RHC approves $125,000 from LOTT shared pool for Franz Anderson supportive housing

The Regional Housing Council voted Feb. 26 to allocate $125,000 from the LOTT (Lacey-Olympia-Tumwater) affordable housing support program regional pool to help cover connection-fee rebates for the Franz Anderson permanent supportive housing project in Olympia.

Jacinda Stalgis, RHC staff, described the LOTT program as a 50% rebate on LOTT connection fees for affordable housing projects; for the 2025–26 biennium LOTT set aside $500,000 regionally (approximately $125,000 each for Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater, plus a $125,000 shared pool). Jacinda said Olympia would contribute roughly $60,000 from its jurisdictional allocation and the RHC was asked to draw $125,000 from the shared pool to reach about $185,000 in connection-fee credits for the Low Income Housing Institute’s 71-unit Franz Anderson permanent supportive housing project.

Jacinda said staff had checked in with Lacey and Tumwater about expected pipeline projects and that both jurisdictions expected to have projects that may use their local allotments; those jurisdictions had indicated they could share unused funds later in the biennium if needed. She also noted the RHC previously used the shared pool for another regional project (Lansdale Point/Southport) and that the request would also be forwarded to LOTT for a formal vote.

Council members asked clarifying questions about tapping the shared pool early in the biennium. Member Carolyn Cox indicated she expected to support the request and said, as a LOTT board member, she would likely cast a favorable vote at LOTT. After discussion, the council moved and seconded the request and approved it by voice vote; the meeting record shows four aye votes and one abstention. The motion directs staff to forward the RHC's allocation recommendation to LOTT for final action.