Update, July 14, 2022: Thurston County will be issuing August rent and utility checks for all eligible Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) clients and until a new provider is in place. Thurston County is working to identify a new provider as quickly as possible. If you’re a HEN program participant and your landlord hasn’t received July’s check, please call the Fiscal Department at Community Action Council at 360-438-1100 ext. 1126
On June 30, 2022 Thurston County was notified by Community Action Council of Thurston, Mason, Lewis Counties (CACLMT) that the agency would not be renewing their Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) and Rapid Re-Housing contracts with the county. They also informed the county that they would not continue to provide services as sub-contractors under the Coordinated Entry contract. This notice effectively ends CACLMT’s work under these three contracts on July 1, 2022.
Thurston County is committed to ensuring HEN and Rapid Re-housing clients continue to have their rent payments made while the county identifies a new provider to implement these programs. Thurston County is requesting client and landlord contact information from CACLMT in order to communicate program changes to clients and will provide additional information as it becomes available about rent payments.
If you are a participant of the HEN or Rapid Re-Housing programs and receive an eviction notice as a result of this change, please contact the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program at the Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) of Thurston County: 360-956-1155, ext. 113. The DRC provides mediation empowering participants to reach their own informed and mutually-acceptable agreements. The program is open for intake scheduling and questions Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Due to extremely high call volume, you can expect to leave a message, and anticipate a returned call when staff are next available.
www.mediatethurston.org/eviction-resolution
If you are in a crisis situation, please call the Crisis Clinic at 360-586-2800. This is a 24-hour phone service offering crisis intervention, emotional support, and resource information.
crisis-clinic.org
On July 1, 2022, Thurston County issued a
news release on this matter.
What is Thurston County doing to address homelessness?
On June 14, 2018, the Thurston County Board of Health (BoH) declared homelessness a public health crisis in Thurston County. The declaration was one of the first steps in taking a proactive approach to understanding and addressing homelessness in our region.
Additional steps the county is taking to address this issue are:
- Coordinated with the Olympia Free Clinic and other homeless service providers to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to unsheltered individuals and families
- In 2019, approved the Thurston County Homeless Crisis Response Plan for 2019-2024
- Provided rental assistance to military veterans and their families at the Lacey Veteran's Hub
- Supported Thurston Thrives Housing Action Team in implementing strategic goals
- Promoted healthy and safe rental housing through the Healthy Homes program
- In 2017, the Hazardous Weather Task Force was created and developed a hazardous weather response plan to save lives, increase sheltering capacity, and coordinate county-wide response during inclement weather
- Expanded the cold weather season and increased funding to provide more consistent sheltering options for those unsheltered during our coldest winter months
- Hired a new Homeless Prevention and Affordable Housing Coordinator to coordinate regional efforts to address the homeless and affordable housing crisis
- Conducted the county-wide point in time count annually since 2006
- Providing funding and support to Thurston County’s Coordinated Entry System to assess needs and connect people to available housing, shelter, and other basic needs