HomeMy WebLinkAboutShelter Coalition 080525Shelter Coalition Meeting August 5, 2025
Present: Greg Brotherton - facilitator, Julia Cochrane - scribe, Peggy
Webster - Olycap, James Holthaus- Bayside, Trevor Breland - shelter manager - Bayside, Ariel - LE, Barbara Morey - advocate, Anya - Health Dept., Renata - CIty of Port Townsend, Talon Kingsolver - Recovery Cafe/Dove House and Janie North. JCMASH - Bayside - can only handle 3 people.
Shelter Update: 31 people - max capacity, elderly people are the growing population, a few of them are couples - who are used to being each other's support person. Need cooks - meals, drivers for deliveries - contact Trevor Breland at the shelter (360) 385-1403,
Only about 3 people have been exited from the shelter.
Peggy - Olycap - Caswell Brown Looking at end of August closing, then goes to Commerce for approval of plans and county for permit. In Sept.
when the grant comes in they will do site work for septic and water, state
approval on construction specs - that may take 4 months and then there is
the county permit. And then there is weather. Tiny Shelters at CB3 - Permit
issues. Will run electrical when site work for Congregate is complete
(October/November) and then these at least could be used while waiting for
the Congregate building. 20% complete - PUD building, Sanitation Building - Laundry, showers, bathrooms -
Encampment: 2 conversations - how to support what and who is there now, and how to plan for the future. Lets get effective case management. City Council meeting - the HFB is not the right venue. Need to get everyone at the table to find out what resources and skills we have available to get a plan of action for the encampment. Julia - agreed that the HFB is not the right venue for a discussion about
how to deal with the increasing number of unsheltered people, that this is
the right forum. Julia talked about the need for access to water for the
encampment at DSHS/Ranier St. That there is a need for water to fight
fires and to drink. Also a need for electricity to charge devices and wifi
access. There is an expected increase of 100-200 more unsheltered people due to cuts in various HUD programs. Ariel - lives in the encampment, lack of access to drinking water, there were some businesses that had drinking water access but that has been locked - to stop people from using it. Power Lines - big windstorms knocked down lines, there was a fallen power line and the ground was wet - no one
got hurt. The PUD did show up. Porta Potties are a distance away and the
Parking Lot lights go out at night. People with crutches and canes, it is an
easy slope. Some people have problems getting down on the ground. Cots
and tents have been offered. Tents collapse in snow. Winds also knock
stuff down. She has a PO Box and will be able to vote. Also likes the Health Dept. nearby for clean socks and other supports. Apple - Health Dept. Appreciates Ariel’s support for other people. Anya - Health Dept. Drinking water, showers, power, fridge access, all might be possible in conjunction with the city and county. Fire extinguisher training is planned. Can’t we put a water tank out there.
Water Access at Caswell Brown - could there be a spigot for other people
to use. Putting a drinking fountain outside Health Dept and other locations
for people to be able to fill their water bottles. DSHS - landlord is problem.
People need to develop relationship with this person. Anya wants to be part of the conversation to support the current encampment and look for a place to have a more supported community. Rules for propane? Greg: You can’t have an open fire, but you could have propane or a charcoal grill. Shower trailer - should continue to be utilized. Repair it and
keep it running.
Next Steps: Housing Task Force Meeting on Friday, and the next Housing Fund Board. We have to bring everything to bear. We will not do sweeps,
we will support people wherever they are. Housing is a human right.
Renata - Caswell Brown property - wonders if the property is underutilized. Evans Vista is 14 acres. Lift station - July 2027.
Has the city weighed in for use of Evans Vista - will be on Councils agenda on the 18th.
Ariel about Caswell Brown. Greg - not bringing new RVs in.
Renata - to facilitate a conversation with that landlord - Anya and Julia interested in being part of it.
Next meeting Tuesday August 19th, 11:15, by zoom or hybrid at the Recovery Cafe.
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