Snohomish County council hears New Start Center plans; moves related contracts to Jan. 28 for final consideration

Snohomish County Council received presentations Tuesday on proposed operating and Home ARP contracts for two New Start Centers — one in Everett to be operated by the Salvation Army and one in Edmonds by the YWCA of Seattle, King and Snohomish Counties — and unanimously agreed to place the related motions on the Jan. 28, 2026 agenda for final action.

County human services staff described the New Start Centers as temporary bridge housing designed to provide intensive on-site services that help residents transition from homelessness into permanent housing. Mary Jane Bravilovich, director of human services, introduced the site operators and said the centers will pair shelter with behavioral-health and employment services.

The Salvation Army’s administrator, Captain Kristin Pankhauser (transcript spelling also appears as “Frankhauser”), said the Everett site will serve chronically homeless individuals with on-site mental-health, sobriety and employment supports intended to end chronic homelessness in the county. Matthew Garrett, with the Salvation Army’s northwest division, told the council the Everett facility is expected to have about…