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Kitsap County affirms contracts to keep emergency shelters open, add on-site behavioral health services
Summary
County commissioners affirmed funding and building-use agreements to keep the Salvation Army night shelter operating, open a 75-bed continuous-stay shelter at the former Olympic Fitness Center with Kitsap Rescue Mission, and fund on-site behavioral health services at the new shelter.
Kitsap County commissioners on Jan. 13 approved a set of contracts intended to maintain and expand emergency shelter capacity and on-site behavioral health support for people experiencing homelessness in Bremerton and surrounding areas.
The board affirmed a $1,510,000 contract to keep the Salvation Army emergency shelter operating through May 2025. The board also approved a building-use agreement with Kitsap Rescue Mission to operate the former Olympic Fitness Center in Port Orchard as a 75‑bed continuous-stay shelter, and a related contract to provide on-site behavioral-health and substance-use-disorder services to shelter guests.
Why it matters: Commissioners and county staff described the measures as short‑term and pragmatic steps to preserve shelter capacity while other long‑term options — including the county’s Pacific Building co‑sheltering project — continue to develop. County and provider speakers emphasized that on-site case management and behavioral‑health services help people move from emergency shelter into treatment and more stable housing.
Doug Washburn, director of Kitsap County Human Services, told the…
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