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
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.
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