City Council

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 City Council Information: 360.753.8244 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 5:30 PM Council Chambers Study Session 1. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Mayor Cheryl Selby, Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones, Councilmember Jessica Bateman, Councilmember Jim Cooper, Councilmember Clark Gilman, Councilmember Julie Hankins and Councilmember Jeannine Roe OTHERS PRESENT Paul Knox, Executive Director - United Way of Thurston County Phil Owen, Program Director -Sidewalk Chris Lowell, Executive Director - Housing Authority of Thurston County Schelli Slaughter, Chief Executive Officer - Family Support Center of South Sound TJ LaRocque, Psychiatric Services Inpatient Manager - Providence St. Peter Hospital Ramiro Chavez, County Manager - Thurston County John Doan, City Administrator - Tumwater 2. BUSINESS ITEM 2.A 17-0166 Briefing on Regional Housing Needs Mayor Selby thanked everyone for attending the Study Session. Mr. Knox thanked Councilmembers for the opportunity to speak about housing needs in the community. He noted the issue of homelessness and affordable housing has many challenges, and the situation is challenging up and down the West Coast. The interjurisdictional Community Investment Partnership (CIP) and HOME Consortium funds are the main investor at the County level for homeless services and affordable housing support. Mr. Knox stated funds are designated for services and as a result, capital construction funds are scarce. He also noted United Way has increased focus on housing as the biggest gap right now is in supportive housing units. Mr. Owen shared his personal story of homelessness. He shared a chart the showed the number of homeless and the level of need. Mr. Owen stated he would like the system to use funds efficiently and wisely. Ms. Lowell noted the Housing Authority of Thurston County uses a lottery approach for households with Section 8 support. She stated the new crisis is Thurston County City of Olympia Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes February 14, 2017 is desperately short of affordable housing. There is a voucher program, but families are not able to find units in the community to rent. The vacancy rate of housing is hovering at 2% and monthly rental rates are rising. Ms. Lowell feels in 2-3 years there will be no housing for vulnerable citizens at all. Ms. Slaughter shared statistics regarding how many people are homeless in the community. She stated shelters are at maximum capacity and bursting at the seams. She shared stories about vulnerable families in the community. Mr. LaRocque noted federal support for mental health funding has been cut deeply in the last several years. The most vulnerable individuals who need the most services end up being served in the least efficient ways possible. He noted there needs to be direct funding for in-home support to plug the gap. Ms. Lowell stated housing should be thought of as a platform; once a vulnerable family or individuals are stabilized then you are able to get them services. She noted there is a gap in funding. Mr. Knox discussed the need for 500 units of affordable housing, to include services. He reviewed the amount of funding needed in order to leverage State and Federal resources for building and operation. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions. The study session was completed. 3. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. City of Olympia Page 2