Peninsula Behavioral Health details supportive-housing projects; Northview construction to begin after $12.5M budget secured

A representative from Peninsula Behavioral Health told the Clallam County Board of Health on Jan. 21 that the agency has expanded transitional and permanent supportive housing through motel conversions and property renovations, and that construction on a new mixed-size permanent supportive housing project—referred to as Northview—will begin once contracts are finalized.

The presenter described a continuum of care that pairs behavioral-health treatment with housing supports for people with moderate-to-severe behavioral-health needs, explaining that transitional housing (state definition: up to two years) and permanent supportive housing serve different needs. The agency emphasized that its housing is intended for people who engage with treatment and that supports are individualized.

Peninsula Behavioral Health said it now operates several projects: a five-bedroom transitional house in Sequim opened late 2024 using Clallam County funding; Foundry Court and Don View Court (motel-conversion projects) that have reduced service calls and yielded low churn in permanent units; and a motel conversion providing 26 units, four of which are transitional supportive units. Speakers said most permanent units have remained occupied and neighbors have reported few complaints since conversion.

On funding and the new Northview project, the presenter said the estimated budget is about $12.5 million to $12.75 million. Funding sources listed during the presentation included a $6,019,464 deferred-payment Commerce loan (Apple Health and Homes housing trust fund), $2,000,000 from the Behavioral Health Advisory Board Reserve Fund, $2,000,000 in Clallam County funds (Sections 1590 and 1406 referenced), about $740,000 from the City of Port Angeles, and a $750,000 private donation from the Shreveport family. Additional philanthropic contributions cited included $200,000 from the America's Foundation, $36,000 from the Enterprise Foundation and $25,000 from the First Federal Foundation.

The presenter said the agency priced rents so the property would operate “in the black” without a bank note: typical rents (including utilities such as water, sewer, garbage and private Internet) were described in the presentation as roughly $425–$500 per month depending on unit size. The agency said those rents pay for a full-time property manager, a property attendant and maintenance reserves; operating without mortgage debt made state grant terms and long-term sustainability feasible.

Project design and operations details included studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom unit counts (presenter cited seven studios, approximately 25 one-bedrooms and four two-bedroom units in the new development), durable materials (50-year flooring, higher-quality finishes), on-site heat and air conditioning, an elevator, solar arrays and an EV charger required by some donors. The presenter said the agency budgeted modest community spaces and included dishwashers in each unit to reduce water use compared with handwashing.

Speakers acknowledged public pushback during prior projects—neighbors had questioned siting near schools or called the development "too nice"—and emphasized community outreach and walkable access to services in Port Angeles. The agency said Don View Court and other projects had low rates of law-enforcement and EMS contact and had helped residents stabilize, with residents requiring fewer emergency services after moving in.

The presenter also described transfers of two former PBH group homes to Oxford House operators and said those houses will serve recovery housing in the community.

Ending: Construction on Northview was described as expected to begin within weeks; staff said the project is funded and that the county and city had played essential roles in acquiring property and leveraging state grants. The board did not take formal vote on the presentation but noted interest in future updates.