HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter re Support for Bayside Housing CDS for Patty Murray - 032425 of N CO s4j. Board of County Commissioners
4- A- °6 I, 1820 Jefferson Street
0 44 PO Box 1220
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Port Townsend, WA 98368
Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
S ZING'S
March 24, 2025
To: The Honorable Patty Murray
United States Senate
Subject: Letter of Support for Bayside Housing& Services application for
Congressionally Directed Spending, FY 2026
Dear Senator Murray,
We are writing to express my strong support for the request submitted by Bayside Housing & Services
for their Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing project through the Congressionally Directed
Spending FY 2026 funding program. The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners is
immersed in the issues created by our county's affordable housing shortage. We are deeply impressed
with the proposed project's potential to preserve 23+units of affordable housing in need of structural
repair and to add 8 new units of affordable housing.
Jefferson County suffers a 0-1%vacancy rate for affordable housing rentals. Bayside's project
preserves affordable housing units-3 at The Starrett House in Uptown Port Townsend and 20 at The
Old Alcohol Plant Inn in Port Hadlock—and adds 8 units of affordable housing at Woodley Place in
Port Hadlock. As it is also our understanding that the Naval Magazine at nearby Indian Island plans to
use The Old Alcohol Plant Inn as a base of operations in an emergency, it is all the more important to
keep the facility in good repair, and that it have a generator to keep it functioning should the power go
out as a result of said emergency.
Bayside Housing& Services has served people experiencing homelessness since 2016 by offering safe
housing with case management services. Bayside has the expertise and resources to successfully
implement their proposed project, as demonstrated in part by the increase in housing units under its
control—from 6 to 60 since they began operations. It has also acquired land for the construction of
new affordable housing units, one of which is already under way in Port Townsend.
Jefferson County is struggling to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Bayside has a
wait list of 130 individuals in need of immediate assistance. Studies by the Department of Commerce
have shown that Jefferson County—designated a rural and economically distressed county by the
state's Department of Employment Security—needs to add 3,985 units of housing between now and
2044 to keep pace with the growth of its population and economy. Of this number, 2,848 will be
needed by people making 80%or less of Area Median Income. The Jefferson County Board of County
Commissioners is keenly aware of the challenges inherent in meeting these targets, and shares the
sense of urgency with which Bayside treats homelessness and the need for affordable housing.
Phone (360)385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.na.us
We are confident that this proposal from Bayside Housing& Services will yield significant and lasting
positive results for people experiencing homelessness; people in need of affordable housing; and
people in need of services during a regional emergency. We urge you to give this proposal your full 1
consideration and support.
Sincerely,
JEFFERSON COUNTY ARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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Dis ict 1 District 2 District 3