HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health June 26 20181
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Whatcom County Council
Board of Health
June 26, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Council Vice -Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barry Buchanan, Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Tyler Byrd, Todd
Donovan, Satpal Sidhu, and Timothy Ballew
Absent: None
2. DIRECTOR REPORT
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, gave a staff report on the Women,
Infant, and Children (WIC) program. SeaMar will take over the County's caseload and open
several new locations.
3. PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD (PHAB) UPDATE
Rachel Lucy Cecka, Public Health Advisory Board Chair, gave an update on the
upcoming joint meeting with the PHAB and the Board of Health. Outcomes of the meeting
will include:
• Clarifying the roles of the Health Department, Board of Health, and PHAB
• A common understanding of the community health assessment
• Evolving role of public health and community health strategy
• An aligned plan of the future strategy and policy
4. HOMELESS HOUSING STRATEGY DISCUSSION
The following Health Department staff read from the presentation in the meeting
packet on homelessness and housing in Whatcom County.
• Anne Deacon
• Barbara Johnson -Vinna
Mike Parker, Opportunity Council, answered questions.
Staff answered questions on the process for conducting the homeless point -in -time
count; few available rental units and higher rents are causes of homelessness; supply and
demand issues other than the availability of affordable rental units; data on the change over
time in population compared to the change in available housing; using county data versus
state data; barriers to creating more affordable housing in Whatcom county; the types of
services provided by the staff at supportive housing facilities; the difference between
specialized housing and affordable housing; amount provided per household for rental
assistance; locations and size of low barrier shelters and tent encampments; and working
with community partners and private landlords.
Board of Health, 6/26/18, Page 1
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Councilmembers discussed funding for rental assistance; the County's role in
preventing homelessness; identifying the root causes of homelessness in Whatcom County;
rental assistance as only a temporary solution; whether growth projections need to be
revisited; how the County can encourage more housing; encouraging developers to create
housing at below- market levels; and the disconnect between available jobs and the labor
market.
1. PUBLIC SESSION
Jim Peterson, HomesNOW President, spoke about tiny home projects and tent
encampments as a short -term, temporary solution to homelessness.
Tony Casale, Bellingham /Whatcom Housing Authority Housing Supervisor, stated the
Housing Authority is a partner with Whatcom County. He described the services that the
Housing Authority provides to the community. He answered questions on Section 42 federal
housing tax credit.
Mike Parker, Opportunity Council, spoke about social and health barriers to housing
and the disparate impacts of the economy. Homelessness doesn't affect everyone equally.
Specialized programs address specialized needs.
Tyler Schroeder, Executive's Office, answered questions on how the Council could
initiate the use of County property for homeless shelters or encampments; which ordinances
apply to County property owned within city limits; and getting an inventory of County -
owned property.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:27 p.m.
The Cpy.ypfy Council approved these minutes on July 10, 2018.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
Board of Health, 6/26/18, Page 2