Title
Briefing on Emergency Housing Ordinance
Report
Issue:
On June 5, the City Council adopted amendments to the City's Emergency Housing Ordinance
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Downtown Programs Manager, Community Planning and Development, abuckler@ci.olympia.wa.us, 360.570.5847
Presenter(s):
Amy Buckler
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia's role in responding to homelessness is emerging. A Home Fund was passed in February that will provide about $2.3m/year to construct permanent supportive housing (housing with wrap-around support services for addiction, mental health, etc.) for those most vulnerable in our community. This will not take care of everyone, but it is an important piece of a broader regional effort that is starting to materialize. However, it will be several years before a project will be completely built using the Home Fund. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are sleeping unsheltered in unmanaged situations throughout Thurston County.
The City Council has directed staff to explore immediate actions to provide more 24/7 managed camping options for those in our community who are experiencing homelessness. This will involve the establishing sites for emergency housing, as well as updating regulations to allow other organizations to do the same. This briefing is about the latter.
On June 5, the City Council adopted amendments to the City's Emergency Housing Ordinance to provide more flexibility for faith based organizations, not-for-profits and government entities to provide emergency housing facilities on their sites.
Background
The City of Olympia adopted its first Emergency Housing Ordinance (formally known as the Temporary Encampment Ordinance) in 2008. These land use regulations were adopted largely as a response to Camp Quixote's occupation of City-owned property in downtown. The regulations were amended in 2011 to provide for a permanent encampment on County-owned property in Mottman Industrial Park known as Quixote Village. A si...
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