Recognizing that persistent houselessness poses a significant threat to the public health and safety of the entire community, the Olympia City Council declared a continuing public health emergency related to this issue.
Since its first adoption in July 2018, Olympia has extended the declaration every six months, but on Tuesday, the city council unanimously approved the ordinance extended for a year.
Director of Housing and Homeless Response Darian Lightfoot said the city has worked extensively around homeless response.
It includes establishing a Home Fund, which allowed the city to advance permanent supportive housing projects. Lightfoot said these projects created almost 200 temporary housing units to remove people from the elements.
She also mentioned the formation of a Regional Housing Council, which allowed the city to collaborate with regional partners and, as a result, created a regional home fund that accelerated their efforts in addressing homelessness.
"There is still a desperate need remaining in this declaration. It is important for the work that we are looking forward to," Lightfoot said, adding that the resolution will allow them to continue to address the urgency.
The housing director said the declaration brings important priority and focus on the city’s work addressing homelessness by allowing it to streamline several internal city processes efficiently.
For example, Lightfoot said they were able to establish the Franz Anderson Tiny Home Village within just a few months. She said the declaration helped expedite the Public Works processes and engaged with contractors in a way that was facilitated by the declaration.
At the city council meeting, Lightfoot presented the ordinance, which enumerated concerns about public health and safety, sanitation, welfare, mental and physical health, and environmental degradation due to widespread unsanctioned camping.
"The city council finds such conditions still exist and determines it to be in the best interest of the residents of the City of Olympia to extend the ordinance declaring a public health emergency due to houselessness for an additional 12-month period," stated the resolution.
The resolution also directed the city manager and staff to carry out duties necessary to mitigate the effects of the emergency.
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AugieH
So, when does an "emergency" become the new normal? Terming something an "emergency" implies that it will eventually end. I don't see homelessness ending anytime soon(er or later).
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Report this
BobJacobs
The public should be told exactly what this resolution does. What normal processes are being skipped or truncated and what are the consequences?
Thursday, October 5, 2023 Report this
YurmaZahow
If I went to a health care practitioner with an ailment that had been there for 5 years, it would be diagnosed as a "Chronic condition" not an "Emergency".
Thursday, October 5, 2023 Report this
Claire
The "houseless" problem is rife with grant-grifters and Shitty of Olympia "progressive" staff. Mandatory drug rehabilitation will help, along with enforcement of existing laws.
Thursday, October 5, 2023 Report this
JW
A self-created and self-perpetuating "emergency" fueled by endless streams of taxpayer money shuffled to non-profit organizations with zero incentive to solve the "problem" lest the flow of money stop.
Thursday, October 5, 2023 Report this
TonyW33
A year from now, how many downtown businesses will have failed because of the awful conditions at their front doors. I know several that are only still there because they are stuck in their leases or unable to sell their buildings. Olympia is committing suicide one business at a time. Olympia's governance is a criminal enterprise and a poor one at that.
Thursday, October 5, 2023 Report this
bwhatcher
I have worked in homeless services for over 10 years, through SideWalk, a non-profit in Olympia, and now through Olympia MAPs. When meeting people face to face who have become homeless, what you see and hear are people with many reasons for loosing housing (like loss of work, illness, disability, mental instability) but mostly it comes down to increased rent they are unable to pay. Many seniors who have lived in the same apartment for years with fixed incomes are forced out. Seeing people in their 70's and 80's living in cars or tents is heartbreaking. Until we see some solution to affordable housing, meeting the needs of people with limited income or who have lost their ability to make an income, I see no end in sight. This being said, I appreciate all the efforts the city had made to address this problem.
Friday, October 6, 2023 Report this