The long-awaited relocation of people from homeless encampments along I-5, particularly Sleater-Kinney Road, to Maple Court has been postponed again, Planning and Development Services Manager Grant Beck revealed.
During the Planning Commission meeting on June 6, Tuesday, Beck said some fire sprinkler issue caused the delay from the supposed opening on June 19.“That slipped a little bit and is (yet) to be determined based on some fire sprinkler issues that they ran into,” reported Beck.
Beck said the state plan is to relocate people from homeless encampments along Sleater-Kinney Road first, then relocate them or offer them housing services.
He added that providers might be able to place ten people per week in the Maple Court, formerly known as Days Inn motel. According to reports, there are 177 people who have been in the I-5 encampments at one point or another.
“We are not the lead entity working with the state on managing or cleaning up the camp, but we understand our businesses and residents are impacted by some of the activities that are surrounding it,” Beck added.
During the Lacey council meeting on June 2, Mayor Andy Ryder said the council had received many emails with the same concern, clarifying that the area is under the Washington Department of Transportation property and is in Olympia.
Ryder clarified that they are in constant contact with the City of Olympia to address the issue.
"I say it's all of our problems because we're all the ones that are dealing with this," Ryder added.
The shelter would prioritize people living along the Sleater Kinney right-of-way, related Thomas Webster, program manager at the county’s Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention during the Thurston County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, June 6.
The capacity of the shelter is set at 120 rooms that are intended for single adults.
The shelter is set to receive additional funding through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s (Commerce) Right-of-Way Initiative.
The Thurston County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to an interagency agreement with Commerce on Tuesday, June 6, adding $2,100,000 to the program and bringing its total funding to $12,920,000.
The Right-of-Way Initiative seeks to remove people living on state public rights-of-way and relocate them, preferably to permanent housing. Through the program, Commerce rewards grants to partner jurisdictions and non-profits to fund shelters, hotel conversions, and hotel stays for people fleeing domestic violence.
Low Income Housing Institute is a beneficiary of the Right-of-Way Initiative and uses its funding to operate the Maple Court Shelter, which was previously the Days Inn motel. Thomas Webster, program manager at the county’s Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention, told the commission that most of the additional funding would be used to provide the non-profit with operational and case management support.
“[The funding] will ensure that there's sufficient staffing case management and on-site support for folks who are going to be at that facility and also provide additional funding for outreach for future years,” Webster said.
The funding is sourced from Commerce and would run until June 30, 2025.
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JulesJames
Squat public property = get a hotel room for free. Yes -- I understand this is a complicated issue at so many different levels. But the basic reality is that government is rewarding theft. If I were economically vulnerable, ditching rent at the flop for a tent under the bridge has just become a viable path forward - whether I lived in Thurston County or Davenport Iowa.
Thursday, June 8, 2023 Report this
rmandery
“Some fire sprinkler issues” makes it sound incidental and picayune. This is a facility with the type of residents that getting the life safety systems precisely correct is critical. I thank the authority having jurisdiction for making certain the codes and standards are properly adhered to.
Friday, June 9, 2023 Report this
52237123abc
Has the Maple Lane facility ever been considered for housing?
Seems expanding bus routes to Olympia and Cent Cheh, law enforcement and mental health availability could make this viable.
There could be an area for mobile homes or rooms inside. Already has cooking and restroom availability. With bus routes there is accessibility to grocery stores and medical facilities.
Think about it. Thurston and Lewis County working together on this?
Friday, June 9, 2023 Report this
username73737737
If you want to relocate the homeless, move them out to tenino or some other place in the middle of nowhere. We do not want dangerous transients on our streets anymore. Keep yourselves armed, keep yourselves safe.
Friday, June 9, 2023 Report this
Tractor1
Just under 13 MILLION DOLARS has been poured in to this problem. And what do we get? A revolving door effect -- clear out and clean up an illegal encampment and shortly after it is repopulated!
Friday, June 9, 2023 Report this
Olygirl2023
Is there going to be on-site staff and enforcement? Or will Maple Court look like the side of I-5, inside and out??? It had to be cleaned up due to drug contamination before it could be used for this purpose so the community would really benefit from understanding how the site will be kept clean and drug free.
What is the plan for those that don’t follow the rules or don’t want to move there? We aren’t getting anywhere with the drug addiction, mental health problems and the unsheltered. I have never seen crime so bad here and seems there isn’t an end in sight. $13 million in drug treatment and mental health services would have made a bigger impact.
Friday, June 9, 2023 Report this