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Cowlitz County to submit CJTA local plan and weigh consolidated homeless grant projects including tenant‑based rental assistance

Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners · April 13, 2026

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Summary

Health and Human Services presented a CJTA local plan approved by the CJTA panel and proposed use of consolidated homeless grant funds for projects including Janice House trafficking‑related housing, Faithful Servants transitional homes, Family Promise tenant‑based rental assistance ($53,000 request), and therapeutic courts case‑management support.

Cowlitz County Health and Human Services presented a locally approved Criminal‑Justice Treatment Account (CJTA) plan and a set of proposed projects for consolidated homeless grant funding that the department asked the board to consider.

Gina James said the CJTA local plan—required under the county's contract with the state and approved by the county's CJTA panel (which includes the prosecutor, jail, public defense and Judge Fawcett)—is ready for board approval and signature so it can be submitted to the state. James said CJTA funds have historically supported therapeutic courts and that the county plans to direct allowable CJTA funding toward services this year.

On the consolidated homeless grant, James outlined several projects that the state gave tentative approval to fund pending additional information. Those projects include a youth and young‑adult housing project associated with Janice House to assist trafficking‑affected youth, startup funds and a program vehicle for Faithful Servants transitional homes, and a potential short‑term eviction‑prevention or tenant‑based rental assistance program through Family Promise. James said the Family Promise request would be for $53,000 to fund a one‑year tenant‑based rental assistance program primarily used to help families transition from shelter into stable housing; the program would operate on a reimbursement basis and previously had City of Longview support.

James noted that grants are reimbursement‑based and often temporary, so any ongoing commitments would require attention to contract end dates and sustainability. She proposed inviting Family Promise, Janice House, Faithful Servants and Community House back to present more detail about needs and outcomes if commissioners want further information.

Next steps: James will collect more detail on the projects, invite the organizations to brief the board, and return with options for funding and contract language. The board did not take immediate funding action during the briefing.