Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement with Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing a Lease Agreement between the City of Olympia and Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing a Lease Agreement between the City of Olympia and Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village.
Staff Contact:
Kim Kondrat, Homeless Response Coordinator, 360.742.6448
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
In January 2019, the City of Olympia opened the Mitigation Site at Franklin Street and Olympia Avenue to provide tent sites for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Mitigation Site was established to improve safety and access to services for unsheltered individuals and couples, and to reduce the impact of scattered encampments to downtown residents and businesses.
In April 2020, the City contracted with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to operate and manage the site. Over time, many site and service improvements have been added, including construction of tiny home units to replace tents, hygiene units with plumbed restroom facilities, and data entry of participants into Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to track outcomes.
In October 2021, the City used American Rescue Act funds to purchase the former Quality Inn property located at 1215 Quince Street. Site preparation and infrastructure was mostly completed in August 2022 and allowed for people to transition to the new site from downtown. Moving the site included expanding the number of residents served from 80 to100. This expansion allowed the Homeless Response team to close an encampment located along Ensign Road and transition residents from there to more stable and safe housing at what is now called the Quince Street Tiny Home Village (Quince Street).
CCS has and continues to be a reliable and effective operator for Quince Street. Subsequently, the purpose of this agenda item is to seek Council approval in to a lease agreement with CCS to support the operations of Quince Street Village. CCS provides oversight and case management for all 100 residents with the goal of finding permanent housing that best fits their needs.
The City will continue to include this site in its land banking portfolio so as to be ready to leverage future potential opportunities to develop it into permanent supportive and/or affordable housing. The long-term goal being to transition away from temporary tiny home units to a more permanent housing option.
Climate Analysis:
No additional impact noted in this agreement.
Equity Analysis:
Quince Street Village is a low-barrier village meaning there are few exclusions that would prohibit a person from obtaining access to a tiny home. This includes previous evictions, mental illness, substance use, etc. People with higher acuity are often those who are chronically homeless and are a part of a marginalized community. Quince Street allows those residents with compounding barriers to access multiple services without having to navigate them independently. Catholic Community Services has a wonderful reputation in the community of providing equitable service delivery and supporting the residents in Olympia with the greatest need.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is significant public interest in homelessness and the City’s homeless response efforts. Catholic Community Services connects with neighborhood residents and business owners frequently about community impacts and opportunities for engagement. Staff have worked with law enforcement and surrounding businesses to lessen the congregation in the neighboring parking lots and mitigating community impacts. High staff turnover by providers in this field of work can sometimes lead to miscommunication and a lapse in engagement. City staff in partnership with CCS are working to improve processes for addressing issues and keep neighbors informed and community meetings more consistent.
Options:
1. Move to approve to approve a Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement with Catholic Community Services for the Quince Street Tiny Home Village.
2. Modify the lease agreement before moving to approve a Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement with Catholic Community Services for the Quince Street Tiny Home Village.
3. Do not approve a Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement with Catholic Community Services for the Quince Street Tiny Home Village, directing staff to take other action.
Financial Impact:
The City of Olympia will lease the property to Catholic Community Services for an annual cost of One Dollar ($1) per year, which is consistent with prior years. There is a significant public benefit in providing stable, safe and supported housing for unhoused individuals who would otherwise be residing in outdoor encampments.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement