Homeless Housing Task Force
Grays Harbor County Homeless Housing Task Force
What is the Homeless Housing Task Force?
RCW 43.185C.160 requires each county to establish a homeless housing task force to develop a five-year homeless housing plan addressing short-term and long-term housing for homeless persons. If the county had not voted recently to create the task force, the state would have taken the lead on this effort.
Pursuant to RCW 43.185C.160, the Task Force:
1. Monitors and makes recommendations for modifications to the County five-year homeless housing plan which addresses short-term and long-term housing for homeless or at risk of homelessness persons;
2. Establishes guidelines consistent with statewide homeless housing plans;
3. Identifies next steps toward implementation of housing goals for the County;
4. Plans and sets goals for expenditure of available funding;
5. Provides information to the community members; and
6. Provides updates to the County Board of Health and to the County Board of Commissioners.
The Board of County Commissioners approved and signed Resolution No. 2023-094 establishing the Homeless Housing Task Force September 12, 2023. Applications for the Task Force were due October 19, 2023.
Following receipt and review of applications a subcommittee of the Board of Health evaluated the applications and created the opportunity to schedule interviews with all applicants. They recommended appointees to the Board of Commissioners February 20, 2024. The resolution naming membership of the Task Force, Resolution 2024-025 was approved and signed February 20th, 2024.
Approved Bylaws
NOTICE OF VACANCY - PERSON WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
Full Notice of Vacancy Here
Applications are due no later than October 22, 2024, at 4:30pm PST.
The Grays Harbor County Homeless Housing Task Force (“HHTF”) is seeking interested and qualified individuals for appointment to the Task Force to fill one (1) vacancy.
Who is eligible to apply?
The Task Force was created on September 12, 2023, and The Board of County Commissioners appointed thirteen (13) members. Due to resignation, the Task Force seeks applications to represent the following category:
Community Representative:
Representative from unhoused or formerly unhoused community residing in the County.
What is the application and interview process?
Interested persons are encouraged to visit the County website and to submit a completed application to:
Grays Harbor County Public Health
ATTN: Alexandria Blumenthal
2109 Sumner Avenue
Aberdeen, WA 98520
Fillable pdf application here
Printable application here Conflict of Interest Definition here
*e-application to be posted soon
Meeting Information
Meetings are usually held in the Harbor Room of the Pearsall Building in Aberdeen and also include an online component - Zoom links are provided in each meeting agenda.
The public is invited to attend the Homeless Housing Task Force meetings and opportunities for public comment are provided for both in-person and online participants.
October 18, 2024 - Homeless Housing Task Force Regular Meeting - ZOOM ONLY
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - ZOOM ONLY
Grays Harbor County Public Health Department (map) - ZOOM ONLY
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85207999438?pwd=eW9biTamTdteBJrbJAmrmZv8bo1FAX.1
Passcode: HHTF
Meeting ID: 852 0799 9438
Dial by Phone: +1 253 215 8782
Agenda:
1. 11:00 am – Call to order
2. Roll Call/Introductions
3. Notice of Vacancy Update – Alex Blumenthal
4. Final State documents and guidelines – Alex Blumenthal
a. 2025-2030 Local Homeless Housing Plan Guidance
i. Commerce technical assistance for support
b. 2024-2029 State Homeless Housing Strategic Plan
5. Subcommittee updates
a. Barriers/Solutions for affordable housing units – Chair: Jon Shaw
b. Reentry and Behavioral Health Housing Solutions – Chair: Cache McCallum
c. Strengthen the homeless service provider workforce – Chair: DeElania Caldwell
d. Capital Projects – Chair: Cory Ellis
6. Local Permanent and Emergency Housing Needs Data - Alex Blumenthal
a. Will provide in November
7. Next scheduled and proposed meeting date (s):
a. November 8, 2024 – Special Meeting
b. December 13,2024 – Special Meeting
c. 2025 Regular quarterly meetings: January, April, July, October
8. Public Comment
9. Adjournment
September 20, 2024 - Homeless Housing Task Force Special Meeting - ZOOM ONLY
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - ZOOM ONLY
Grays Harbor County Public Health Department (map) - ZOOM ONLY
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84617717288?pwd=ScEKaECXCIXAdlbyGw1AliVRakEkAx.1
Passcode: HHTF
Meeting ID: 846 1771 7288
Dial by Phone: +1 253 215 8782
Agenda:
1. 11:00 am – Call to order
2. Roll Call/Introductions
3. Notice of Vacancy needed for person with lived experience due to resignation
4. Proposed timeline for HHTF – Alex Blumenthal
5. Status of State documents and guidelines – Alex Blumenthal
a. Draft 2025-2030 Local Homeless Housing Plan Guidance
i. Potential need for representation from:
1. Local government representation from the two largest cities; Aberdeen and Hoquiam
2. A Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organization (BHASO) OR a Managed Care Organization
6. Draft State of Washington Homeless Housing Strategic Plan 2024-2029
7. Required Plan Objectives Reminder
8. Subcommittee enrollment and meetings
a. Barriers/Solutions for affordable housing units – Chair: Jon Shaw
b. Reentry and Behavioral Health Housing Solutions – Chair: Cache McCallum
c. Strengthen the homeless service provider workforce – Chair: DeElania Caldwell
d. Capital Projects – Chair: Cory Ellis
9. Next scheduled and proposed meeting date (s):
a. October 18, 2024: Quarterly Meeting
b. November 8, 2024 – Special Meeting
c. December 13, 2024 – Special Meeting
d. 2025 Regular quarterly meetings: January, April, July, October
10. Public Comment
11. Adjournment
June 21, 2024 - Homeless Housing Task Force Special Meeting
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Grays Harbor County Public Health Department (map)
Zoom link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89694360375?pwd=eRbdilUl2b96jSmXujDd3S6nmfjRFS.1
Passcode: HHTF
Meeting ID: 896 9436 0975
Dial by Phone: +1 253 215 8782
Agenda:
1. 11:00 am – Call to order
2. Roll Call/Introductions
3. Voices of Resilience screening – Natali Burgess, Housing Program Coordinator - GHCPH
4. Plan Content and Structure Review Discussion – Alex Blumenthal, Housing Program Coordinator - GHCPH
5. Discussion and potential action of subcommittees
6. Next scheduled special meeting date:
a. September 20, 2024
7. Administrative Business - Alex Blumenthal
a. Agenda item submission process
8. Public Comment
9. Adjournment
May 17, 2024 - Homeless Housing Task Force Special Meeting
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Grays Harbor County Public Health Department (map)
Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88241934590?pwd=OXRPQmxyZjNENVJLUVQ3aTNscjFvQT09
Passcode: HHTF
Meeting ID: 882 4193 4590
Dial by Phone: +1 253 215 8782
Agenda:
1. 11:00 a.m.– Call to order
2. Roll Call/Introduction
3. Roles and Responsibilities: Statewide homeless housing crisis response -following from RCW 43.185C.040(1)(f)
a. Individuals with first-hand experience of homelessness and housing instability
b. Service delivery: community homeless assistance and housing agencies
c. County-led homeless response crisis
i. Role of task force
d. Commerce
e. Other state agencies
f. Washingtons Communities: a collective call to action
4. Status Report of Current 5 -year Plan: 2019-2024
a. Definitions
b. Current System Snapshot
c. Accomplished vs not accomplished
5. Commerce Draft Documents
a. Draft 2025-2030 Local Homeless Housing Plan Guidance
b. Draft State of Washington Homeless Housing Strategic Plan 2024-2029
c. Ways to provide feedback
6. Task Force Subcommittee Discussion
7. Future meeting dates
a. Meeting format proposal
i. April – June
ii. September - December
8. Public Comment
9. Adjournment
April 19, 2024 - Homeless Housing Task Force Meeting
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Grays Harbor County Public Health Department (map)
Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89007794393?pwd=T1Z1OVRuKzFJM2EyUXBscVFEMWp5Zz09
Meeting ID: 890 0779 4393
Passcode: HHTF
Dial by Phone: +1 253 215 8782
Agenda:
1. Introductions
2. Discussion and Approval of the Homeless Housing Task Force By Laws - Georgia Stearns, Senior Deputy Prosecutor
3. Election - Georgia Stearns
a. Chair
b. Vice Chair
4. Designate Secretary - Georgia Stearns
5. Overview of HHTF – short and long-term projects/goals - Cassie Lentz, Healthy Places Manager
6. Snapshot of Homelessness in Grays Harbor County - Cassie Lentz
7. Available funds and governing laws/guidelines-Cassie Lentz
8. Current investments and outcomes - Cassie Lentz
9. Overview of the 2019-2024 Plan to Address Unmet Housing Needs - Cassie Lentz
10. Questions and next steps
11. Next meetings – Mike McNickle, Public Health Director
a. May
b. June
c. July
12. Public Comment
13. Adjournment