Aberdeen, WA – After a fiery three-and-a-half-hour meeting, the council was deadlocked at a 6 to 6 tie. Mayor Orr casted the deciding vote, allowing the City of Aberdeen to submit a proposal in response to Grays Harbor County's Request for Proposal (RFP) for a low barrier shelter and services. Voting Against: Council Member Morrison, Carter, Gakin, Lawrence, Taylor & Hodgkin. Voting For: Council Member Pieraccini, Sidor, Ellis, Newbill, Prato & Maki.
(Aberdeen Council Member Kacey Morrison)
Currently, the city maintains riverfront property that is strewn with litter, trash, and tents, and is currently occupied by drug addicts. The process of purchasing the riverfront property was started by former Mayor Erik Larson, who pushed to acquire the land back in 2018 from a private landowner. Larson said the property owner didn’t have the resources to maintain the growing homeless problem on the property.
(Photos presented by Ruth Clemens, City Administrator)
Over the years, there has been some contention between county officials and the City of Aberdeen as to who should pay for the homelessness problem that has plagued the city. The county hasn’t done much to minimize the problem over the years. It started with the county's failure to meet its goal to end homelessness with the "10 Year Plan to End Homelessness," which was rebranded as the "Five Year Plan to Address Unmet Housing Needs," it is still not producing good news. The Department of Commerce indicated in 2023 that more than 2,000 people remain homeless in Grays Harbor, despite county and state money funding numerous nonprofits related to housing, homelessness, and addiction.
Whether it is a homeless issue or an addiction problem, it should be pointed out that the Union Gospel Mission, a privately funded nonprofit located in downtown Aberdeen, sits half-empty most nights. A great organization that requires sobriety to be housed.
The County Request for Proposal (RFP)
On March 5, County Commissioner Pine and Warne voted in favor of the Request for Proposal (RFP) while Commissioner Raines was absent. The RFP aims to address the need for low barrier shelter services through the acquisition and development of real property. The goal is to connect addicts to a range of services. Projects will also be expected to design and implement their services with other stakeholders that align with local and state laws.
Despite the City Administrator saying that this site will be for sober individuals during the meeting, the county’s RFP says otherwise. The Request for Proposals (RFP) says, “Resulting shelter(s) will operate under a low-barrier, high-intensity/co-located service model.” The controversy surrounding low barrier shelters is that they do not require sobriety on or off site. The RFP seeks proposals from local service providers who can demonstrate the ability to meet the county's goals of services and housing for the homeless.
The Low Barrier Shelter
The Aberdeen proposal outlines “a village of 100 Conestoga huts for the purpose of short-term, safe and stable housing for homeless adults who are waiting for affordable housing to become available. The City is proposing to remodel a 5,000+ square footage building to host laundry, showers, staff offices, kitchen, day room and spaces to support case management programs and coordinated services. The property location is on 4 acres on Junction City Road.”
The proposed budget for the City of Aberdeen's low barrier shelter outlines an initial investment in site renovation and preparation totaling $6.2 million. A portion, $800,000, is allocated to acquire the real property. The 100 micro-shelters are set to cost $400,000, while $3 million is dedicated to renovating a building that will be central to the operation. Another $2 million for site prep and infrastructure improvements.
On the operational side, the annual budget for running the homeless village is projected to be between $400,000 and $850,000. This operational budget covers the salaries of personnel, security, village supplies, and utilities. A tab the county will likely pick up. However, these numbers are considered estimates.
Martin vs. Boise Decision Challenged
Currently, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is reviewing a case concerning homeless camps which could turn the tide of the homeless issue. The case originates from Grants Pass, Oregon, it challenges the Martin v. Boise decision which has hamstrung many cities and counties in the US from dealing with the issues of homelessness and addiction. The decision could reshape these challenges and the trajectory for municipalities around homelessness. Wait and see.
Public Comment
In a packed room, citizens lined up during public comment to be heard. The surprise came when two sitting Superior Court Judges advocated against this agenda item. Superior Court Judge Svoboda and Governor Inslee-appointed Judge, Vini Samuel, both encouraged the council not to purchase the property for the homeless village because it was too close to the Grays Harbor County Juvenile Facility.
Judges are generally prohibited from using their prestige or title to engage in such activities, as it could persuade members of a council to vote in favor of or against an agenda item. Also, such an action could compromise impartiality, especially if the purchase of this land leads to litigation or if activities on the property regarding the homeless lead to some action in court.
Another comment came from Aberdeen resident, Dave Jennings, he said, “I will remind and inform you of the decisions of this council chamber; the city council allowed the former mayor of Aberdeen, Mayor Erik Larson, to purchase the riverfront. That became a mess for the city of Aberdeen.” He encouraged the city not to purchase the land.
Conclusion
As the 6 to 6 tie between the council is broken by the Mayor's “yes” vote, Grays Harbor County's RFP for low barrier shelter services is set to continue despite community feedback. One other potential wrench is the process for the City of Aberdeen is the nonprofit Coastal Community Action Program (CCAP), which is expected to submit a proposal. Will the low barrier shelter quell the downtown addiction issue or attract more addicts to the village?
You decide.
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