All-View Motel conversion to housing nears completion

PORT ANGELES — The All-View Motel’s transformation from an old-school motor court to supportive housing for people with chronic mental health issues who are experiencing homelessness is getting closer to completion.

A move-in date for tenants could come as early as January, said Wendy Sisk, executive director of Peninsula Behavioral Health, which owns and will operate the facility at 214 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

“We’re are targeting those with serious behavioral health needs who are homeless and active in their treatment,” Sisk said. “We want to be a good community partner and we want our housing to be safe and stable housing for folks.”

Dawn View Court — as the All-View has been renamed in honor of the late Dawn Saiz who worked at PBH — will combine affordable housing with support services for individuals, veterans and families.

The project has received federal, state, county and city funding, as well as support through community, business and nonprofit organizations, but renovation of the 1937 motel has not been without some costly hiccups.

In late December 2021, two months after PBH took possession of the site, a bitter cold spell caused pipes to burst in 10 of the 25 units when, unbeknownst to the PBA, the electricity had been shut off but the water wasn’t.

“We had to tear out all the drywall and insulation,” Sisk said. “And then we found asbestos and rotting framework.”

Then thieves cut out the new copper pipes that had been installed, and that had to be replaced, she said.

PBH installed security cameras after vandals broke the windows, but they don’t plan on replacing those until right before tenants move in just in case they’re broken again, Sisk said.

Originally budgeted at $3.5 million (which included the $1.47 million purchase price), Sisk said the water damage, theft and vandalism have contributed to the project going an estimated $1.3 million over budget.

“It’s a lot,” she said. “We’ve applied for another [Washington State Department of] Commerce grant to help with that, and Commerce also has some funds that we can use to help fill gaps.”

In addition to being in active treatment, Dawn View tenants must also have low or extremely low household incomes and earn less than 30 percent of the area median income (AMI). Currently that ranges from a maximum of income of $14,850 for one person to $21,200 for a family of four, although Sisk said those numbers are likely to increase by the time the Dawn View accepts tenants.

Sisk estimated about 30 to 40 people will live in Dawn View Court’s 25 units that include 21 permanent supportive housing units (including two that are ADA-compliant) and four studios that are reserved for participants in Clallam County’s mental health court, which began operating in August.

All units will have high-efficiency heat pumps, kitchens with energy-efficient ranges and refrigerators, a bathroom with a shower and a closet. The design focus has been durability and functionality, so there is vinyl flooring rather than carpet and quartz countertops rather than laminate.

Utilities, including water and electricity, garbage collection and broadband, will be included in the rent. Basic household items, such as pots and pans, eating utensils and linens, will be supplied by PBH.

Tenants will be responsible for furnishing their units. However, Sisk said PBH staff is very good at sourcing couches, beds, tables and chairs.

No one will have to sit — or sleep — on the floor.

Tenants will be able to take advantage of three sets of washers and dryers in the on-site laundry room, where there’s no charge to use the machines.

Among the rules PBH has established are no candles, pets, alcohol or illegal drugs. There will be a limit on the length of time non-tenants can stay as guests as well. It will not accept registered sex offenders, anyone with a history of arson or significant violence.

Sisk estimated rents will run between about $375 to $500 a month, depending on the unit’s size.

Among the benefits of the site, Sisk said, are that it is only a half-mile from Peninsula Behavioral Health offices at 118 E. Eighth St., making it easy for people to follow through on their treatment. It’s also just a two-minute walk to the Port Angeles Main Library.

A 24/7 on-site resident with de-escalation skills and mental health first aid training will be available to do repair and maintenance work, collect rents and assess crises should they occur.

PBH just hired Andrew Reiners in the newly created position of Housing Services Program Manager to oversee its three supportive housing facilities and to review rental applications.

Sisk said while anyone can apply to live at the facility, most will be referred by community mental health and homeless organizations at first.

Based on feedback from a community survey PBH conducted, it decided against a housing-first approach at Dawn View Court which would have provided housing to people experiencing homeless without requiring any preconditions.

“We’re going to require that when folks come into housing care that they are engaged in behavioral health treatment, whether it’s with us or the VA or with another treatment provider in the community,” Sisk said.

“We want people that show that they’re making an investment in wellness and will allow us to support them and be successful.”

Having missed the original completion date of August 2022 — and the original budget — Sisk said PBH felt confident it was continuing on the right path in supporting individuals struggling with behavioral issues, addressing homelessness and working with community partners in seeking solutions to complex problems.

“I tell people, we have to do this well and we have to do it right,” she said. “This is a bigger project than we’ve had in the past and so it’s going to take us time to work out some of the kinks.”

Sisk said one local hotel had already reached out to PBH to ask if it would be interested in converting its site to supportive housing.

“I said, we’ve got to do it once and do it right, and then once we know that we’re confident in our skills, we’ll make a decision about whether or not it makes sense from a mission standpoint for us to continue that kind of housing.”

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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@soundpublishing.com.