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 the resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village.
Report
Issue:
Whether to Approve Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement with Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village.
Staff Contact:
Kim Kondrat, Homeless Response Manager, Community Planning & Economic Development, 360.742.6448
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Quince Street Tiny Home Village was established when the setdown of the former “mitigation site” (established 2018) was removed from the downtown core in 2021. The residents of the former mitigation site were transferred to the site with an improvement of the tiny homes with added heat, electrical lighting and USB ports, access to laundry, shower trailers and case management. This 100-unit tiny home village is the largest in the County and has been crucial in the Homeless Response System of Thurston County, accepting residents from Coordinated Entry and the Encampment Resolution Program as well as City departments (i.e. Community Court and Homeless Response). Continued support is encouraged to continue the forward progress of our homeless response system to provide opportunities for unhoused citizens to stabilize physically and psychologically and get out of survival mode to pursue possible pathways out of homelessness. This decreases calls to First Responder by providing shelter/housing.
Climate Analysis:
There will be no significant impact to greenhouse gas emissions.
Equity Analysis:
BIPOC, LGBTQ+ community and mentally disabled individuals tend to make up the unhoused population disproportionately. These populations are prioritized with the Housing Equity and Assessment Tool which is used to place unhoused folks into Quince Street Village. They are positively impacted by Quince Street Village. The City of Olympia community benefits by having unhoused folks placed in shelter that gives an opportunity for folks in crisis to stabilize. City First Responders also benefit by fewer calls to respond to crises that result from lack to basic needs. he surrounding businesses are impacted by the increase of foot traffic of unhoused individuals which may lead to increase in vandalism of property and need for increase security. City departments meet regularly with neighboring businesses and CCS to address concerns and collaborate in a concerted effort to minimize the negative effects of having a shelter provider in close proximity to their locations.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Homelessness has been at the top priority of concerns that have come through the Public Opinion and Community Engagement Survey distributed to Olympia community members. There is high community interest in the City’s compassionate yet accountable approach to homelessness as declared in the One Community Plan. Quince Street Tiny Home Village supports this approach. City staff and Catholic Community Services staff have ongoing contact with surrounding businesses and coordinated City response with the Olympia Police Department and Parking Services. There have been frequent failures of the plumbing of the 2 shower trailers that were donated by LOTT 5 years ago. The plumbing is in the process of being assessed and updated. Several units of the tiny home village have significant water damage, possibly due to tiny home construction as well as at risk of flooding due to close location to Indian Creek. Public Works department has been helpful in times of flooding. Residents have been moved to improved units for their health and safety and there is a regular inspection schedule and improved training of staff to help identify signs of needed repair of units.
Financial Impact:
The City of Olympia is leasing the Quince Street Village property to Catholic Community Services for $1.
Options:
1. Move to approve the resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village.
2. Modify Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement with Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village. Modifying will need approval from Catholic Community Services which can take a while and result in a delay in services to residents and decrease in funds and staff.
3. Don’t Approve Resolution Authorizing a Lease Agreement with Catholic Community Services for Quince Street Tiny Home Village. (This could result in the closure of the Tiny Home Village and there would be 100 individuals back out on the street since there are not enough shelter available in the community. This would have a negative impact on the downtown core businesses and increase calls to police and fire as crises escalate when basic needs are not met.)
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement