Submitted by Thurston County
Today, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners (BoCC) approved close to $8 million in funding after receiving a recommendation from the Regional Housing Council’s (RHC) request for proposals (RFP) to use Human Services Funds and Affordable Housing and Homeless Services Funds. Awards range from $11,355 to Rochester Organization of Families (ROOF) for emergency needs to $1.2 million to Interfaith Works – Homeless Services Program to support their coordinated network of shelters and services. These awards will benefit Thurston County’s houseless residents, affordable housing, and service providers providing basic needs.
The RHC received proposals for funding from community service providers for shelter, basic needs, and housing projects. The supporting staff reviewed the applications and provided a recommendation to the RHC. During the May 26, 2021 meeting, the RHC approved the recommendations to move forward to the BoCC for approval.
Unique to this year’s funding process, the RHC included two new questions in the RFP specifically regarding racial equity and addressing racial disparity. The score for the new questions was weighted at 20 out of 100 points, or 20%, of the overall score. The intent of including these questions was to emphasize the importance of addressing racial disparity within the homeless and affordable housing response system. The RHC also has set funds aside dedicated to ongoing and future racial equity initiatives.
“We know there is much more of a need in the community than the RHC and BoCC were able to support moving forward for approval, with the funding available,” says Carolina Mejia, RHC Vice-Chair and Thurston County Commissioner. “We are beyond grateful to the service providers in Thurston County and all the work they do to support some of our more vulnerable residents. We, as the RHC and Board of County Commissioners, hope to continue finding ways to support the providers and find more funding opportunities.”
What is the Regional Housing Council?
Officially formalized by interlocal agreement in February 2021, the Regional Housing Council (RHC) was created with the primary purpose of leveraging resources and partnerships through policies and projects promoting equitable access to safe and affordable housing in Thurston
County. The RHC will consider issues specifically related to funding an equitable regional response to homelessness and affordable housing and how to better coordinate existing funding programs to implement the county’s Five-Year Homeless Crisis Response Plan and increase affordable housing options.
The RHC is made up of elected officials from Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm (representing South county) and is supported by senior leaders and staff from the jurisdictions. For more information about the Regional Housing Council, visit the Thurston County website.
Programs funded include (five tables below):
2021 Basic Needs Funding Awards
| Agency | Project | Award Amount |
| Behavioral Health Resources (BHR) | Human Services Support Fund | $36,336 |
| Catholic Community Services | Community Kitchen | $118,950 |
| Rochester Organization of Families | Emergency Needs | $11,355 |
| Thurston County Food Bank | Food Bank | $64,345 |
| Thurston County Food Bank | Other Bank | $11,355 |
| TOGETHER! | Emergent and Basic Needs | $30,280 |
| Total Awards | $272,621 |
2021 Housing Basic Needs Funding Awards
| Agency | Project | Award Amount |
| Family Support Center | Preventing Family Homelessness | $34,072 |
| Rebuilding Together | Critical Repairs Program | $27,480 |
| Rochester Organization of Families | Rental Assistance | $14,656 |
| Rochester Organization of Families | Housing Basic Needs | $13,740 |
| SPS Habitat for Humanity | Critical Home Repairs | $91,732 |
| TOGETHER! | Family Homelessness Prevention | $18,320 |
| Total Awards | $200,000 |
2021 Housing/Homeless Services Funding Awards
| Agency | Project | Award Amount |
| Build a Bus | Shower Power | $40,000 |
| Catholic Community Services | Drexel-PSH | $157,500 |
| Catholic Community Services | Drexel-Shelter | $80,000 |
| Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties (CACLMT) | Rapid Re-housing | $200,000 |
| Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties | CACLMT – Thurston County HEN | Based on State Allocation |
| Community Youth Services | Rosie’s Cold Weather | $45,000 |
| Community Youth Services | Young Adult Housing | $120,000 |
| Community Youth Services | Rosie’s Place | $165,000 |
| Family Support Center | Coordinated Entry | $250,000 |
| Family Support Center | Pear Blossom Place – Cold Weather Shelter | $130,000 |
| Family Support Center | Rapid Re-housing | $320,000 |
| Family Support Center | Homeless Family Service Project | $70,000 |
| Family Support Center | Pear Blossom Place – Family Shelter | $110,000 |
| Interfaith Works | Hazardous Weather | $25,000 |
| Interfaith Works | Homeless Services Program – Coordinated Network | $1,200,000 |
| Panza | Quixote Village | $34,000 |
| Partners in Prevention Education | Cold Weather shelter in place | $35,000 |
| Partners in Prevention Education | Hazardous Weather shelter in place | $15,000 |
| SafePlace | Supporting Housing for Survivors | $60,000 |
| SafePlace | Emergency Shelter Operations and Maintenance | $95,000 |
| Senior Services for South Sound | Home Share | $50,000 |
| Total Awards | $3,201,500 – plus State allocation of Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) funding |
2021 Housing Capital Funding Awards
| Agency | Project | Award Amount |
| Family Support Center | Family Housing Project | $263,690 |
| SPS Habitat for Humanity | Tumwater Townhomes | $300,000 |
| Homes First | Affordable Home Solar Installation Match | $12,000 |
| LIHI | Martin Way Phase 2 | $1,043,643 |
| Total Awards | $1,619,333 |
Pipeline RFI Recommendation for 2024 Placement
| Organization | Project | RHC Action |
| SPS Habitat for Humanity | Homan Drive (55+) | Place on Pipeline |
