Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County outlines draft 2025'1, 5-year homeless housing plan, cites robust public input
Summary
Thurston County public health and housing staff presented a draft 2025-2030 five-year homeless housing plan framework to commissioners, describing required Department of Commerce elements, public engagement results and next steps toward a December 2025 submission.
Thurston County public health and housing officials presented the county's draft five-year homeless housing plan (2025'2030) at the Aug. 13 Board of County Commissioners work session and described public engagement, the plan's required elements and next steps to submit a final plan to the Washington State Department of Commerce.
The plan is a funding requirement tied to Department of Commerce guidance, Jen Freitheit, director of Public Health and Social Services, said. Tom Webster, senior program manager for the Office of Housing and Homelessness Prevention, told commissioners the plan must document current service levels, funding sources and capital projects, estimate emergency and permanent housing needs, prioritize capital projects, and record the public engagement process.
Why it matters: The plan frames how Commerce-funded homeless housing dollars and capital projects are prioritized in Thurston County and serves as a planning "North Star" for the Regional Housing Council and the homeless services advisory process.
What staff reported: The county said it exceeded Commerce's minimum engagement requirements by running two public surveys and targeted listening sessions. The county reported 557 total responses to a public survey, including 94 respondents who reported lived experience with homelessness in the past 10 years, and 157 responses from the homeless service provider workforce. Staff also conducted listening sessions with tiny-home villages and other front-line providers.
"This is a requirement of our funding from the Department of Commerce," Tom Webster said. The plan must also address five Commerce objectives: equitable and transparent crisis response; strengthening the homeless service workforce; preventing episodes of homelessness; prioritizing assistance to those at greatest risk; and seeking to house everyone in stable settings that meet their needs.
Strategies and priorities: Staff presented draft objectives and strategies under each Commerce objective, including improving system transparency and data, fostering collaborative learning among providers, optimizing prevention resources, building landlord partnerships to increase access to market-rate units, and maintaining and expanding a continuum of housing options. Jackie, the county's homeless response program manager, said the team sought to avoid a "check-box" plan and instead produce a community-driven strategy.
Next steps and deadlines: Staff said a draft will be posted for a 30-day public comment period this fall, a draft will be submitted to Commerce for contractor review in September, and the county aims to present the plan to the Regional Housing Council in October and return to the full commission for approval in November. The plan is due to the Department of Commerce by December 2025.
Ending note: Commissioners asked about metrics, reporting and how Commerce monitors outcomes; staff said the plan will include tasks with responsible parties, timelines and annual reporting to Commerce.
