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Cove House reports new debt-free sixplex and rising shelter use; seeks possible second building
Summary
Cove House told the council it completed a six-unit shelter building funded largely with ARPA and donated labor/materials, sheltered 70 residents in 2024, and plans a possible second building to add a men’s dorm and laundromat.
Brian Hawkins, executive director of Cove House Homeless Shelter, thanked council for ARPA funding and described the completion and immediate occupancy of a new six-unit building and an earlier duplex. He said the funds the city provided enabled two buildings to be completed and that the project came in substantially under typical construction cost because the primary builder and many subcontractors donated labor or provided materials at reduced cost.
Hawkins said Cove House sheltered 70 residents from Jan. 1, 2024 to the present (six families and 50 individuals) and expects the sixplex to be fully occupied by late February or early March after volunteers completed furniture and move-ins. He described the units as modestly furnished with utilities and services provided in-house, and said the shelter limits single-adult occupancy to four people in a unit that contains bunk beds so that units remain suitable for families.
Hawkins outlined a potential follow-up project: replacing an aging on-site office building with a two-story structure that would include a small laundromat and storage on the ground floor and a second-floor men’s dorm for about 10 men; the duplex would remain focused on single women and the sixplex on family housing. He invited councilmembers to tour the property and said Cove House would prepare a plaque to thank the council.
Why it matters
The shelter expansion increases the city’s capacity to house people experiencing homelessness and provides a base for partner services (food, clothing, referrals). Cove House reported local partnerships with nonprofits and businesses to support residents and program operations.
Staff follow-up
Cove House will coordinate visits for council members and continue operational work to fill and furnish the units. Hawkins said he would speak further with Development Services on the feasibility of the second building and potential funding approaches.
