County proceeds cautiously with start of housing project

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday authorized Health and Human Services staff to begin looking for a potential site for 16-20 units of new housing accessible to county residents with disabilities and/or low incomes.

A group known as the Wahkiakum Continuity of Care Housing Group will begin looking for a site and is authorized to enter into non-binding negotiations that would secure the site for future use. The county formed the housing group in 2007 and charged it with advising the commission on use of Affordable Housing and Homeless Housing funds.

Since 2002, the county has taken a share of fees for recordings in the auditor's office for the two funds, as authorized by state law. The collections now total $100,939.

Chris Holmes, Health and Human Services Mental Health director, commented that because of the state's revenue shortfall crises, state officials are talking about recalling unallocated funds. This is a good reason for the county to get a project started and work to secure a piece of land, he and others said.

The housing group has determined the county's most pressing housing issue is "to significantly increase the stock of affordable housing accessible to county residents with low incomes, and in particular, those with disabilities."

The initial step is to find and secure a site, with project design, funding and construction to follow as funding becomes available.

Several people spoke in favor of the concept.

Cathlamet Town Councilmember Steve McNicholas said increased population will have long-term benefits for the town's infrastructure and all residents, especially those connected to the town's wastewater system. The greater the number of people, the lower the rates, he said.

Bill Hardy, director of Timberlands Regional Support Network, said safe and affordable housing are badly needed to accommodate people with mental illness living in local communities.

Mike Reardon of the Southwest Washington Agency on Aging pointed out that the county's population of people age 60 and above is projected to increase from 1,278 this year to 1,500 in 2020, and the number of persons age 18 or above and disabled is expected to increase from 386 this year to 443 in 2020.

Holmes reported that once they have a secured site, they can prepare a housing plan and pre-design. This will be presented in public meetings, and they'll revise the plan after receiving public comment and present it to the commission for final approval.

Commissioners gave the project tentative approval but indicated they were concerned about the impact the new housing could have on existing rental properties.

"I would like to have an analysis of the impacts on the market," said board Chair Lisa Marsyla. "Would a landlord have to lower rents to compete if people were to move into the project and lose money?"

Holmes commented that there is a lack of housing in the county, and if it impacts all people. If the project is built, there may be adjustments in rental rates, he added, as people look for the most affordable housing.

One landlord, Barbara Blix, commented that she has had a unit stay vacant for a year. "Consideration should be given for the existing vacant units," she said. "The need is not there for new housing."

Holmes responded that the housing group wants to present actual numbers of housing units in its analysis. He added that the group would try to design a project that wouldn't hurt existing landlords.

Commissioners Blair Brady and Dan Cothren commented the project will be controversial, and it needs to be presented to the public.

One concern, Cothren said, is if the project would be creating a neighborhood of low income people.

Holmes responded that the county is already serving the people who would live in the project; the people already reside in the community.

"Our intent is to serve better the people who are here," he said.

The board agreed by consensus that the housing group could move forward. The board expects to see a good public comment effort, she added.