Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston Regional Housing Council is calling on community members to help shape the future of affordable housing and homelessness response in Thurston County.
Applications are now open for two advisory boards: the Thurston Affordable Housing Advisory Board and Thurston Homeless Services Advisory Board. Both boards play a vital role in recommending priorities and funding for regional housing initiatives.
Applicants must live or work in Thurston County and be available for monthly meetings. The housing council encourages all interested and eligible individuals to apply, regardless of background. But it is also seeking candidates from specific sectors to ensure diverse representation.
The Thurston Homeless Services Advisory Board's role is to provide recommendations to the housing council regarding funding priorities, grant awards, and policies related to the Homeless Crisis Response Plan, and state and local funds distributed through the housing council and approved by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners.
The funding streams include assistance for permanent supportive housing, chronically homeless families, homeless prevention and emergency housing needs, and any future funding sources designated to support the Homeless Crisis Response Plan.
For the Thurston Homeless Services Advisory Board, the council is looking for candidates who represent the following sectors:
The contact is Jackie Velasco at jackie.velasco@co.thurston.wa.us
The main role of the Thurston Affordable Housing Advisory Board is to advise the housing council on priorities, funding and policies for the use of various housing-related funds. That includes the combined countywide and Olympia Home Fund, Federal HOME Investment Partnership, House Bill 1406, House Bill 2060, and any current or future funding sources identified by the council as necessary to address the needs of the community.
For this board, the council is looking for individuals who represent the following sectors:
The contact is Alex Persse at alex.persse@co.thurston.wa.us
Interested individuals may submit their applications until Aug. 25, 2025.
Compensation is available for members who meet stipend criteria. The recruitment subcommittee will review applications, conduct virtual interviews on Sept. 10 and Sept. 12, and make recommendations for board appointments.
Final selections are expected in early December, with new members joining in January 2026.
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metalFish
Joining a Board to provide oversight and council to the Agencies that work with the Affordable Housing and Homelessness population is a great way to ACTUALLY impact the policies and practices that shape what this will look like in your community. It is very easy to be emotional and feel overwhelmed by the 'crisis'. I can say from experience, there is no great savior who will be fixing these things. It will take community at many levels to help this situation. The ultimate goal is to make the need for these resources OBSOLETE.
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