County to release $1.8 million homeless-housing RFA, board asks for clearer performance data

The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners voted 3–0 on March 23 to release the 2026–2028 homeless housing and assistance Request for Applications (RFA), proposing $1,804,593 for year one awards.

Sam Jackall of the Department of Community Health said the funds combine local document-recording fees and the consolidated homeless grant, and that the RFA will fund prevention, coordinated entry, inclement weather shelter, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and housing and essential needs. “We generally do see the same amount of dollars in that Consolidated Homeless grant, and we are monitoring pretty closely the document recording fees,” Jackall said.

Several commissioners voiced support for the RFA but pressed for better data and standardized reporting. One commissioner said statewide spending had not reduced homelessness and urged tighter definitions and improved local performance metrics so the county can target reductions in need and track provider outcomes. Jackall said the RFA was being aligned with the consolidated homeless grant award cycle, and that standardizing definitions in the RFA is intended to improve data quality and performance oversight.

The board approved the release of the RFA and instructed staff to monitor year-two fund availability and tighten reporting definitions to improve performance measurement. Staff noted year-two awards will depend on fund availability and performance under the first-year allocations.