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Housing, Health & Human Services reports expansion of recovery services, Nordic cottages progress and funding risks
Summary
Poulsbo's Housing, Health & Human Services told council the Recovery Resource Center served about 200 unique people in 2024, has launched a recovery cafe and is coordinating housing and treatment partnerships while several supporting grants near their mid‑2025 expirations.
Poulsbo’s Housing, Health & Human Services (H3) department updated the City Council on March 5 about recovery services, the Nordic Cottages affordable-housing project for older adults, and the department’s near-term funding and program priorities.
Director Kim (H3) said H3 helped about 200 unique individuals at the Recovery Resource Center in 2024 and already assisted more than 100 unique people in the first months of 2025; staff reported 80–90 visits per month in 2024. The department launched a community “recovery cafe” in February designed to provide meals with job training and recovery support rather than a simple meal program. H3 also described partnerships with the Suquamish Tribe, St. Michael’s Medical Center and local service providers to coordinate an opioid response, nursing services and referrals.
Kim said the Nordic Cottages project — eight units of permanent affordable housing for older adults at roughly 30% area median income — is progressing ahead of schedule; Housing Kitsap will manage waiting lists and related occupancy criteria. H3 has awarded an intergovernmental STEP (Shelters, Transitional, Emergency, Permanent supportive) planning grant and selected Eco Northwest as a consultant to prepare a STEP needs assessment and prioritization strategy; staff expect a report in May.
Director Kim cautioned council about grant and federal-funding uncertainty. H3 received grants from the Washington State Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association, the Health Care Authority and the Olympic Community of Health that expire in mid-2025, and many Recovery Center clients are Medicaid recipients. Kim and staff said they are pursuing extensions and new grants, working on a sustainability plan and will report back on cost-savings and outcomes. The council approved using remaining contract funds to continue Spanish-translation services and discussed adding funding for those services through a future budget amendment.
H3 said it plans to return with a STEP needs assessment in May, refine the sustainability plan for the Recovery Center, and develop outcome measures that link center participation to criminal-justice and jail-cost reductions.
