Lacey residents want more scrutiny of Franz Anderson housing agreement

Lacey residents are asking the Lacey City Council to examine the Franz Anderson regional housing agreement more closely before making a decision on the issue next week. 

The request emerged during public comment at a city council work session on Tuesday, Sept. 8, with local residents registering concerns about regional homelessness policy and housing oversight. 

The city council is expected to consider the regional housing agreement at a meeting on Sept. 15. 

Housing input 

Stephanie Scott, a Lacey resident who supports people experiencing homelessness, asked the council to include individuals with lived experience when making related decisions. 

“When you make decisions about shelter, supportive housing, eligibility, providers, and transition from homelessness, you need to hear directly from the people who are experiencing these systems,” Scott said. “There are already mechanisms to do this if you don’t know where to begin.” 

Scott named the Homeless Services Advisory Board and Lived Experience Housing Steering Committee as options for input. 

A proposed income change at Franz Anderson could alter who has access to limited supportive housing, according to Scott.

Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) proposed 35 units for households earning up to 30 percent of area median income (AMI) and 35 units up to 50 percent AMI. Another unit is planned for an on-site manager. 

Scott presented other options for the council, including increasing investment in existing supportive housing services to help people transition into permanent housing or working with another provider. 

“You could continue working with LIHI with real accountability, set measurable performance standards, require regular reporting, establish consequences when expectations aren’t met,” Scott said. 

Scott supported continuing a regional housing-first approach, but called for greater provider accountability and participation from people with lived experience. 

Maple Court questions 

Local resident Kathy Martin raised separate questions about LIHI’s Maple Court shelter in written comments read by a representative. 

Martin wrote that she supports finding a solution to homelessness in Thurston County, but opposed committing more money without information showing how the program is performing.

Her comments sought information about how many people have been housed at Maple Court and how many have transitioned to permanent housing. 

She also asked about rehabilitation, training and job placement programs, staffing, employee turnover and management. 

“In other words, How is this program working(?), and how has the 4.5 million plus dollars already allocated been spent?” Martin wrote. “And how is the additional 1.5 going to be spent?” 

LIHI has identified a $1.5 million funding need for Maple Court’s planned conversion to permanent supportive housing from an enhanced shelter.

Martin said she could not find the information on LIHI’s website and was unable to reach the organization by phone because its mailbox was full. She said she also sent an email seeking a response. 

Martin recommended the council take no vote on the issue until those questions are answered.