Title
Meeting with Thurston County to Review the Housing Pipeline and Discuss the Regional Response to Homelessness and Housing Affordability
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Review the Thurston County Housing Pipeline and discuss the regional response to homelessness and housing affordability. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the Thurston County Housing Pipeline and discussion of the regional response to homelessness and housing affordability.
Staff Contact:
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department 360.753.8227
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department
Bud Blake, Thurston County Board of County Commissioner
Background and Analysis:
The growing urgency and impact of homelessness and the effect of cost-burdened households is evident throughout Thurston County. The recently opened Warming Center is seeing over 200 people per day pass through its doors. According to the survey of Downtown business owners done by the Thurston Economic Development Council, as a precursor to the Downtown Strategy, the impacts of homelessness on downtown businesses is one of their primary concerns. According to the United Way of Thurston County's ALICE Report, over 35 percent of Thurston County residents and 41 percent of Olympia's residents struggle to afford basic necessities. The necessities include: housing, food, child care, health care and transportation.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction reports that countywide 1,526 students were identified as homeless in the 2014 - 2015 school year, up from 889 in 2009 - 2010 - a 71 percent increase. School-age homelessness continues to impact our region with over 444 students being identified as homeless in the Olympia School District and 754 in the North Thurston School District. Of the 1,526 students identified as homeless in 2014 - 2015, 85 wer...
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