The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted to accept the Washington State Department of Commerce consolidated homeless grant for the 2025–27 biennium and approved related subcontracts to local service providers.

Gina James, director of Cowlitz County Health and Human Services, told the board the consolidated homeless grant combines state general funds and locally collected document recording-fee backfill and that the total award for the county is approximately $11,700,000. "This is, called the consolidated homeless grant. This grant is a combination of state general funds and document recording fees that are collected locally," James said, and she explained that the state has changed some allocation rules and added new lines such as eviction prevention and emergency housing funding.

Nut graf: Commissioners approved contracts to flow part of the grant to local nonprofits that provide rapid rehousing, eviction prevention and coordinated entry services, and several commissioners and community speakers urged tighter audits, clearer local workshops and measurable outcomes.

James reviewed recent award history: July 2019–June 2021 the county received about $3 million (spent roughly $2.5M); July 2021–June 2023 the county was awarded about $5M (spent roughly $3M); 2023–25 award was about $8M (spent a little over $5M). "This year, we were awarded almost 12," she said. James told the board about current commitments and recommended a workshop to determine future allocations. She said county allocations are constrained by state rules and that counties have a "right of first refusal" but must follow state spending categories.

The board approved three contracts listed as agenda items 11–13, which James described as largely funding the HEN (Housing and Essential Needs) housing piece, eviction prevention work and partner contracts with Lower Columbia CAP and the Community Mediation Center.

Community Mediation Center Board President Luis Monzo spoke in support of county acceptance, saying the center assisted more than 686 households facing eviction and urging approval so the center could continue services. "The Community Mediation Center strongly supports Cowlitz County's acceptance of the 2025–2027 Department of Commerce consolidated homeless grant funds," Monzo said, adding details about the center's eviction-prevention work.

Representatives from Community House on Broadway also thanked the board and asked to hand-deliver funding concept proposals for the board and HHS to review. Commissioners and public commenters repeatedly urged the county to consider independent audits of subgrantees and to hold workshops so the board can weigh priorities for how the expanded grant funds are used locally.

Ending: The board approved the contracts for items 11–13 by voice vote. James said some funds will be passed through to coordinated entry access points and that additional pass-through and program agreements may return to the board for approval as HHS finalizes allocations.