A diverse group of some of the most vulnerable residents now has a stable home thanks to the opening of permanent supportive housing development in the heart of downtown Olympia, Wash.
Developed by Seattle-based Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), the 43-unit Billy Frank Jr. Place is serving four distinct special-needs populations: 10 units for disabled adults under the age of 61 with help from the Sec. 811 Project Rental Assistance Demonstration program to help them transition out of unnecessary institutional care; 10 units for homeless young adults with rent support from Community Youth Services; 16 units for homeless veterans with Sec. 8 vouchers through the Housing Authority of Thurston County; and six units for chronically homeless households.
“Young adult homelessness has been a serious, persistent issue with the community, and homeless veterans is one of the largest needs in the community,” says LIHI executive director Sharon Lee. “The Department of Housing and Urban Development Sec. 811 program is where we can get operating subsidy to help people who otherwise would end up in nursing homes or assisted living, which is much more expensive.”
The development also includes a unit for the building assistant, who has social services and case management qualifications. Each household has a resident services plan, and the building assistant will coordinate services and agency providers.
Named after water rights activist and Nisqually tribe member Billy Frank Jr., the energy-efficient building features fine art and paddles made by a contemporary Native American artist.
“He was just a hero in the community who represented what we should be doing to protect the environment,” says Lee.
Key to the $12.7 million development was the support of the city of Olympia, which sold a surplus parcel adjacent to the Transit Center for a deeply discounted price of $100,000 and oversaw the remediation of the brownfield site.
“The city of Olympia is a shining example of what communities can do across the country for affordable housing, especially for the homeless,” adds Lee.
