Olympia approves funding for low-rent housing organization

The Olympia City Council on Tuesday, October 18, approved more than $400,000 in grants to Homes First to purchase five single-family homes and add two accessory dwelling units to their current homes in Lacey.

Homes First is a Washington nonprofit organization that supports people who experienced domestic violence, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and folks experiencing homelessness.

The organization purchases homes, renting them to low-income and extremely low-income people throughout Thurston County.

According to Home Programs Manager Darian Lightfoot, this is the second home fund award from Olympia under the Home Fund program. The first was granted to Family Support Center with $1.1 million.

Under the 2022 Home Fund grant agreement, the city will provide funding of $410,714.00 to Homes First.

How about Lacey?

Mayor Cheryl Selby expressed her concerns about Lacey's alleged decision to pull the money from the housing project to fund a new police station.

"My concern is with the ADUs (accessory dwelling unit) going to go on [Homes First-owned] property in Lacey… that is a big investment in Lacey that we are putting Olympia Home Fund dollars that our community has taxed themselves to do," Selby shared.

Lightfoot said Homes First has funds from the state to make up the full funding package for the project. Homes First owns two accessory dwelling units in Lacey.

According to Selby, "We have an unsigned commitment from Lacey to use some of their ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) dollars that they will put into this pot that we were already putting millions for a new permanent supportive housing project."

Olympia’s mayor noted that at one point, Lacey committed dollars to buy a hotel that would shut down for permanent supportive housing. "But recently, the staff recommended pulling those dollars to fund a new police station."

"I am really saddened by that choice, and I hope they can make a different decision. They have not approved that yet, but I hope they can at least help with housing in their community," Selby commented.

Lightfoot said she also communicated with Soucoup that homes should be inside the Olympia city limits.

"However, having the correct home that has the lot size that fits, that can build an ADU on, that is close to a bus route, or support in addition of an ADU is just tricky… they have identified two they already own in Lacey for this project,"  said Lightfoot.

According to Lightfoot, the Home Fund Board, which oversees the Olympia Home Fund expenditures and other resources, shared the same sentiment with Selby. However, the board members were supportive of moving the project forward. 

"They have the same sentiment as you. Housing in our community is the most important. Ideally, the funds would remain in houses in Olympia city limits, except for the ones they identified," Lightfoot said.

All council members expressed support for Selby's comment.

"I think you know it's no secret that this has been the case for years. But I do think that it's worth the investment,” councilmember Dontae Payne commented. “The lack of resources in the city of Lacey brings these people to our city limits to seek services and shelter.”

Ultimately this decision does benefit our city as well to support homeless people with this effort," concluded Payne.

"I want to clarify they do have the resources to take care of people. They just do not provide them," Selby said of Lacey.