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