that was damaged by fire.

The request was presented by Jackie Velasquez, representing the Homelessness Advisory and Support Board (HASAB). Velasquez told the council the damage was limited to a single unit and that no people were harmed. \"It was a fire. Thankfully, no living beings were harmed, and the damage was isolated to a single unit,\" Velasquez said. She said Interfaith Works asked to use the RHC emergency fund instead of filing an insurance claim because a claim would likely raise insurance premiums dramatically and would exhaust the provider's contingency funds.

Council members discussed the purpose and remaining balance of the emergency fund before voting. An RHC member who identified the fund's purpose said, in part, \"I think this is kind of exactly what we sort of designed this thing for — one-time instances where...people are in crisis who are housed in some of these units.\" County staff confirmed the emergency fund budget for the fiscal year began July 1 with $200,000 available; the staff member noted about $150,000 remained available for the rest of the year.

Members asked for clarification about the cause of the fire and insurance impacts. Velasquez said staff determined that a resident experiencing a behavioral crisis started the fire in the unit's restroom, and that the resident had been exited from programming. She said providers statewide have reported insurance premium increases even without claims and that premiums for permanent supportive housing are \"skyrocketing by up to 400%,\" creating reluctance to submit claims for major damage.

After questions, RHC member Michael moved the recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners contract $51,562.69 to Interfaith Works for unit repairs at Sandy's Flats; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The RHC asked staff to relay thanks to HASAB for reviewing and recommending the request.

Why it matters: The council's emergency fund is intended to cover high-cost, one-off repairs that could threaten a provider's ability to continue housing operations if covered by an insurance claim. Council members said using the fund in this case preserves Interfaith Works' insurance standing and prevents depletion of the provider's contingency funds, but also underscores broader system challenges: providers report rising insurance costs and limited behavioral-health supports for residents in permanent supportive housing.

What happens next: The RHC's recommendation will be forwarded to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners for contract authorization and payment, per normal county contracting procedures. The council directed staff to pass along the HASAB recommendation and to continue monitoring the emergency fund balance.

Ending note: Council members expressed sympathy for the resident affected and noted this incident as an example of gaps in behavioral-health services that can affect housing stability.

","The Thurston County Regional Housing Council on Wednesday recommended that the Board of County Commissioners contract $51,562.69 in homeless services emergency funds to Interfaith Works to repair a permanent supportive housing unit at Sandy's Flats that was damaged by fire.",{"_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},6479273,"RHC finalizes allocations for encampment resolution program — about $5.5 million for local projects",276,758490,1034635,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423&start=758&end=1034","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423/thumbnail_758490.jpg","/articles/6479273/Thurston-County/Washington/RHC-finalizes-allocations-for-encampment-resolution-program-about-55-million-for-local-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479273-fa90d6675f7fda6049b87cd194a64ee0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606838&Signature=Yu-5cZpYZJY766Jvx3MyI5Sbf5442wQ2sfK~DNOmk82sVcVaeMAmyrwGa6JxZlWDbas5UCKZFqjT8Towe4Pcidct99~mlwNVstCsik1wNjxaVbuBGgWXP6YtwpDKNnv6k1WPmPGevOy~-pLvCUI2n4tO12-Afr3~MJNoMKR5LjxviPgHLBmjT~Utu0oMzbbM84id29wzFo93fD9UEdaVeneWjVLU~-dJV-H5~ZNo-1E5O2Y1OeM8bZBx2rTjV9iJStg6WPfb6ch9-5zVhjuM4CYcbTH7dEwJ9wqREPLXCdK7x6RUzwkzgtjDNsOurIoWrp~rgzycWyFMUk~Y6FFTUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County staff told the Regional Housing Council on Aug. 27 that the encampment resolution program — formerly described as right-of-way work — has been finalized with just over $5.5 million allocated across local projects and program administration.

Tom Webster, county staff, shared the distribution the county reached with the Department of Commerce and local jurisdictions: $150,000 for Unity Commons Shelter operations; $410,000 for Sandy's Flats (Interfaith Works) operations; approximately $2,900,000 for Maple Court capital; $220,000 for Lotus Court operations; $1,200,000 for the Francine Nursing Tiny Home Village through the City of Olympia; $330,000 for Quint Street Village; about $126,000 for City of Olympia outreach staff; and additional funds for county and Olympia staff to administer the program.

Webster said some funds are capital (for construction of Lotus Court) and some are operations and case management funding for programs that previously had no operations support. \"This resulted in a total of a $150,000 will be going to Unity Commons Shelter, $410,000 for Sandy's Flats... $2,900,000 for Maple Court... $220,000 for Lotus Court operations,\" Webster said while walking through the packet.

Why it matters: The allocation redirects both capital and operations dollars to a set of local shelter and tiny-home projects the region identified to address encampments and unsheltered homelessness. Several members said they appreciated the update after months of negotiation with Commerce and jurisdictions.

What happens next: Staff said contracts will be prepared and the county is moving forward with the listed contracts. The RHC will receive updates on administration and program implementation once contracts are under way.

Ending note: Council members offered no substantive changes during the presentation and accepted the update. Staff noted the RHC had raised this item for several months and that this report “closes the loop” on prior discussions.

","County staff reported revised allocations of just over $5.5 million in encampment resolution program funding for sites across Thurston County, including Unity Commons, Maple Court, Lotus Court capital and operations, tiny-home villages, and outreach staff support.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479257,"Regional Housing Council sets timeline to finalize mission, values and governance; will use Sept–Nov meetings",375,4043300,4418840,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423&start=4043&end=4418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423/thumbnail_4043300.jpg","/articles/6479257/Thurston-County/Washington/Regional-Housing-Council-sets-timeline-to-finalize-mission-values-and-governance-will-use-SeptNov-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479257-4a1b360a61292fec5044265d86e8edc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606838&Signature=P4gG8ND48MNEc9g9BeVny1GNTNDVc8RW6jIVaxOk~myi1-EvmKs0riozN6mPCSNsmSguFfq65WFcQBirR~4AHBfSI5-VKRACK2UXPei0lSoktCeYXXKbCE3q9CELY79z8usIDVVC2BWgdRUQsyYoIoPPqlr0c6O2zAdX-eHxHVuhZ226pSZfOSvorBhBXx--A5xpUs50iyc-ghk4YktRjRaUDe2xhIzd1RNwvDjNwoaGY-WxifLGWowa3N4n8QPXc16voB34oeYMIpfSoUJfNEoWOS6zhgDhmORSv~-5l540Y6O3R~Ig45qJCankU2Gj~5OpcPY20Gnx1X3WCE-FZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Regional Housing Council confirmed next steps to finalize its mission, values and governance framework following a recent retreat and scheduled the work for the regular September, October and November meetings.

Chair Emily Klaus said the RHC has approved a vision statement — \"Everyone in Thurston County has stable shelter or housing that they feel is safe and the services they need to thrive\" — and will focus next on a one- to two-sentence mission. The council arranged for a facilitator partner to join the September meeting to guide a mission drafting session; the values conversation will be on the October agenda (with prework distributed in advance) and governance discussion in November with facilitator support.

Members raised governance questions that staff said merit additional attention. Several council members asked whether a separate proposal discussed in a recent jurisdictions meeting — to change the decision-making body to mayors and the county commission chair or to otherwise alter membership and voting authority — had traction and should be resolved before final governance language is adopted. Staff said the governance conversation will include city managers and county managers to ensure the right participants are in the room and that prework will solicit member views in advance.

Council members also suggested broader outreach to city councils and continued annual reporting to jurisdictions to improve transparency. Staff agreed to share annual report materials with the RHC and with individual councils as requested.

Why it matters: The RHC's mission, values and governance determine how housing priorities are set, how members are expected to participate and how jurisdictions coordinate. The schedule aims to conclude design work by year-end so governance decisions can inform planning and funding processes in 2026.

What happens next: Facilitator Sue Mountain (a partner of the retreat facilitator) will join the Sept. 24 RHC meeting to guide a mission-session; staff will distribute prework before October's values discussion and will prepare materials for a governance discussion in November. Staff will collect member input via prework and bring a more detailed proposal in September.

Ending note: Council members asked staff to track and report on outstanding governance proposals from jurisdictional leaders to ensure the council considers any alternate decision‑making models as part of the November governance conversation.

","After a June retreat, the RHC approved a vision statement and scheduled next steps to adopt a mission, values and governance framework. Consultants from the retreat facilitator will lead a mission session in September; values in October and governance in November. Members also raised a separate",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479262,"County staff outline draft of 2025–2030 five-year homeless housing plan and public engagement steps",542,1845790,2388780,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423&start=1845&end=2388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701946-9998913a8589c219436868d621887423/thumbnail_1845790.jpg","/articles/6479262/Thurston-County/Washington/County-staff-outline-draft-of-20252030-five-year-homeless-housing-plan-and-public-engagement-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479262-519af1db6541e75c3cbdb32a2902e0c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773606838&Signature=ThCrCPbhZ2Vqe5b-UYSX8FNuWgL8050JZg2Yrdf1bjPCvLa3nZyBRmughnnoHJJWOzQzGLfTPEOcFzZiHt4a0LGIXcuzromDsXmn7mENnKT~N7v8nJSiIY8hCosoPOk1qEaxNkzvdpj6IrmSuVPFxiMwuJ1B0RBWfGHdSL83gBh4kN-CF3jkm0Mb04AfWeuWI3IjpHJf6j~o8zwJb~~WR87rxilK6teWd2-OgDBMNoMW8YsWdJe1KEUflGtDSv82RyvHfJoB8BY4f74liiz2~BmQ70wBj43AJmatU0dxqxb1OUMJvg3V4go9w7Ippy~uEs1Z-1sQ1-1A~5P3c9KJSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County staff updated the Regional Housing Council on progress drafting the county's required five-year homeless housing plan for 2025–2030, including outreach completed to date and the set of objectives and strategies the team plans to include in the draft.

Tom Webster and Jackie Velasquez summarized required plan components under Department of Commerce guidance: an inventory of current services and beds; a funding-source survey; estimates of housing needs; capital project prioritization methods; public engagement and a work plan with strategies and tasks. Webster said the draft plan will be submitted to Commerce's technical assistance reviewer for compliance review and then released for a 30-day public-comment period with a public hearing expected in late October or early November. The plan is due to Commerce in December 2025 and will go to the Board of County Commissioners for formal approval in November.

Velasquez described the engagement already completed: two community surveys (one directed at providers and one at general community members), targeted listening sessions at tiny-home villages, and a lived-experience listening session. She said 94 survey respondents identified as having lived experience of homelessness, and staff held targeted listening sessions to ensure input from people currently unsheltered.

Staff also reviewed the five Commerce-mandated objectives that must be addressed in the plan: promote an equitable, accountable and transparent homeless crisis response system; strengthen the homeless service provider workforce; prevent episodes of homelessness where possible; prioritize assistance based on greatest barriers to housing stability and risk of harm; and house everyone in a stable setting that meets their needs. Jackie described preliminary strategies under each objective, including data dashboards for transparency, workforce development and training, prevention coordination, equity-informed prioritization, and expansion of housing and shelter options where resources permit.

Council members welcomed the engagement work and offered suggestions: several asked for the engagement and survey recaps to be posted online, and multiple members urged staff to bring annual report summaries to city councils and the Board of County Commissioners so jurisdictions are better informed. Staff agreed to post recaps, to share the draft with the RHC during the public-comment period, and to return to the RHC for approval at the October or November meeting before the Board of County Commissioners considers the plan.

Why it matters: The five-year plan guides allocation priorities, provider support and capital investments in the county's homeless response system. The plan will also be the basis of annual reporting to the Department of Commerce.

What happens next: Staff will finalize strategies and draft tasks, submit the draft to Commerce for technical review, open a 30-day public-comment period and hold a public hearing. The RHC is expected to review and provide endorsement prior to the Board of County Commissioners' formal approval.

Ending note: Staff emphasized the plan is intended as a \"North Star\" for prioritizing funding and policy decisions, and said they do not intend a purely “checkbox” plan but rather a community‑driven implementation roadmap.

","Staff described the required components of the Department of Commerce 5-year homeless housing plan, public engagement completed to date (including surveys and listening sessions), five Commerce-mandated objectives and proposed strategies, and the schedule for draft review, public comment and final approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

RHC weighs adding lived-experience and provider voices to regular meetings

Regional Housing Council recommends $51,562.69 emergency repair funding for Sandy's Flats

RHC finalizes allocations for encampment resolution program — about $5.5 million for local projects

Regional Housing Council sets timeline to finalize mission, values and governance; will use Sept–Nov meetings

County staff outline draft of 2025–2030 five-year homeless housing plan and public engagement steps