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Council recommends $440,000 in short-term funding to keep Quinn Street Village open
Summary
The Regional Housing Council recommended awarding $440,000 from local HOME fund over-collections to the City of Olympia to cover Quinn Street Village operations through June 30, 2026, averting an immediate displacement of roughly 100 residents. Members said the award is a bridge and asked staff to pursue longer-term sustainability solutions.
The Thurston County Regional Housing Council on March 25 recommended that the county award $440,000 to the City of Olympia to cover operational costs at Quinn Street Village through June 30, 2026.
Kim Conra, the City of Olympia's homeless response manager, described Quinn Street as a 100-unit tiny-home village that originally received migration-site residents and was built out with power, heat, and sanitation. She said annual operating costs with 24/7 staffing run well into the millions and that the city faces an immediate $440,000 shortfall for operations through June. "We are at this financial cliff," a council member noted during the discussion.
Staff said $440,000 is available from 2025 local HOME fund over-collections and can be used as bridge funding; the council moved and passed a recommendation to the county for a contract award. Zelda, speaking during discussion, urged caution about long-term sustainability: "This money gets us to June. After that, we're looking at a much harder conversation," she said, adding the council must prepare a clear plan if bridge funding will be used.
Council members emphasized that the award prevents an immediate return to homelessness for about 100 residents and described it as a necessary short-term action while staff and advisory boards pursue intermediate- and long-term funding options. The motion carried by voice/eyes vote and will go to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners for final approval.
