Submitted by City of Lacey
Housing and wrap-around services were secured at Maple Court Enhanced Shelter in Lacey for the eight (8) remaining individuals located on the Department of Enterprise Services (DES)-owned property near Department of Ecology’s Lacey headquarters on Desmond Drive. Currently, three (3) individuals have transitioned to Maple Court and three (3) individuals are in the process of transitioning.
On January 10, individuals on the established list at this encampment were offered housing and services by the City of Lacey’s (City) Community Resource Unit (CRU) and Mobile Outreach Team (MOT). These services became available as part of the state’s Encampment Resolution Program, formerly known as the Right of Way Safety Initiative. The Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) provides case management and behavioral health services to Maple Court residents, including healthcare, treatment, and help with getting IDs and documentation.
The Encampment Resolution Program, a Governor Inslee initiative provided funding by the state legislature, started in 2022 with a focus on Washington State Department of Transportation properties. Since its inception, the program has helped individuals located at 33 different sites in Thurston, Pierce, King, Snohomish, and Spokane County find housing and services.
Since the fall of 2019, many community partners have worked collaboratively to find solutions to this encampment. In 2021, the City and DES entered into an agreement to address this encampment, which included connecting individuals with resources and services. As part of this agreement, in March of 2021, a baseline survey of this location identified 24 occupied campsites with 26 people and 12 abandoned sites. All 26 people were offered the coordinated entry assessment and became part of an established list. Following this survey, no new campsites were allowed. Through the resilient and dedicated efforts of the City’s MOT and CRU, in addition to help from other partners, over time the number of people at this encampment decreased to eight (8) individuals.
The MOT, started in 2021 in partnership with Olympic Health and Recovery Services, is a community-based team with the ability to respond and provide crisis services. MOT is embedded within the Lacey Police Department and serves in both co-responder and independent responder roles. MOT responds to situations with or without law enforcement, and helps community members in crisis by providing de-escalation services and much-needed resources. Each MOT consists of two people: a crisis clinician, and a peer specialist. There is also a designated crisis responder, who provides evaluations for involuntary treatments and assesses risk and safety factors of clients in crisis.
MOT uses wrap-around services provided by community partners such as: Community Action Council, South Sound Behavioral Hospital, Animal Services (SNAP), Family Support Center, Drexel House, Department of Social and Health Services, Behavioral Health Resources, PiPE, Hope Village, Sea Mar, WorkSource, Catholic Community Services, SafePlace. Housing Authority of Thurston County, and many more.
The CRU provides daily outreach to some of the community’s most vulnerable members, including individuals who are houseless or in crisis. CRU officers work daily to build meaningful and trusting relationships to help individuals connect with needed resources to improve their quality of life. Like many City programs, the CRU’s approach to building relationships is rooted in dignity, compassion, empathy, and teamwork.
Since the start of these two City programs, hundreds of people have achieved improved outcomes by accessing services, such as housing, financial, and behavioral resources, due to the diligent work of the CRU and other City social service programs.
Once all individuals are relocated, including those who accept housing in Maple Court and receive case management services, DES will lead the site clean-up. In continued partnership with the City, no trespassing signs will remain on site and no new campsites will be allowed.
