Thurston County commissioners go over rental aid and repair contracts

Rental aid and repair contracts between Thurston County and local organizations are a step closer to being finalized.

The contracts were reviewed at the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9. 

One contract is with Community Youth Services and Family Support Center of South Sound. The contract calls for the allocation of the remaining balance of $92,940.69 in Local HOME funds.

Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department (PHSS) Director Jennifer Freiheit said the balance must be used for rental assistance. 

The department is proposing to split the money evenly between Community Youth Services and Family Support Center of South Sound to continue rental assistance programs. 

“Both agencies have indicated that there remains unmet rent assistance needs in the populations that they serve and that they can quickly spend these funds,” Freiheit said. 

Thurston County Manager Leonard Hernandez said department staff are preparing an e-brief on the issue. 

The document, he said, is going to highlight contract enhancements made during the past year and may be brought forward at a work session for closer review. 

“I appreciate the work that they’ve done to fortify the county’s position, and they have some ideas about additional contract changes that they’ll explore with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and continue to work through,” Hernandez said. 

Housing safety, repairs 

The board was also updated on a $103,568.10 contract with the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to modernize the elevator at Fleetwood Apartments on 7th Avenue SE in Olympia that provides low-income housing. 

The elevator, installed in 1990, has had repeated failures and is considered at risk of breaking down. 

Freiheit said  LIHI’s application was reviewed through the Regional Housing Council’s Opportunity Fund, which reserves money for urgent and unforeseen needs outside the council’s annual funding cycle. 

The county’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board endorsed the elevator project contract on July 17, followed by unanimous approval from the Regional Housing Council on July 23. The contract would be paid from the Local HOME fund. 

Lastly, the  board discussed a $300,000 contract with Rebuilding Together Thurston County for its Critical Home Repair Program.  

The nonprofit’s application was submitted in February and was reviewed under the county’s request for proposals for affordable housing capital projects.  

The county’s advisory board recommended approval on April 9, with the Thurston County Regional Housing Council also endorsing the request. The BOCC gave preliminary approval in June, pending completion of contract documents. 

The award would allow the group to assist about 25 low-income households with urgent repairs. 

Board Chair Tye Menser said after a site visit that the nonprofit addresses homes on the edge of being uninhabitable. 

“It’s basically saving housing from falling into disrepair and people becoming homeless,” he said. 

Commissioner Carolina Mejia asked if the group coordinates with Veterans Affairs given its history of serving veteran households. Freiheit said she would follow up. 

Menser added that RTTC relies on donations and volunteer labor. 

“They get basically like Home Depot and places like that (to) donate the supplies, and then the labor is donated through volunteers,” he said.

The contracts are expected to come before the board at a meeting on Sept. 16.