Supreme Living announced on its website Tuesday that it no longer plans to house sex offenders at a housing facility in south Thurston County near Tenino.
The decision came after outcry and outrage from residents and government officials caught off guard by the plans.
“Supreme Living announced today that due to resources and expenses associated with land use requirements, it will not proceed with providing supportive housing services at its Tenino property,” Supreme Living Management wrote. “Supreme Living values its relationship with the Department of Social and Health Services and continues to strongly believe in the importance of providing much needed supportive services. Supreme Living appreciates the courtesy and professionalism of DSHS and Thurston County staff in connection with this matter.”
Supreme Living’s announcement comes after protests, public meetings and plans in the Legislature to prevent similar situations in the future.
Officially known as a Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA) sex offender housing facility, the building is located at 140th Avenue Southwest north of Tenino.
The facility was scheduled to accept its first resident, a registered level two sex offender, on Feb. 1.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office announced in early February, though, that the plan to move the first inmate from the McNeil Island Special Confinement Center into the LRA had been postponed. Representatives from the state Department of Corrections and the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) confirmed that postponement during a webinar with community members a short time later.
“That release has been paused for the time being while the property owner and the county discuss concerns raised related to code compliance for the property,” Kevin Bovenkamp, the assistant secretary of the DSHS Behavioral Health Administration, said at the time.
The Tenino facility was to be considered supportive housing, meaning everything residents need would be provided at the site. Residents are not permitted to leave.
Officially, the facility would serve five state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) clients.
However, the facility was specifically created as a result of a state effort to try and reduce overcrowding at the special commitment center on McNeil Island, which houses people convicted of violent sex offenses who have completed their sentences but are considered extremely likely to reoffend if not confined to a secure facility.
This story will be updated.
