HomeMy WebLinkAboutShelter Coalition Meeting 050526Shelter Coalition Meeting
May 5, 2026
Present: Greg Brotherton - facilitator, Julia Cochrane - scribe, WWC, Trevor Breland - Bayside Shelter, Ariel - LE, Matt Ready - Permitted encampment, David E., Bill Volmut - Bayside,
Renata M. - CIty, Peggy Webster - Olycap, Melissa, Apple Martine - Health Dept., Josh Peters - County staff.
Trevor Breland - Shelter at capacity, less people showing up for meals etc. who are not staying there. JC Mash and DBH are coming there on Tuesdays between 3-5. DBH and Bayside are collaborating
to help with Case Management.
Ariel - talked about shelter code, and keeps moving people on. Right now her photo id is in police custody and needs other id to get it back. Police keep telling her that they will find
her a bed, they don’t seem to understand that there are no beds. The encampment is gone and the police think that there are other resources that actually don’t exist.
Greg - the county and city is trying to work on a consistent approach across systems.
Trevor does have a shelter prioritized list. DV is one of the prioritizations. Offered invitation to Ariel for a conversation.
Ariel - has long term concerns having to do with her personal situation.
Peggy - Caswell Brown Shelter - On Friday they closed on the grant. This week they are pushing toward the closing draw which will help pay the modular builder and Should Septic etc.
Will one of the non-congregant facilities be available for respit. 4 rooms - 8 beds each.
Julia and Greg talked about a medical respite person that is being housed in a hotel awaiting surgery.
Matt - Viola and Peggy have been the liaisons with the city. They are keeping moving forward and will see if there is a public meeting required. Status of encampment ordinance for the
city. Ordinance for emergency shelter has expired. Convince city council and the administrative team. People should show up at CIty Council. The ordinance makes it a certainty and quicker.
Greg will advocate the city’s encampment ordinance continue - this is what may allow Matt’s encampment. 1762 Port Townsend
Municipal Code is the number of the temporary shelter ordinance. This ordinance was a temporary municipal code.
Neighbors get a right to comment which will delay the process for a year and cost a bunch of money.
Apple - Sanican conversation - was able to bring this issue to BOCC, looking for funds, Public Health had reductions in state funding which impacts its homeless support services. Intersection
of trail and Mill Road for people who camp nearby. The fund they are looking at needs to have a rewritten resolution to reflect current times. So the project is on pause because they
do not have a funding mechanism. Need to find a group that can address the issue of restrooms to support public health and safety. Julia suggests a group form to support bathroom access.
Matt - garbage access. If we can get permission - we could raise $3000 to support a sani-can or two. Can Peninsula Trails Coalition put one there? Greg will figure out how to make this
happen. We will have to talk to public works as well. Apple's proposal to the BOCC to pay for one. There was initially some interested in doing a concerted effort with the city. And
that it is handi-capped accessible. City does not have funding for the Sani-cans. Other sani-cans in parks are in jeopardy. Ariel asks if there will be a handwashing station? We also
agree that access to waters is also a basic need.
Bathroom Cabinet will be formed to support public bathrooms. Apple willing to support the effort. Committed to the long term concept.
Greg we are at the beginning of a lot of challenging conversations that are codified in the 5 year plan. What are the mandated services the county and the city must do? And what should
they do? This is the place where those conversations can happen and overlap.
Next Meeting May 19th @ 11:15
Hybrid at the Recovery Cafe or Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/25378659299171?p=MOWv4jHuEZYBdCL80K
Meeting ID: 253 786 592 991 71
Passcode: 9Jt3Ad7J
Julia Cochrane, just julia
LBTQ+ - reclaim your alphabet!
willowtree@olypen.com