PORT TOWNSEND — A valid conditional use permit and lack of funding were two obstacles standing in the way of operating this season’s Port Townsend Summer Shelter.
But through the coordinated efforts of many, the shelter finally has a tentative opening date of May 1.
Between now and then, 13 people that are known to need a place to stay and shower are guests in homes offered by concerned residents.
The Summer Shelter, dubbed Shelter Plus, was a pilot program last year that operated from April 28 to Oct. 31 by Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) at the American Legion Hall at 209 Monroe St.
It offered sleeping accommodations and showers, and served 18 people who were fully employed and had nowhere else to go.
Initially, plans to give the summer program another season were not part of OlyCAP’s programming this year, according to Kathy Morgan, housing director for OlyCAP.
After some discussion, an OlyCAP board member suggested the organization should offer the service again and Morgan said the board agreed to proceed.
The idea had not been brought to the Port Townsend City Council until March 19. And that’s when the problems began.
First, there was a misunderstanding about a conditional use permit that was granted for the winter shelter program. It was signed by Community Outreach Association Shelter Team (COAST). Through an agreement, OlyCAP ran the winter operations and COAST provided the hospitality/food service. It expired April 3.
Community Development Director Lance Bailey explained that OlyCAP officials thought a time frame extension was an easy fix, and because it was a continuation of a shelter, they could piggyback on the existing permit. COAST is not involved in the summer program.
“As it stands now, the shelter is closed,” Bailey said. “From a code standpoint, any modification to a permit requires a public comment period of 20 days. Changing dates and users is a modification.
“In addition, the property owner, the American Legion, is required to provide authorization for use. There is a lease that exists between the owner and COAST that has expired. They need to sign off on the new use.
“This has been totally out of the blue for me,” Bailey said. “At the City Council meeting on Monday [April 2] I learned about this for for the very first time. There are time frames for permits.
“I’m really limited in what I can do.”
On Friday, Kathy Morgan, housing director for OlyCAP, applied for a new permit to get the project back on track and met with American Legion representatives who signed off on the agreement.
“Given the 20-day time frame, it pushes the start date to May 1 or thereabouts,” Morgan said.
Currently the space is being cleaned and prepared for its next guests.
As for funding the shelter, OlyCAP says it needs $120,000. The organization itself has pledged $15,000.
At its April 2 Monday business meeting, Port Townsend City Council members voted to authorize a previously agreed upon amount of $40,000 from the council’s reserve budget. This amount is less than the $75,000 originally requested by Morgan at the March 19 council meeting.
The council’s total reserve budget for the entire year is $87,000.
“The council reserve funds are set aside for an emergency. These are tough times. This puts the council in a difficult position,” Mayor Deborah Stinson said.
Council members questioned if there was another way to find funding.
Councilman Robert Gray, who sits on the OlyCAP board as its chair, said the 2017 shelter was “extremely successful” and suggested Jefferson County should be asked to increase its funding from $30,000 to $50,000.
City Manager David Timmons was tasked to work with the county commissioners to make up the deficit and develop a permanent funding solution for the program. Those details are being discussed.
Councilwoman Pamela Adams agreed with the funding plan but added, “the only caveat would be that there are an equal number of beds for women as there are for men.”
Currently, given the physical design of the space, only nine women can be accommodated. The shelter can house 30 men.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com
