HomeMy WebLinkAbout080426 Shelter CoalitionShelter Coalition Meeting
August 4, 2026
Present: Commissioner Greg Brotherton - Facilitator, Julia Cochrane - scribe, Trevor Breland - Bayside Emergency Shelter Manager, Viola Ware - Olycap housing director, Illiana - Olycap
case management, Mazure Pace and Anya Callahan - Harm Reduction for the Health Dept., Renata Munfrada - City of PT, Keppi Keplinger - County Emergency Management, Hunter - LE, Mike
McCutcheon - Reach Out, Neil Nelson - PT City Counselor, Peggy Webster - Olycap Projects manager
7/21 Minutes - Apple Martine was not present. Also what Monica McHagger was talking about was an “Interim” not Emergency ordinance.
Peggy and Viola - Olycap Commerce signed agreement for housing case management, Illiana became that case manager, this does not go through Coordinated Entry and is for both counties
- Clallam, Jefferson. Some of the people being supported may be housed but are at risk of becoming unhoused.
Trevor - Emergency Shelter Shelter beds open for 1 woman and 1 man. Contract signed with American Legion. Budget is the same as it was. There is staff turnover.
Peggy Webster - Caswell Brown 3 Update Shold is siting the septic and the building architect will stamp the L&I drawings. Opening will probably be end of March.
Greg Concerns: people were trespassed from all county property. Property harmed, tents slashed. Narcan disposed up rather than preserved. Were body cams on?
Meeting to happen, Sheriff, Apple, Public Works, Central Services - John Fredrick, and Greg - will report next meeting. Was anything inventoried and preserved that were considered
valuables? Bikes and medicine were thrown away.
Supported encampment - harm reduction lens to help people where they are. If the county offers property then they have to be permitted, fenced, staffed etc. Heather - a sanctioned encampment
to allow people to put up tents somewhere. Viola - city of PA was considering offering permits to allow people to camp for a certain amount of time following certain rules. Have put
out an RFP. Julia recommends a map of public land with land marked where camping will not be allowed.
Access for emergency vehicles etc.
Greg can think of such a place.
Apple - if it's on county property it is up to the county manager to weigh risk of death. The potential for overdose. If it is sanctioned can it be low barrier or no barrier? It is up
to the risk manager to say if someone dies there the county will be sued.
Greg - that is what our policy says now. Is there a release people can sign that removes the county's liability?
Viola - No barrier - can’t remove risk. Community itself is a protective factor. Contact with outreach. Fire Cares. Narcan. Practice it starting on the right foot. Risk will never be
removed. We have a traumatized and isolated population. If we can allow community to form, we can reduce the risk.
Zoom Chat - fire breaks. Right to Dream - Portland
Peggy - manage the risk with waivers etc.
Apple - there is room for amendment and revision. Make a good point - risk managers - amending the policy to weave that in.
Mike - the big plus is having people in one location.
Greg - Anya made a great presentation yesterday about the extent of trauma, people are wounded. Updating the ordinance. Continued displacement is not good for anyone.
Apple we are all involved with helping this situation, change policy, and serving the people as much as we can.
Apple - would like DCD to be involved in the meeting Greg is putting together.
Mike - Reach Out is working on getting Mental Health out in the field. Working on insurance. Not DBH. He will update us.
Julia is struggling for a Welcoming Center place to be year round and be an urban rest stop, heating and cooling center.
Renata - Totem House where girl scouts operate, not really using it. City is holding it in trust for the Girl Scouts. City doesn’t have site control. City also owns old building that
looks like a barn across the street from St Mary’s. Looking for contact with the local girl scouts - maybe regional. Anya will try to follow the girl scout cookie trail.
Greg - come up with a plan that prevents future displacement - Right to Dream model - rebuild trust.
Next Meeting: August 18th - 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