SkagitNorth Star initiative seeks sustained funding, wider youth services and stronger regional governance

Skagit CountyNorth Star staff briefed the Anacortes City Council on Feb. 24, outlining accomplishments since the initiative began and plans for 2025 focused on durable governance, an expanded system of care and housing.

Monica Negrila, Skagit County director of strategic initiatives, told the council that North Star has created a leadership team of mayors and county commissioners, an advisory group that includes community-based providers and people with lived experience, and task forces that address housing, recovery and coordinated response. North Star secured funds for temporary shelter, permanent supportive housing and a second phase of the STAR Center to add crisis stabilization beds.

Why it matters: North Star is a cross-jurisdictional effort intended to align Skagit County cities and the county on homelessness and behavioral-health responses. Councilmembers said collaboration reduces duplication and makes grant-seeking and regional policy more effective. They flagged a need to give more emphasis to upstream and youth services to prevent long-term crises.

Key points from the presentation and council discussion: - Governance and funding: North Star seeks sustainable staffing and funding mechanisms, potential interlocal agreements and clarified decision-making roles for the leadership team, advisory group and task forces. The county recently adopted criteria for awarding economic-development (1% or .9%) funds to allow funding of affordable housing, work North Star helped develop.

- System and services: The coordinated-entry system was revamped and a software platform (Jolata, per presentation) was implemented to improve information sharing among first responders and outreach teams. North Star helped secure shelter and housing resources and revamp coordinated entry.

- Youth services and upstream intervention: Council members and North Star staff said the collaborative historically focused on adult services; advisory-group feedback has pushed youth and upstream prevention higher on the agenda. North Star staff said the county funds some school-linked counseling and the advisory group is discussing options to expand services for youth.

- Data and technical work: North Star plans to expand data tracking, improve decision-making structures and continue outreach to nonprofit housing developers to reduce barriers to affordable housing development across jurisdictions.

Quotes: "No one in our communities has to live in their car or on the street," Negrila said, summarizing North Star's early vision. Councilmember Tony Walters said the shared policy proposals created by the housing task force allow jurisdictions to act together rather than independently.

Next steps: North Star staff plan a regional symposium on June 6 (Swinomish Casino and Lodge) to convene public- and private-sector partners, and staff asked the council for continued feedback on governance and priorities.