HomeMy WebLinkAbout050222as02 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Mark McCauley, County Administrator
FROM: Greg Brotherton
DATE: May 2,2022
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION re: Proclamation to join House
America and Letter of Support
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Discussion and Potential Action re: Proclamation and letter to Join House America and Letter of Support
ANALYSIS:
House America:An All-Hands-on-Deck Effort to Address the Nation's Homelessness Crisis is a federal
initiative in which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S.
Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) are inviting mayors, city and county leaders, tribal nation
leaders, and governors into a national partnership. House America will utilize the historic investments
provided through the American Rescue Plan to address the crisis of homelessness through a Housing First
approach.
This effort involves reporting of the efforts of Jefferson County and the city of Port Townsend on addressing
homelessness, and developing a communication with other municipalities working on the same issue
through the organizational capacity of HUD and USICH.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be minimal staff need, and no financial impact. HUD contributes promotional and operational
support.
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss and potentially take action on the attached Proclamation and letter to join House America.
REVIE�,!ED BY:
ark McCau , County Administrator Date
f CP 144
Is Board of County Commissioners
o7oN oo?c) 1820 Jefferson Street
4,
O � PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
O Kate Dean,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
�S�II NG'S.
May 2, 2022
The Honorable Marcia Fudge, Secretary
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20410
Dear Secretary Fudge,
Jefferson County is proud to join the federal initiative known as House America,and to stand with the Department
of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in pledging to
respond with urgency to homelessness in our community by setting and achieving ambitious re-housing and
housing creation goals.
Homelessness continues to impact hundreds of residents in Jefferson County, and a lack of housing remains a
barrier to the health, safety,well-being, employment, and education for these individuals and families. Too many
had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic without the safety and protection of a stable home,while the
homelessness crisis has been further impacted and/or exacerbated during and due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That is why Jefferson County is committed to re-housing fifty households from homelessness, and to adding 43
units to our development pipeline that will serve people exiting homelessness. We are committed to working with
HUD and USICH to make effective use of American Rescue Plan,CARES Act, and other federal, state, and local
resources to make progress towards ending homelessness and ensuring that all residents have a safe and
affordable place to live.
We are committed as well to solving homelessness through a Housing First approach,which identifies and assists
households experiencing homelessness to obtain permanent housing quickly—with respect for their rights and
autonomy,without treatment or sobriety pre-conditions, and with few to no barriers to entry—through housing
counseling and navigation assistance, and tailored levels of rental assistance and offers of wrap-around supportive
services.
I look forward to working with you and the staff at HUD and USICH in the coming months as we join our efforts
to House America. Please send future announcements about House America events and technical assistance to
County Commissioner, Greg Brotherton
Sincerely,
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
Kate Dean Heidi Eisenhour, Chair Greg Brotherton
District 1 District 2 District 3
Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
PROCLAMATION
ToJoin House America
Whereas,Jefferson County is committed to ensuring that all residents have a safe and affordable place to
live;and
Whereas, Homelessness continues to impact hundreds of our residents, and a lack of housing remains a
barrier to the health, safety, well-being, employment,and education for these individuals and families; and
Whereas,more than 580,000 people on a given night were experiencing homelessness in America when the
COVID-19 pandemic began and had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic without the safety and protection of
a stable home, while the homelessness crisis has been further impacted and/or exacerbated during and due to
the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas,the most effective approach to solving homelessness is the Housing First approach, which entails
identifying and assisting households experiencing homelessness to obtain permanent housing quickly—
without treatment or sobriety pre-conditions and with few to no barriers—through housing counseling and
navigation assistance,tailored levels of rental assistance, and/or wrap-around supportive services,as needed;
and
Whereas,the American Rescue Plan provides communities with significant new resources to address
homelessness, including 70,000 emergency housing vouchers and$5 billion in grants through the HOME
Investment Partnerships program; and $350 billion in State and Local Recovery Funds through the
Department of the Treasury; and
Whereas,House America is a partnership between the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development(HUD),the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness(USICH), states,and
communities to respond with urgency to address the crisis of homelessness;and
Whereas,through House America, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge calls on state and local leaders to set
and achieve ambitious goals for re-housing households currently experiencing homelessness and developing
new supportive and affordable housing units;
Whereas,Jefferson County is committed to working with HUD and USICH to use American Rescue Plan
resources and other federal, state,and local resources to make progress towards ending homelessness;
Now,Therefore,the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners do hereby announce and proclaim
to all citizens that, as of May 6th, Jefferson County proudly joins House America and
pledges to respond with urgency to homelessness in our community by setting and achieving ambitious re-
housing and housing creation goals.
PROCLAIMED this 2nd day of May, 2022.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL:
Heidi Eisenhour, Chair
ATTEST: Greg Brotherton, Member
Carolyn Gallaway Kate Dean, Member
Clerk of the Board