Thurston County officials outline Veterans Hub, housing and telehealth steps for local veterans

Thurston County officials and visiting lawmakers described a mix of local, state and federal efforts aimed at improving services for veterans in and around Yelm.

Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant said the county’s Veterans Hub brings services together in one place, including case managers and new veteran peer‑service workers. Grant said the hub offers healthcare navigation and housing coordination, and that the county keeps “three open beds at any point in time” dedicated for veterans who are homeless. She added the hub operates a vehicle to transport veterans to services in Yelm.

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, who represents Washington’s 10th Congressional District, said she is co‑sponsoring bipartisan federal legislation intended to provide incentives for developers to build affordable housing within a 15‑mile radius of military facilities. “We have a housing supply shortage, we need more affordable housing, and that is one way we can do it,” Strickland said.

State Representative Matt Marshall said veteran mental‑health and suicide prevention are priorities for his office; he described working with local VFW posts and a cross‑chamber veterans group to brainstorm solutions and improve access to care. Marshall said improving civilian provider availability and reducing wait times are essential steps.

Local officials also said they are pursuing telehealth access in Yelm to provide private spaces for veterans to meet with providers and that quarterly meetings with the veteran community are now in place to coordinate local efforts.