Thurston Regional Housing Council is expecting a funding opportunity for Thurston County's Right-of-Way initiative following state budget allocations of $45 million for encampment programs.
At the Wednesday, April 19, Regional Housing Council meeting, Tom Webster, Housing and Homeless Prevention Manager, said the House and Senate have allocated $45 million for the Right-of-Way (ROW) program.
"We were told by (the Department of) Commerce to anticipate that would result in about $5.5 million allocation to the Thurston County region to allocate between projects," he said.
The current cycle of state ROW funding, designated initially as one-time funding, runs through 2025.
Local officials, including Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne, said ongoing support is important to preserve the progress and prevent people from returning to encampments along Interstate 5 (I-5) and other major corridors.
"We are at the tail end of that three-year funding period," said Payne at the Olympia City Council meeting on April 8.
Payne joined regional leaders, including Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan, Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder and Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Chair Tye Menser, in a meeting with the Governor's Office to advocate for sustained investment.
He said they are asking the state for funding.
"We know that if we don't continue to fund this, the folks that we have removed from those sites could end up back out. We need to make sure that doesn't happen and roll back all of the progress that we have made," Payne said.
According to Webster, the county is preparing a detailed, two-page background document for the governor's office outlining current operations, the number of people housed, and potential consequences if funds are not renewed.
Webster added that Thurston County is also collaborating with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to draft a joint letter to state leaders advocating for the program's continuation.
Payne emphasized his intention to provide the governor's office with a detailed list specifying the number of people who would potentially return to the streets if state funding for the ROW initiative is not continued. He wants to illustrate what it will look like if funding is discontinued.
Thurston County is among five counties selected to address homeless encampments located on state-managed highways and freeways through the ROW initiative. Local sites include I-5 interchanges at Lilly Road, Pacific Avenue, City Center, Sleater-Kinney Road and Wheeler Avenue.
The initiative, designed to relocate individuals from these sites into more stable housing, provides targeted funding to address encampment challenges.
The state provided the funds to local jurisdictions to address the right-of-way encampments for short-term, temporary housing and long-term housing.
The current funding cycle runs from 2022 to 2025, with the Washington State Department of Commerce overseeing the program under the direction of the Governor's Office.
In a previous housing council press release, the ROW initiative offered multi-faceted support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including shelter and housing assistance for people relocating from state highway encampments.
The program provides funding for up to 24 shelter beds, and partners with a local domestic violence service provider to offer hotel accommodations for individuals fleeing violent situations.
Special provisions are made for families with children, with the initiative supporting rapid rehousing and hotel services for up to seven families.
In the summer 2023, two shelter projects — Maple Court and Franz Anderson Tiny Home Village — were completed. It opened to support people relocating from encampments.
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JW
Cool. More money down the rat hole of drug and garbage infested tiny home towns and trashed apartment buildings full of drugs but lacking in any accountability. Let's keep the gravy train of tax money coming!!
Monday, April 14 Report this
wolfmanner
Exactly JW. Wasted cause.
Monday, April 14 Report this
Boatyarddog
At least we're NOT spending on pompous entities, with subhuman comments.
Or The Republicans.
Monday, April 14 Report this
Olympiansince64
So, with some basic math: $5,500,000.00 divided by $75,000.00 is 73. Most people live on less than 75,000 per year (estimating) . Multiply 73 times 3 (three bedroom house) , and you get 219. So we could easily buy or build 3 bedroom homes and house 219 people very comfortably for a year, all inclusive. With the hundreds millions being spent every year, how is this still an issue? Someone needs to follow the money and hold someone accountable! We only provided 24 shelter beds! This is criminal! Maybe the mayor could address that?!
Monday, April 14 Report this
jimLacey
"We know that if we don't continue to fund this, the folks that we have removed from those sites could end up back out. We need to make sure that doesn't happen and roll back all of the progress that we have made," Payne said.
So if we don't raise taxes and spend another $5M, all those people we helped over the last few years are going to move back into the camps. What progress exactly have we made?
Monday, April 14 Report this
JulesJames
Trying to fix policy failure with more and more and more taxpayer money. Illegal camping needs to be illegal again. Not after everyone who wants a government- built shack or NGO-run flop house motel gets one. We are encouraging tent people, not housing them. Spend the $4.5 million on more law enforcement.
Monday, April 14 Report this
saratonen
Here’s some data:
Health care spending among unsheltered adults averaged $32,331 per person per year—3.4 times that of the $9648 for sheltered adults.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9198173/
For a better understanding of the debate, you can read:
https://www.britannica.com/procon/homelessness-debate
I personally feel the data is better for the housing first model and the those against it are using gut feelings and theory to guide their judgement.
Here are some examples of good data points:
In Maine, Housing First policies cut the average public cost of homelessness in half. When housed, the costs of police contact were cut by 66% as were ambulance transportation costs, emergency room and incarceration costs were cut by 62%, overall health care costs by 59%, mental health care costs by 41%.
Furthermore, Housing First policies were associated with “higher rates of compliance with antipsychotic medication and methadone maintenance therapy. Patients in all Housing First programs had reduced average alcohol consumption.” Providing a home provides the ability to focus on wellness rather than survival, which can lead to medication and other health care compliance.
And another good resource
https://archives.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/em/spring-summer-23/highlight1.html
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
OlyBlues
Of course Mayor Payne and city officials are salivating over millions of tax dollars to help continue to fund their failed homeless policies that have resulted in nothing but filth, destruction, crime, and environmental damage. This is yet another draw for the homeless to come stay in the right of way to get free housing. Arrest them up for trespassing! Look at the Jungle where city firefighters cannot even respond without law enforcement due to rocks being thrown at them. Look at the pollution to Percival Creek where salmon run and transient camps line the creek on public land the city could care less about. The city of Olympia Mayor and council are a total disgrace! Time to own up to your failed polices that have only exacerbated the problem and now you want more millions to keep funding it.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
hptrillium
Where do you think the houseless will live if not in housing provided by state or local governments or in camps? Would you have them housed in jail? That would not do them any good and it would cost money. The houseless are our brothers and sisters that for many reasons are not able to pay the high rents charged for housing. There but for the grace of God go any of us.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Southsoundguy
What a racket.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Boatyarddog
@southsoundguy. Never intelligent comments..? Just a TROLL.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
BillString
I've made the same comment before, and I'll make it again. Put all the homeless on one way busses, out of state, for around $300 a pop. Then remove, destroy and burn all of their hovels and trash. Any homeless after that? Detain them when you find them, bus them out and destroy any remaining belongings.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Boatyarddog
@ BILLSTRING
Now THATS A FACIST COMMENT IF THERE EVER WAS ONE!
Your a TRUMPER, FOR SURE!
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Boatyarddog
HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A CRIME.
UNLESS YOUR THE PRESIDENT.
YOU CANNOT DETAIN FOR BEING HOUSELESS!
FACT!
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
ChuckCross
If I read correctly, this program is or will be providing 24 beds for those fleeing domestic violence, and homes for 7 families'. Either the article is inaccurate, or we the taxpayers are being ripped off.
Friday, April 18 Report this