Community Action Council outlines services, funding and local impact in Mason County

Abby McLean, deputy director at the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, Thurston Counties, told Mason County commissioners on March 24 that the nonprofit focuses on four primary service areas — health, housing, energy and weatherization — and uses an information-and-referral model to link people to multiple programs.

“The promise of community action is that community action changes people's lives. It embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live,” McLean said during a presentation to the commission that focused on Mason County-specific service levels and outcomes.

McLean said the council runs a nationally accredited child advocacy program, Monarch Children’s Justice and Advocacy, with a local satellite clinic called Safe and Sound that provides forensic interviews, multidisciplinary team coordination and access to medical and mental-health care for child victims and non-offending caregivers. She emphasized that mental-health counseling at the center is available without requiring insurance.

John Eastlake, the council’s interim finance director, gave county-level funding context. “By a long measure the federal is the greatest at 39% followed by the state at 26 and then counties at 11,” Eastlake said, describing a funding mix he said totals about 78% from government sources. He told commissioners the council’s annual budget is about $14,000,000.

McLean and Eastlake gave a snapshot of Mason County service volume for 2024: 1,450 county residents accessed Community Action Council services; 103 people used Safe and Sound (the child advocacy center); about $373,000 was distributed in energy-assistance payments; 10 homes received weatherization; the council provided about 1,850 housing-related services, and 93 residents were housed in the council’s affordable housing units. McLean said the council also operates three county affordable-housing properties (Ashford House 1 and 2 in Belfair and Saratoga Springs in Shelton) that primarily serve people with disabilities and seniors.

The council described participation in a pilot “Foundational Community Supports” (FCS) program that blends Medicaid-funded supportive housing and employment case management for high users of emergency medical services. McLean said Mason County is one of several pilot counties and that the model is being considered for statewide expansion. She also said some contracts tied to that program are in the low‑millions range and that one contract figure discussed in the presentation was $2,400,000 (the council later said the current-year budgeted amount from that funding source is about $1,000,000 combined between two listed grants). Eastlake noted that a portion of corporate and foundation support for the council comes from Puget Sound Energy grants for energy and weatherization work.

On outcomes, McLean said the council collects client-exit surveys and reported that, in 2024, 98% of respondents said they knew how to reconnect with services, 96% said they felt better able to handle their situation after working with CAC staff, and 89% said they were able to access needed services.

Commissioners asked for additional contract details and budget clarifications; McLean and Eastlake said staff would follow up on specific contract amounts and other clarifications requested in the meeting.

The presentation closed with the council introducing staff leads and program managers who will run local services, including Stephanie Arnold (energy program manager), Esmeralda (director of community services), Carrie (housing lead) and Sue (victim services manager). McLean and Eastlake thanked the commissioners for their time and said they would provide the additional budget and contract numbers the commission requested.

Looking ahead, McLean asked the county to consider the council’s work when discussing county service investments and legislative items tied to expansion of the pilot programs.

(ending) The commission did not take formal action during the presentation; staff follow-up was requested on several contract and budget details the council cited.