Thursday, October 1, 2026
.jpeg)
The Thurston Regional Housing Council (RHC) approved the renewal of 49 homeless services contracts at a special meeting on Monday, June 22.
The renewal of contracts ensures continued funding for shelter, outreach and rental assistance services across Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm and surrounding communities.
The decision followed a lengthy discussion about transparency, reporting, and whether the council should pursue an independent third-party review of its processes.
No formal action was taken to hire a consultant, but members agreed that county staff and Tumwater representatives will meet ahead of the next RHC meeting to develop recommendations for improving how information is organized and shared.
Service providers urged the council to avoid delays, warning any interruption in funding could quickly affect people experiencing homelessness.
Tyler Gundel, Executive Director of Olympia Mutual Aid Partners, said county-funded contracts support shelter, outreach and medical services across the region, reaching hundreds of residents each year.
Gundel said the organization’s outreach program supported nearly 700 people in accessing services in the past year and connected dozens to shelter, housing and treatment.
“These vital services can’t be disrupted," Gundel said.
Tumwater officials raised questions about how funding for homeless services is tracked, reported and communicated to the public.
Tumwater Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff said the intent was to improve transparency and accountability, not delay funding decisions.
“The goal is objective information, accountability, and a stronger public record documenting rationales for funding decisions and outcomes achieved," Dahlhoff said.
Meghan Sullivan, a Tumwater City Council and RHC member, said the questions raised had developed over time through input from city staff, local leadership, her own inquiries, and public feedback focused on understanding how funds are allocated, total funding levels and program outcomes.
She said she supported exploring third-party assistance to improve communication, transparency, accountability, and performance tracking so that the public can better understand the impact of the work.
Lacey City Council and RHC member Nicolas Dunning said concerns about accountability, trust and transparency were not new, and had been raised by former local officials.
“There is a clear breakdown between cities, elected officials and most importantly, the public,” Dunning said. “There is no accountability, there’s no trust.”
He said Lacey supported continued funding for homeless services, but also backed an independent audit or third-party review to examine organizational and structural issues.
“We need someone impartial who can help us see what we are doing wrong from the inside,” said Dunning, arguing an external assessment could improve efficiency and restore public confidence.
Heidi Barrientes, a nonvoting member of RHC, said she was concerned a third-party consulting firm could be expensive and potentially divert resources away from direct service programs funded through the contracts.
Several members noted organizations receiving funding through the contracts are already subject to regular county, state and federal audits, and monitoring requirements. They also questioned whether the issue was oversight itself or how existing information is communicated.
Other members emphasized the importance of including advisory boards and individuals with lived experience in any future discussions about system improvements.
No formal action was taken on a third-party review.
19 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
The_Armed_Gardener
Junkies will die, and pockets will be lined, and names will be on record.
Friday, June 26 Report this
Tanker1982
Elected officials make the decisions. Any program should be brought before these officials on THEIR timeline, NOT the RHC, or any other organization for that matter. It is pathetic that officials cannot question metrics because we must spend now. Change the decision timelines so that elected officials rule. There have been 2 decisions in 2 weeks where time for the recipients outweighs elected officials concerns. I think totaling $20 million. The advisory boards, not elected, say all is well. So look at king county and the loss of almost $25 million. You think it is not happening here? There must be firm , thurston county auditing for every NGO . And I mean tough as heck
Friday, June 26 Report this
JW
The transient leverage bar is applied, NGOs are enriched, and politicians are set up to be re-elected. The losers? The taxpayers---both monetarily and with their safety as the criminals on the streets continue to prey upon us all.
Friday, June 26 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
In the 60's, the hippies and homeless got drafted; hence, training and teaching. Then we did not have the problem. You can not give away enough free stuff.
Friday, June 26 Report this
hptrillium
I am glad that the RHC renewed the contracts for homeless services that are so vital to the homeless. It seems there are plenty of audits of the providers. As the article said the problem must be the communication. Thanks to the service providers who do a very hard job with low pay.
Saturday, June 27 Report this
The_Armed_Gardener
The question is, why is there a political movement to profit from misery? These people you pretend to save, yet destroy, have families. And in their destruction, there is your profit from the globalists that you shake off as a joke. The joke is death, and it is on your hands, and you are public and on record.
Saturday, June 27 Report this
Boatyarddog
The_Armed_Gardener profit from misery? These funds help numerous folks looking to live and only that. Some want more help than others. They ALL deserve that much.
Saturday, June 27 Report this
Boatyarddog
JW. These folks have a right to be where they are, do not pretend to know why they are there. The Funds are better used on DOWN AND OUT people, than Say the Port of Olympia, subsidizing Weyerhauser to Keep LONGSHORE WAGES coming in. THEY DO NOT LIVE CLOSE TO THE BONE AND HANDOUT TO HANDOUT. THE MARINE TERMINAL BILKS T.C. MILLIONS A YEAR. YOU HELP PAY THAT WASTE COMPLAIN TO THEM.
Saturday, June 27 Report this
JW
I'd rather the money be lit on fire than used on these people. They have no right to be there and should be forcibly removed.
Saturday, June 27 Report this
HappyOlympian
Scam City. Boooooooo
Sunday, June 28 Report this
Mugwump
Homeless Services Framework
1. Intensive Social Work
Deploy dedicated social workers to establish trust, assess needs, and coordinate services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
2. Comprehensive Assessment
Screen all individuals for substance use disorders and untreated mental illness to determine the most appropriate care pathway.
3. Housing Support — General Population
For individuals whose homelessness is not complicated by substance use or mental illness, provide direct housing subsidies or placement into permanent or transitional housing.
4. Clinical Intervention — Complex Needs
For individuals experiencing substance use disorders and/or untreated mental illness, provide structured inpatient care, with compulsory admission where clinically and legally appropriate.
5. Ongoing Case Management
Maintain continuous social work support and individualized case management to track progress, prevent relapse into homelessness, and connect individuals with long-term community resources.
Operational Principle: Public Delivery Over Contractor Use
All services should be delivered by public sector or nonprofit staff rather than for-profit contractors. Contractor-driven models create structural incentives to prolong service engagement and maximize billing rather than achieve client outcomes. To protect both program integrity and the dignity of those being served, delivery should be insulated from profit motives.
Sunday, June 28 Report this
Boatyarddog
Well, its already being burned through by The Money pit. Port of Olympia. Close the marine Terminal and save the money for renew of the Local Environment. Longshore Labor get moved around. The Termimal is A Rampant Abuser of Funds needed for Services for People of all kinds, but is used instead to prop up Weyerhauser at this Remote Location for A Business contractor that Loses millions yearly.
Sunday, June 28 Report this
CobraCommander
Honestyandrealityguy jfc are you suggesting we bring back... the draft?
Monday, June 29 Report this
ViaLocal
I'd much rather give my tax money to THESE organizations rather than having them continue to line the pockets of Elon Musk or Donald Trump
Monday, June 29 Report this
Southsoundguy
Homeless-industrial complex
Monday, June 29 Report this
Shushu
All this spending by non elected non quailified idiots is the definition of taxation without representation.
Tuesday, June 30 Report this
CobraCommander
Shushu if you like that, I've got to show you the tariff numbers LOL
Tuesday, June 30 Report this
Boatyarddog
Shushu. And WHO did you think does All this work? Elected Representatives? Very few, some are really on the ball and want to help E. CLOUSE IS one of the leaders, and does her job ++. You Want to help or just Whine about how you don't really understand what or How This work gets done. More Elected positions just Politically Slows the Work down.
Wednesday, July 1 Report this
Yeti1981
@Boatyarddog, I think it's important to separate the Port's mission from individual policy debates. The Port of Olympia is a strategic public asset whose value extends far beyond its annual financial statements. Looking only at the marine terminal's accounting results misses the broader picture. Governmental accounting requires long-lived infrastructure assets to be depreciated over time. Depreciation is a real accounting expense, but it is not the same thing as cash leaving the organization each year. As a result, the financial statements alone don't fully reflect the economic value the Port creates for the region.
More importantly, the Port's mission is not simply to generate a profit. It exists to promote economic development, preserve critical transportation infrastructure, support family-wage jobs, and serve the public interest. The Port of Olympia occupies a unique niche in Puget Sound. Unlike Seattle and Tacoma, which are largely optimized for containerized cargo, Olympia specializes in breakbulk cargo. That flexibility allows the Port to efficiently handle oversized equipment, forest products, heavy machinery, project cargo, and other specialized shipments that larger container terminals often cannot accommodate as efficiently. Those activities support longshore workers, trucking companies, rail operators, local suppliers, manufacturers, exporters, and numerous small businesses throughout Thurston County. Much of that economic activity never appears as revenue on the Port's financial statements because it occurs throughout the regional economy rather than on the Port's books.
Beyond economics, the Port is also critical infrastructure. Its marine terminal, airport, marina, industrial properties, and transportation connections provide capabilities that become invaluable during natural disasters, emergency response, and military or humanitarian logistics. Once infrastructure like that is lost, it is extraordinarily difficult and expensive to replace.
Rather than asking whether the Port should exist, the better conversation is how we continue building on these assets, expanding cargo opportunities, strengthening partnerships, attracting new investment, and ensuring the Port continues delivering value to the community for decades to come.
Wednesday, July 22 Report this