Supreme Living scraps planned sex offender housing in Tenino

Supreme Living LLC, a provider of residential behavioral health services, has announced that it would no longer proceed with the plan to provide supportive housing services for sex offenders in the Tenino-Maytown area.

An announcement on the firm’s website states that the plan was scrapped “due to resources and expenses associated with land use requirements.”

“Supreme Living values its relationship with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and continues to strongly believe in the importance of providing much-needed supportive services,” the firm said. “Supreme Living appreciates the courtesy and professionalism of DSHS and Thurston County staff in connection with this matter.”

Following the public clamor against the project, Thurston County said they engaged with local legislators to address the concern.

The Washington DSHS and Department of Corrections announced the postponement of the housing project last month and postponed the transfer of the supposed first resident into the proposed less restrictive alternative (LRA) residence for sex offenders but refused to provide further details.

Community response

Tenino Mayor Wayne Fournier celebrated Supreme Living’s announcement in a post on his Facebook page.

“We fought back, we won this battle and we started not only a statewide conversation but a nationwide debate,” he said. “I encourage everyone to continue being vigilant and the best way to maintain a good defense is through building stronger and tighter communities!”

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said the incident “exposed a number of substantial flaws” in handling less restrictive alternative residences.

“I look forward to working with our state government and representatives in the future to find a long-term solution to this problem that protects everyone,” Sanders said in a Facebook post.

The Sheriff also acknowledged that Supreme Living “runs a number of successful and much-needed supportive housing programs in our county, and we particularly appreciate the mental health housing services they provide for those needing assisted living.”

Regulation problems

Thurston County Public Health & Social Services issued a letter on January 24 to Supreme Living advising the company that it must meet county requirements for fresh water, a septic system and foot service facilities before the house can be occupied.

County records state that the property was sold to Supreme Capital Holdings LLC, of Kent, Washington, on February 10, 2022, for $1.1 million. The property fully surrounds a man-made water-skiing lake. The 4,400-square-foot single-family home has four bedrooms and sits on 14.47 acres. Zoning in that area requires five acres per residence.