HomeMy WebLinkAbout070726 Shelter CoalitionShelter Coalition Meeting
July 7, 2026
Present: Greg Brotherton, BOCC - facilitator, Julia Cochrane, WWC - scribe, Trevor Breland - Bayside, K. Kiplinger - emergency management, David Ehnebuske, Bill Volmut - Bayside, Ariel,
Maggie - LE, Apple Martine, Anya Callahan - Health Dept., Thomas Olson - PTPD, Peggy Webster, Viola Ware - OlyCAP, Mellissa Jordan, Neil Nelson - City Council Scott Blakley - CEO Discovery
Behavioral Health (Greg Brotherton, Neil Nelson and Julia Cochrane are members of the Housing Fund Board which Shelter Coalition is a committee of.) Brett Black - Fire Chief, Renata
Munfrada - City
Bayside Emergency Shelter - Trevor - filled to capacity, looking for monitors between 4 and 10 - contact Trevor - Tbreland@baysidehousing.org or call the shelter (360) 385-1403.
Greg - We are anticipating 9 more months at the American Legion. 3 full time, 2 part time staff including management. All contracts signed till October. The County Finance Director covered
a gap from May to June. Coast gave $10,000. And currently there is $27,000/month. Invoicing is higher than that …. So volunteers are needed. July 22 - Judy will come back to the Housing
Fund Board with a request and with the amounts we will have for the next RFP.
Caswell Brown 3 - New Emergency Shelter - Peggy Webster - groundbreaking happened, all plans for modular building, L&I approval. Hoping that March 31 is the completion.
Notes from 5-19-2026 APPROVED We will be meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from now on. These will be sent out. These are attached to the Housing Fund Board’s agendas on the County
Website.
Thursday at 11 AM is the next meeting to deal with the encampment. Julia is hoping this will be a public meeting for all 3 county commissioners will show up.
Encampment - Chief Black - there is a safety issue where the encampment is. We need to solve this in the way that is most safe and equitable.
Maggie - spoke to the trauma of the people staying there. Spoke about her experience being part of a sweep where her tent was slashed and her phone was wiped.
Meeting Thursday 7-9 at 11, Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/225845271453798?p=b9Xkzy52zaoV3gw39A
Meeting ID: 225 845 271 453 798 Passcode: uq3Ln7YN
Apple - the county and fire are working together - there will be an additional meeting this afternoon to create the required notices. Concerns for human beings and property. Situation
- county administrator has said people need to leave the space and there will be front line workers helping people for the week or more before. Need people to help with the transition
alongside the Harm Reduction Team, LEAD Team, and the REAL Team. We need to think forward in whatever ways we can to find small solutions. This emergency has existed for a long time.
How belongings will be protected and stored for months will be on the notice. We would like to see some traction with the people who are willing to do supported encampments.
Viola - working to move 3 of the tiny shelters down and have opened up our shelters. Trying to protect septic capacity - need referrals and to sign up, with a box to check for case management,
and put on a list for CB.
Greg - Supported encampment on private land, safe parking at Faith Based organizations, county property - not a supported, permitted encampment. Willing to work with faith based organizations
to do an unsupported encampment. Revenue issues - CB happened with Covid relief dollars.
Viola - south county community center to create a safe park program like ones in Sequim and Port Angeles. These use one paid staff for an hour at night and an hour in the morning - able
to do it with minimum funding. This requires engagement with Case Management.
Greg - another meeting with the various county depts. - at least a week notification.
Apple - from the county's perspective we need to adequately staff this move.
Maggie - the damage has already been done out there - it would take less money to clean up the site and let people use that site. The county and the city created this situation.
Greg - emphasizing a private land owner. Julia says find a piece of public land, lease it to a religious organization to do an unpermitted but supported encampment.
Peggy - breaking this into smaller pieces, like 5 folks here and there - there may be options that can be pursued. Olycap is looking at possibilities.
Anya - heard the number of people 40, she estimated 20, a resident says 12. Has bins for storage of personal belongings. If the date on the 14th is kept there will be less assistance
because Anya and Mazure will both be on PTO. Requesting to push it back a week or two. Matt Ready will also not be around on the 14th.
Viola - there ideas, need to consider infrastructure and get Holly’s blessing if Olycap resources are being used.
BOCC will follow up next Monday.
Next Meeting: July 21 - 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
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