Walla Walla County presents draft five-year homeless housing plan to College Place council

Walla Walla County Department of Community Health staff presented a draft five-year homeless housing plan to the College Place City Council on Sept. 23, describing a countywide strategy to coordinate prevention, shelter, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing and to align funding with measurable outcomes.

"That did account for 197 people experiencing homelessness in Walla Walla County on that one day in January," said Becca Finkas, senior homeless housing coordinator, summarizing the HUD point-in-time count. She added that a Commerce snapshot combining multiple administrative sources identified 1,127 people experiencing homelessness in January and that the total rises to roughly 1,600 when including people who are doubled up or couch-surfing.

Presenters said the plan responds to state requirements and local priorities. "The plan will help us prioritize the use of funds, make sure that we're aligning investments and strategies with community values and priorities, and ensure our local response is coordinated and data-driven," Sam Jackal, human services manager, said.

The draft identifies recurring themes from focus groups and providers: insufficient case management, staff burnout, landlord engagement challenges, limited aftercare supports, behavioral health access gaps, and a shortage of affordable housing units. Presenters emphasized that resolving homelessness will require both capital for housing and ongoing service dollars: "We really need more local funding to leverage federal and state funding," Finkas said.

County staff outlined five objectives that mirror the state's framework and described locally defined actions for each objective, including publishing an annual homeless housing fund and performance report, recruiting a homeless housing data analyst, strengthening the provider workforce, improving coordinated entry and prioritization for people with the highest barriers, and expanding access to permanent supportive housing.

Staff invited Council and the public to a Homeless Housing Community Forum (presentation and panel Sept. 30 at Whitman College Olin Hall and a repeat session the following morning) and announced a month-long public comment period in October. The work group will incorporate community feedback, ask the Council on Housing for a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners and aims to submit the plan to the Washington State Department of Commerce by its December deadline.

Council members pressed presenters on practical next steps. Council member Lopez asked whether people who are currently unhoused would accept affordable units if they were available; presenters said data, landlord engagement and supportive services all affect placement outcomes. Council member Petersen asked whether a single "lever" exists; staff said there is no single fix and highlighted investments in data capacity and the county's participation in the Built for Zero continuous-improvement initiative as tactics to focus limited resources.

Next steps: public forums and an October public comment period will inform revisions; the County intends to seek adoption and submit the finalized plan this winter.