Representatives of BMAC presented a draft five‑year homeless housing plan to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners at the Sept. 22 meeting, outlining priorities, local data and proposed actions to reduce homelessness from December 2025 through December 2030.
Danielle, identified as BMAC’s CEO, and a consultant introduced the plan and said it integrates state-required priorities with local needs. The presenters said a public-comment period is planned in late October for two weeks; staff will consider comments, present a final draft to the commissioners in November, and—if adopted—submit the plan to the Washington State Department of Commerce in December.
The presentation summarized county conditions and funding. Presenters said Columbia County’s point-in-time count is a once-a-year snapshot and that, on average, about 15 people were identified as unhoused in the prior reporting year. The plan, presenters said, calls for annual reporting, better HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) data quality, a by-name list for high‑need cases and coordinated case conferencing with the hospital’s multidisciplinary team.
Funding elements described included local revenue streams collected via the county auditor (presenters cited local document-recording fees and a local sales-and-use tax), and state grants managed by BMAC and partner agencies. Presenters said consolidated homeless grant funding to the region was approximately $183,000 per year and that local funds shown in the presentation were roughly $49,000 for calendar year 2023 and $39,000 for calendar year 2024. Staff said about half of recent expenditures went to rental assistance/rapid rehousing and about 29% to homelessness prevention (eviction prevention), with other funds supporting coordinated entry and emergency shelter hotel stays.
The plan lists five objectives required by the state: build an equitable, accountable crisis-response system; strengthen the provider workforce; prevent episodes of homelessness; prioritize assistance for those at greatest risk; and house people in stable settings that meet their needs. Actions the presenters highlighted include creating transitional housing planning, improving HMIS data quality in 2026, continuing coordinated entry and case‑conferencing, strengthening landlord relationships, and exploring local revenue options such as a one‑tenth of one percent sales tax that some counties use to expand housing funds.
No formal vote was taken; presenters asked commissioners for review and feedback. Commissioners were told staff will post the draft for public comment in late October, compile responses, return a revised draft for adoption in November and submit the final plan to the Department of Commerce in December.