Title
Special Recognition - Report on Recent Thurston County Code Blue Homeless Response during Hazardous Weather
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a report on the recent Thurston County Code Blue homeless response during hazardous weather.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a report on how the recent Thurston County Code Blue homeless response operated during hazardous weather
Staff Contact:
Anna Schlecht, Community Service Programs Manager, Community Planning & Development Department, (360) 753-8183
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahley, Community Planning and Development Department Director.
Keylee Marineau, Thurston County Homeless Prevention and Affordable Housing Coordinator.
Captain Mark Stearns, Salvation Army Olympia Corps.
Background and Analysis:
A report will be provided by several community partners who helped to coordinate the recent Thurston County "Code Blue" homeless response during hazardous weather. During this 12 day period of freezing snow and rain, the County worked closely with the City and other community partners to coordinate a system of expanded shelter and homeless camp support. This "Code Blue" response mobilized local government, faith communities, non-profit service providers, concerned citizens and homeless people themselves to work together to keep our unhoused neighbors alive.
County's Hazard Weather Response to Homelessness:
Thurston County hosts the regional Hazard Weather Task Force (HWTF) that developed and manages the Extreme Weather Shelter Plan intended to provide shelter and other accommodations for unhoused citizens during episodes of extreme weather.
"Hazard weather" is defined in the plan to include: deep freezes, wind storms, floods, earthquakes and other life-threatening hazardous conditions. When the Task Force recommends a declaration of extreme weather, or "Code Blue," the Thurston County Director of Public Health may officially decl...
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