Thurston Regional Housing Council looking to fill Homeless Services Advisory Board positions 

The Thurston Regional Housing Council (RHC) is recruiting Thurston County residents to serve on the Homeless Services Advisory Board, which helps guide regional decisions about the local homeless response system.  

Individuals interested in being considered for appointment to the board in January 2027 should submit a completed online application by Nov. 19.  

The board’s primary responsibility is to recommend funding priorities, funding awards and policies related to the region’s Homeless Response Plan.  

Recommendations also cover state and local funding administered through RHC and approved by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners, which serves as the fiscal agent for the funds.  

The funding programs include Standard, Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG), Housing and Essential Needs Homeless Prevention, Emergency Housing Funds (EHF), Inflationary Funds, Document Recording Fees Backfill, and other sources established to support the homeless crisis response plan.  

The housing council is seeking community members, service providers, and people with relevant professional or lived experience.  

Recruitment focuses on people with at least three years of experience working within Thurston County’s homeless response system, as well as people with backgrounds in budgeting, financial planning or reviewing funding requests.  

Other areas of expertise being sought include family services, youth and young adult services, public school homeless liaison programs, faith-based homeless services, legal advocacy and veterans advocacy.  

Applicants must live in Thurston County and be available for monthly meetings. The council hopes to strengthen representation from south Thurston County and other geographically underserved communities.  

The board is composed of at least eight voting members and no more than 14 members, who serve as subject matter experts in homeless services.  

Board members are expected to actively participate in discussions, contribute to conversations involving differing viewpoints and competing priorities, and help guide difficult funding decisions.  

They will also participate in the annual request for proposals review and funding recommendation process. This responsibility requires additional time during March and April to assess and score funding applications outside regular scheduled meetings.