Title
Special Recognition - Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Hope Village
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Recognize Westminster Presbyterian Church and its partner organizations for Olympia’s first faith-based tiny house village.
Report
Issue:
Whether to hear a brief overview of Westminster Presbyterian Church’s tiny house village.
Staff Contact:
Keith Stahley, Interim Assistant City Manager 360 753 8227
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahley, Interim Assistant City Manager
Therin Fenner, Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church of Olympia
Frank Sanborn, Member, Westminster Presbyterian Church of Olympia
Nancy Nelson, Member, Westminster Presbyterian Church of Olympia
Peter Cook, Member, FAITH (Faith Alliance Initiative for Tiny Houses)
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia strongly believes that the current homeless crisis we find ourselves in is not a problem that can be effectively dealt with by any one organization and particularly not by the city alone. An effective response is going to take partnerships - Partnerships between layers of government (federal, state and local); partnerships with social service agencies; and partnerships with faith-based organizations.
Westminster Presbyterian Church has stepped forward and constructed the first faith-based tiny house village in Olympia. It is known as Hope Village. This facility will provide a stable, warm, dry and supported environment for eight or more residents to move forward with their lives. This facility is not a permanent supportive housing project. It is meant to be transitional housing where residents stabilize, recover and move on to permanent housing.
Westminster was joined by United Churches of Olympia (two houses), First United Methodist of Olympia (two house), Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation (one house), and Westwood Baptist Church (one house). Peace Lutheran Church of Kent also contributed one house in conjunction with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and two from LIHI itself. It is the city’s hope that each of these entities will maintain their support of this project and the individuals living there throughout the life of the project.
The City has a contract with Westminster Presbyterian to support construction and operations of this facility. LIHI will be providing active outreach and social service support to the residents and the church.
The City wishes to recognize this courageous and important step that Westminster Presbyterian has taken and understands the courage that it required on the part of church leadership and the congregation. The City encourages other faith-based organizations to join Westminster Presbyterian in this direct action.
Attachments:
None