Skagit County’s North Star initiative outlines housing, recovery and governance goals to Anacortes council

Monica Negrila, Skagit County director of strategic initiatives, briefed the Anacortes City Council on Feb. 24 about the North Star regional collaborative’s work on homelessness, behavioral health and housing.

Negrila said the initiative’s strategic framework rests on three pillars: durable governance, staffing and funding; an effective community‑based recovery system of care; and stable, safe housing. She described accomplishments including governance structures, a revamped coordinated entry system, implementation of the Gelada client‑tracking software and funding for additional shelter and permanent supportive housing, and she noted the county’s recent resolution establishing criteria to award a portion of economic development funds (the 0.9% fund) to affordable housing projects.

Negrila also summarized the 2025 workplan: exploring additional funding, strengthening decision‑making mechanisms and roles (leadership team, advisory group, task forces), expanding data tracking and coordinating with nonprofit developers. She said North Star is planning a North Star Connect symposium for June 6 at the Swinomish (meeting slide: "Swinamesh") Casino and Lodge to convene sectors for training and networking.

Council members raised questions about youth services, upstream interventions and funding allocation. Council Member Ian Walters described the housing “call to action” that North Star advanced — a set of policy items the four Skagit cities agreed could be implemented collectively to support affordable housing — and said regional consensus makes local efforts more effective. Multiple council members urged North Star to give more attention to prevention and youth services in addition to crisis and low‑barrier programs for chronically unhoused adults. Negrila said youth services were raised at recent advisory group meetings and that public‑health‑funded school counseling programs exist but are limited.

Negrila said North Star will continue to invite cities and private partners into its advisory and technical groups, and she asked councilors for feedback on how the collaborative can better serve Anacortes. Councilors described the initiative as a helpful regional coordination platform and asked North Star staff to return with additional details about funding options, roles and possible interlocal agreements.

The presentation was informational; no council action was required that night.