Lewis County Commissioners Scott Brummer and Sean Swope spoke out against growing funding for housing and homeless services during the county directors’ meeting Wednesday, calling for more financial accountability.
A proposed bi-annual contract between Lewis County and the Washington state Department of Commerce would provide the county with roughly $6.5 million in funding for programs as part of the state's consolidated homeless grant.
Brummer and Swope both raised the alarm over the large sum, which has slowly increased each biennium, calling it an "unconscionable" way to spend money and saying that challenges with homeless individuals have not lessened despite spending.
Commissioner Lindsey Pollock was largely quiet on the topic.
The resolution to accept the funds was ultimately tabled until August as Swope said he would prefer to accept only a portion of the money while Brummer said the county needed to focus on prioritizing services.
Lewis County receives a large sum from the state under the consolidated homeless grant each biennium for the services it provides, but it rarely spends all of it. During the last biennium, it was allocated almost $2 million more than it ultimately spent. According to Lewis County Public Health and Social Services Director Meja Handlen, of the approximately $6.2 million Lewis County received under the consolidated homeless grant in the last biennium, it spent roughly $4.5 million.
“I don't want to add more revenue,” Swope said. “I would like to see us decrease … I would like to get back to the number that we actually spent and reduce it by 10% and then only accept that amount. I don’t want to accept $6.5 million.”
The grant funds support the local night-by-night and transitional shelters as well as other support programs, such as the Housing and Essential Needs program that provides rental assistance and other financial support. According to Handlen, the newest iteration of the grant would fund those programs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Handlen also pointed out that the funding included in the grant works on a reimbursement basis with the county only spending the portion of the sum that it needs and sending back what is left. She added during the meeting that many neighboring counties receive and spend much more than Lewis County.
“Cowlitz County receives twice as much money as we do in consolidated homeless grant services,” Handlen said. “Mason County also receives much more.”
While the commissioners recognized that the county only spends what it needs and commended Handlen and her department for the work they do, Brummer and Swope remained staunchly opposed to accepting the full $6.5 million.
In connection to the growing funding, Swope raised concerns that growing services could lead to Lewis County becoming a “catch basin” for homeless individuals. Swope added that while the county wants to help its residents, he's concerned that it’s attracting more individuals who are seeking services.
“I understand what we’re doing. I understand what kind of message that sends,” Swope said. “But at some point, we cannot continue to raise the revenues in this manner. People are being taxed, and we’re taking that tax, that over-taxation, and putting it toward these kinds of services where … Why even try to get out if I can have all my needs paid for?”
Brummer echoed Swope's sentiments and emphasized a need for the county to prioritize services that would lift people out of homelessness and not simply provide their daily needs.
“These are staggering numbers. $3.25 million a year for a county of our population,” Brummer said. “That is massive, and I am 100% in agreement that if you provide it, they will come. And I am very concerned … I think this goes the absolute opposite direction that we want to go and especially when it comes to prioritizing the services that are there to help get people out of that situation versus just providing for them. To me, this is almost unconscionable to spend that kind of money.”
Following their feedback, the commissioners requested to take a look at the county’s previous expenses spent from the consolidated homeless grant stretching back to 2017. Handlen said she would also send them itemized expense lists to give a better and more detailed look at the costs associated with the services the county provides.
Handlen recognized the staggering dollar amounts spent in the community to address homelessness and mental health, but also testified to the value of the services the county provides and the effort the county goes to meet the needs of Lewis County residents, saying requesting a reduction in funding would be difficult.
“When people come to you and ask for services that aren't necessarily in our wheel house, we bend over backwards to make that happen,” Handlen said. “It’s been difficult. This will be a difficult ask, but we're going to ask them if we can reduce this and what it looks like to have the actual services provided that our community needs.”
