Thurston County has found a new organization to issue to rent and utility checks to low-income residents after breaking with its previous provider.
Last week, the Board of County Commissioners approved contracts with Catholic Community Services of Western Washington. This allows them to take on the Housing and Essential Needs Program (HEN) and the Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) programs through June 30, 2023, according to county documents.
Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties opted not to renew its HEN and RRH contracts with Thurston County on June 30, the same day the contracts expired. As a result, county officials scrambled to issue August rent and utility checks to about 380 clients.
"Over the last several months, through a concerted effort... we've been able to maintain the HEN program ongoing and attempt to eliminate any issues around transitioning this program from CAC to the new permanent provider," said Homeless and Affordable Housing Coordinator Keylee Marineau.
The Housing and Essential Needs program helps prevent homelessness, rehouses unemployable adults and provides them with basic needs. Meanwhile, the Rapid Re-Housing program provides short-term rental assistance and services.
To keep the HEN program going, the county approved a $50,000 contract with Partners in Prevention Education in July for temporary case management, The Olympian previously reported.
They also entered into a $1 million contract with LiveStories, a Seattle-based company, to issue rent, deposit and utility checks for HEN clients.
Then on Aug. 15, the county issued a request for proposals, seeking a permanent provider for the HEN and RRH programs. On Sept. 14, the Regional Housing Council voted to recommend the county approve the new contracts with Catholic Community Services.
In all, Catholic Community Services will receive $2.4 million to operate the HEN program and $175,000 for RRH, per county documents.
Additionally, the board approved a $100,000 contract with Family Support Center of South Sound to continue the county's coordinated entry program, an emergency housing system that prioritizes people based on vulnerability.
CAC previously added single adults to the coordinated entry system, but they also refused to continue that service when they ended their contracts with Thurston County.
With these new contracts in place, the county has replaced CAC. The non-profit has been at odds with Thurston County since a county audit reported fraud claims in CAC's rent assistance payments.
