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Housing Opportunities reports operational improvements, exits at Phoenix House supportive housing
Summary
Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington reported increased on‑site services, expanded eligibility to men with children, referrals and seven families moving to independent housing in the past year; the agency said operating subsidies still leave an annual gap.
Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington (HOSW) briefed the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Phoenix House, a 20‑unit communal supportive housing project that HOSW manages and for which it continues to provide services and partial operating subsidies.
"Phoenix House is historically known for housing women and children," Jennifer Westerman, HOSW CEO, said, noting the agency recently opened the property to men and their children. HOSW staff said stronger on‑site services and case management have helped residents access community supports and move toward stable housing.
HOSW said Phoenix House comprises five "pods" of four bedrooms each in a communal model with private bedrooms and bathrooms and shared kitchens and living areas. The property was developed in 2009 through multiple funding sources and carries ongoing rent and funding restrictions; Commerce‑set rent caps and program rules limit how much rent may be charged, so HOSW subsidizes operations.
Richelle Burch, HOSW strategic planner (and former supportive services manager), said the organization was awarded roughly $133,000 for services and operations in the prior year and that staff made 63 community resource referrals used by residents 107 times. HOSW reported seven families moved from Phoenix House into independent housing in the past year and said five Department of Children, Youth and Families cases were closed after families engaged with services there.
HOSW staff described support services that include 24/7 on‑call services, one‑on‑one case management, employment and credit referrals, and a RentWell education course that helps residents prepare for landlord relationships and housing searches. Staff said resident success and turnover are improving compared with previous years when the waiting list was largely static.
Funding and operations HOSW said the project does not fully cover operating costs through rent and the state O&M (operations and maintenance) grant; the agency continues to subsidize a monthly shortfall. Staff said state funding for related programs has tightened over time but that the particular line funding Phoenix House remains available on an annual application basis.
Commissioners and HOSW discussed tracking resident outcomes and the cost per successful exit; HOSW said it can try to calculate per‑family program cost using recent data and provide that to the board in a future report. HOSW invited commissioners to a June 10 grand opening of a new complex and offered to return with further data in a year.
The board took no formal action during the presentation; the item was an informational update from a community housing provider.
