Clallam County adopts 2025–30 homelessness plan, directs staff to add measurable goals by end of 2025

Clallam County commissioners on May 27 adopted the 2025–2030 Clallam County Homelessness Crisis Response and Housing Plan and directed county Health and Human Services staff to produce an addendum that sets measurable goals and objectives by the end of 2025.

The plan was developed with a Washington State Department of Commerce grant awarded in July 2024 and with assistance from a contracted consultant, Health and Human Services staff told commissioners during a public hearing. "Under Washington state law, the homelessness task force is required to develop a five‑year homeless housing plan," Jenny Appel, Health and Human Services, said while briefing the board; she added the plan "must outline specific goals, strategies, activities, timelines, and performance measures aimed at ending homelessness in Clallam County." The task force voted to forward the draft to the commissioners after discussion at its May 6 meeting.

Why it matters: the state requires the plan and the Department of Commerce provided guidance and grant funding for its preparation. Commissioners and public speakers pressed for clearer benchmarks and funding pathways before the plan can move from policy into action. Several commissioners said they support the draft but sought an operational work plan showing which actions will be prioritized given constrained county and state resources.

Key points from the briefing and debate: - Development: Appel said the county contracted with a consultant, convened work groups of task force members and community partners, and solicited input from people with lived experience and service providers. The plan was also posted online to invite public comment. - Funding and measurement concerns: Multiple commissioners and members of the public said the draft lacks detail on how the plan’s housing targets would be funded and how progress will be measured year to year. A commissioner asked, "How is it going to be funded?" and emphasized the need for benchmarks the county can use when requesting state or federal dollars. - Priorities: Commissioners identified shelter beds and supportive housing as high‑priority elements that need additional, specific planning and intentional follow‑up beyond the task force’s draft.

Public input was broadly skeptical that measured results will follow without new funding or concrete milestones. Several speakers urged focusing on mental‑health and substance‑use drivers of homelessness, while others pressed for faster production of units and for the county to use its leverage with state and federal partners to increase supply.

Action and next steps: A motion to approve the 2025–2030 plan with the direction that staff produce a measurable‑goals addendum by Dec. 31, 2025, passed by voice vote. The board recorded the action as adoption of the plan with the added instruction; staff said the plan will be submitted to the Washington Department of Commerce as required and that the addendum will be developed in coordination with the homelessness task force and partner agencies.

The county will use the task force and related advisory groups as working bodies to develop the detailed work plan, timelines and performance measures commissioners requested. The plan and the subsequent addendum will be posted to the county website for public review.