Cowlitz County adopts 2025'1030 local homeless housing plan after public hearing

The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the county's 2025'1030 local homeless housing plan following a public hearing and staff presentation. Health and Human Services director Gina James said the draft reflects both the county's homeless housing task force recommendations and components required by the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The plan sets three principal goals: increase training, education and job-skill opportunities; support a homeless system focused on self-sufficiency; and increase access to affordable housing. "This reflects both those requirements and what our homeless housing task force has provided in terms of input," Gina James said during the hearing. James noted the plan is the county's guiding document for allocating certain local funds, including document-recording fees that must be spent in alignment with the plan.

Public commenters and partner agencies spoke in support and asked clarifying questions. Jordan Wisdom of Community House on Broadway thanked the task force and county staff and asked whether operational subsidies for transitional or permanent housing would be eligible under the plan; James said eligible activities are described in the plan and that operational subsidies could be included where allowed. Commenters also asked whether the plan aligned with federal HUD policies; James said the county's required alignment is to the state strategic plan but that state and federal plans are generally coordinated.

Commissioners pressed staff on tracking and outcomes. One resident asked how the county measures completion of court-ordered treatment paid by the county through pass-through contracts; James explained the county fills gaps in treatment funding but that therapeutic courts and providers typically track completion and that county staff are exploring contract language to improve metric reporting.

The board moved and adopted the plan by voice vote. James said the county must submit the plan to the Department of Commerce in December and can amend the local plan later as needed. The county will proceed to align eligible funding allocations, including local document-recording fees and portions of the consolidated homeless grant, with the adopted plan.