Communities look for heroes to help house the vulnerable

April 6, 2020 1:30 am
Communities look for heroes to help house the vulnerable

Submitted by Washington State Department of Commerce

Hotel owners across Washington may have an opportunity to help their communities and fill empty rooms, thanks to a $30-million state emergency housing grant from the state Department of Commerce. San Juan County was allotted $312,682.

The funds are available to local governments and nonprofit organizations in communities — not directly to the private businesses. Communities will work with hotel owners to provide necessary rooms and services for alternative care sites during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is an opportunity to assist hotels struggling with lower demand and help people who need an alternative housing option during this emergency,” Commerce Director Lisa Brown said. “Businesses can be some of the true heroes in this crisis, strengthening communities by providing housing for first responders, medical personnel and others needing a place to stay during the pandemic.”

The funding will help counties meet expected sheltering needs necessitated by statewide social distancing orders. Existing shelters were already operating at capacity before the emergency rules took effect.

“We knew that to keep people safely separated, we were going to run into a situation where there just wasn’t enough capacity in the system,” said Kathy Kinard, grant program manager. “This grant will open up more shelter opportunities across the state immediately.”

Benton County Human Services Manager Kyle Sullivan accessed some of the grant money to reserve 21 hotel beds from A-1 Hospitality Group for those in need of an emergency shelter. He is also partnering with a local taxi service to help people get to the facility even if they need wheelchair service.

“This is the kind of partnership and creativity that we need – this truly makes a difference in this time of crisis,” Brown said.

Hotel owners interested in partnering with the countiy to house people during the crisis can contact San Juan County Health & Community Services Director Mark Tompkins at 360-370-7517 or email markt@sanjuanco.com.