In July 2020, following an open application process, the City Council appointed a diverse group of Lacey community members to serve on the Community Workgroup on Homelessness. The workgroup’s 12-month, community-driven process will explore the experience of people facing homelessness in the community, examine current approaches, discuss issues, gauge community understanding and support for potential goals and strategies, and develop recommendations to the City Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 12-month process began in July 2020 and includes four phases. For phase details, click here.

Phase 1: Identify (August 2020 – February 2021)

Phase 2: Develop (October 2020 – April 2021)

Phase 3: Review (April – June 2021)

Phase 4: Recommend (June – July 2021)

 

 

Initially, Workgroup members met to:

  • Establish guidelines about how they would work together
  • Gain understanding of the process

Workgroup members also shared what they love about Lacey - part of why they stepped up to participate in this process. Project facilitators will help the workgroup keep these things in mind, as they work to develop recommendations for the City Council on issues addressing homelessness in Lacey.

Since then, they have:

  • Gathered questions and thoughts on homelessness from people in their networks
  • Listened to housed and unhoused community members about their hopes and concerns related to their experience of homelessness locally

Currently, the workgroup is learning how service providers and public leaders are addressing issues surrounding homelessness, to help them develop guiding principles and goals for Lacey’s plan.

To see what the learning has included so far, click here. 

 

 

 

Due to the pandemic and limits on in-person gatherings, a webinar speaker series was created to support the Community Workgroup on Homelessness' efforts to gather information and learn about the issues surrounding homelessness. The webinars are also available to community members, here. 

 

 

 

As part of the data and information gathering process, community members are invited to take part in a virtual open house, February 15 – March 1. Participants can learn more about a variety of topics related to homelessness and provide input. Get additional information about the Open house, here.

 

Watch for active Open House link to participate! (To be posted Monday, February 15 at 8:00 a.m.)

 

 

 

List of Thurston County Services

 

Housing Authority of Thurston County: 

 

211:

 

 

 

 

Kasi Andrade
           
Peggy Madsen
Gabe Ash
     Michael Meredith
DeFrance Clark
  Joe Miller
Sta Dickoff
     Mary Ann O'Garro
Deanna East
  Raymond Payne
Scott Ellgen
     Paul Perz
"Kenny" Nnabuike Ezeh  

  William Pierpoint
Casey Forsyth
     Edwin Pole
John Grantham
  James Stanton
Robert Kagy
     Sean Thomte
Judith Kennedy
  Madelin White
Shannon Lavallie
     Vyrginia Willis
 

 


 

Although City staff will help coordinate the group, the Athena Group will facilitate the community-driven process, including team members Meagan Picard, Paul Horton, and Steve Byers.

If you have questions or comments about the Workgroup, contact:
Rick Walk, City of Lacey Community & Economic Development Director
RWalk@ci.lacey.wa.us or (360) 438-2638.