Health Dept. notifies commissioners of upcoming state contract amendment and homelessness service renewals

Gina James, director of Health & Human Services, briefed the board on Feb. 5 about pending public‑health and homelessness contracts that will come before the commissioners in coming weeks. She said Amendment 1 to the county’s consolidated contract with the Washington State Department of Health — which adds specific funding allocations and scope tied to the multi‑year contract — is scheduled for the Feb. 11 agenda review and that the amendment will include funding lines for foundational public health services, emergency preparedness and “group B” public‑health activities.

James explained the timing and fiscal mechanics: the county’s consolidated contract runs on the calendar year while state funding is allocated on the state fiscal year, so the state sometimes issues partial allocations early in the contract cycle and follows later with the remainder. She said the emergency‑preparedness allocation in the current amendment was partial and additional funds will likely arrive later in the fiscal year.

Homelessness and coordinated entry contracts: James also outlined several upcoming contract renewals and awards tied to coordinated entry and shelter operations. She said the county received four proposals in a recent request for proposals and recommended continuing contracts with Family Health Center and Community House for coordinated entry work and emergency support, while continuing discussions with Lower Columbia CAP about their proposal. For the emergency support shelter, James said the historical county contribution has been roughly $100,000 for operations plus a county match program in recent years that matched up to $50,000 of private donations; she asked whether the board wished to continue the $50,000 match. Commissioners indicated a preference to retain the match incentive.

Housing programs: James explained the county’s ongoing support for Phoenix House (case management for residents exiting inpatient treatment) and described a separate, one‑time startup request tied to Sunrise Village leasing operations. Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington had included a $60,000 startup staffing request in its earlier construction proposal; James said the construction funds were approved previously and that this $60,000 operational startup request would now be presented for approval as the project transitions to lease‑up.

Funding and billing notes: James said coordinated entry contracts are reimbursement‑based and the department intends to bill the state consolidated contract or other appropriate funding streams for eligible expenses; the county historically uses document recording (doc) fees for emergency support shelter operations. She noted that the county returned an unspent portion of some public health funds in prior years and that staff have discussed how to use the newly allocated foundational public health services funds.

Next steps: Amendment 1 to the consolidated state contract will be on the commissioners’ agenda next week; James said staff are prepared to schedule the coordinated‑entry and shelter contracts for formal action after addressing questions with Lower Columbia CAP and other providers. She offered to invite providers to present detailed updates to the board if commissioners want more information before a contract vote.