Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston Regional Housing Council (RHC) has recommended allocating $440,000 to help sustain operations at Olympia’s Quince Street tiny home village through June.
The RHC made the recommendation at its meeting on Wednesday, March 25, to cover the funding gap.
According to Tom Webster, Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention Manager in Thurston County, the funds would come from local Home Fund revenue collected in 2025 and would require final approval from the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners.
The site was established in 2018, following a surge in homelessness in downtown Olympia, when a mitigation camp grew to approximately 125 tents and a nearby recreational vehicle encampment reached more than 90 vehicles. The city relocated residents to what is now a 100-unit tiny home village.
“We had already had some micro homes. We expanded the village, so there are now 100 tiny homes there. We made improvements, including electricity, heat, and lighting that were not in the mitigation site,” Kim Kondrat, the City of Olympia’s Homeless Response Manager, told the housing council.
The Quince Street site is currently operated by Catholic Community Services, with a minimum annual operating cost of about $1.1 million and 24/7 staff.
Kondrat said Quince Street’s operations currently cost roughly $1.6 million per year and are projected to rise to $1.7 million next year. The program has supported the unhoused population, but is now approaching a “financial cliff.”
In previous years, the site was partially funded through the state’s Right-of-Way program, now called the Encampment Resolution Program (ERP).
Kondrat said funding was reduced this year, and there is no expection of funds from the Washington State Department of Commerce next year, leaving Olympia with a $440,000 shortfall through mid-2026 and a projected $850,000 gap for the following fiscal year.
RHC members voiced support for the short-term funding request. They also acknowledged the challenges ahead.
Lacey City Council member Nicolas Dunning said he supports the funding, but emphasized the need for a long-term solution.
“I think losing it would be devastating for the community,” said Dunning of the Quince Street tiny village. “We need to figure out a way to make sure that we can provide this service for this project long term.”
Yelm City Council member Griselda Arias said the case for the funding is straightforward.
“The money is available, it does not impact the existing program. Without it, approximately 100 people could return to homelessness — a preventable harm. We have a responsibility to act.”
She cautioned that the allocation is a short-term solution, but the funding only lasts until June.
“After that, we face a much harder conversation about next year and long-term sustainability," Arias said.
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JulesJames
Did this conversation give any success metrics updates? How many persons left these "tiny homes" for better circumstances? I don't mean to be crude about this, but Quince Street is not -- and should not be -- permanent housing. "Better than a tent on a sidewalk" isn't enough. If these shacks have no voluntary turnover, we've got a big problem brewing.
Thursday, March 26 Report this
RealityCheck
Past time for these people to get their act together and stop being a burden on society.
Thursday, March 26 Report this
Boatyarddog
@RealityCheck, you seem to think that everyone is just layin around eatin Bonbons! Your obtuse as hell.
Thursday, March 26 Report this
northbeachcomm
Thank you for this article; we love "The Jolt".
We need to know about these important issues.
We need to know how many homeless are in these units; thank you for these numbers.
Yes, any other information on this issue would be great.
We need to help those in our community who do not have housing.
We need to stop the tents covering the hillsides; they need electricity, water, utilities, help. Theses units are a good first start. I would say, instead of 100 units, we need 150? I do not know. Many homeless are left on the street!
Thanks again for your work!
Thursday, March 26 Report this
chrispc2u
I just love the idea of permanently housing the drug addled bums so close to the downtown core so they have better access to stare at me through the window while I eat my lunch or make it to their street corner on time so they can spend another day professionally panhandling instead of finding work. As long as Evergreen politically influenced Olympia continues to enable professional bums, Olympia will remain schizophrenic between a scenic state capital by the sea and magnet for piercing and tattoo parlors, struggling thrift stores and restaurants that struggle to make a go of it. Move the bums OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE and shuttle or bus them to job sites. Enough.
Thursday, March 26 Report this
OlyBlues
$1.6 million per year to operate the Quince Street transient housing is A LOT of tax dollars. What is being done to transition these transients back on their feet? Where are these transients from (out of the area, but Thurston County taxpayers footing the bill?)? What are the goals of the program to wean people off this program to become self-sufficient? How long are residents staying at Quince Village? These folks need to quit draining taxpayer dollars and get back on their feet, get a job, and start contributing instead of being a lifelong burden. As long as the city and feckless leaders continue to enable this behavior, the bigger the problem gets, the more it attracts from out of the area, and the longer they stay.
Friday, March 27 Report this
Bigjules
Helping people to help themselves.
The city could use a small workforce to clean up litter, wipe bird **** off buildings and sidewalks, clean street signs and parking meters that are are growing moldy. A can of paint and a paintbrush can spruce up street signage.
These small jobs contribute to the community and contribute to personal accomplishments for people who need a hand up.
Friday, March 27 Report this
JW
The Homeless Industrial Complex hard at work bilking the local taxpayer to subsidize crime and drug use.
Friday, March 27 Report this
Claire
@Boatyarddog No, they are not eating bonbons....Too busy standing on corners begging for handouts.
Friday, March 27 Report this
Claire
The unspoken cause....Drug addiction. Solution.....Treatment (involuntary if needed).
Friday, March 27 Report this
KarenMcIrish
I would love to see the breakdown of this money.. where could I find this info?
Friday, March 27 Report this
TheGreatAnon
Every one of you hating on the homeless are six months from joining their ranks.
Saturday, March 28 Report this