Days Inn hotel in Lacey will be converted into housing for homeless, partners announce
The Days Inn hotel in Lacey will be converted into housing for the homeless, the rights-of-way initiative partners announced Tuesday.
Those partners are the state, Thurston County and city of Lacey. The state’s rights-of-way program seeks to clear the homeless from public areas along I-5 and get them into housing.
The three partners are working with the Low Income Housing Institute to turn the hotel property at 8200 Quinault Drive NE into a 118-unit shelter for individuals and couples currently living unsheltered in the region, according to a news release.
Over time the shelter is expected to transition from a shelter into permanent supportive housing, according to the release.
The shelter near the Marvin Road exit from I-5 is expected to open in spring 2023.
Thurston County received $37 million from the state’s rights-of-way program, of which $20 million will be used for the hotel acquisition and site setup. An additional $4 million will be used for two years of site operations.
The remaining $13 million will be used for a variety of programming and services for the unhoused, including the development of a 50-unit tiny house village off Franz-Anderson Road in Olympia, according to the release.
LIHI will operate the Days Inn shelter 24/7 and will provide on-site case management to help residents obtain permanent housing, employment, health care and other services.
Lacey has scheduled two community meetings about the hotel conversion. They are set for 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Lacey City Hall, 420 College St. SE.
The Nov. 16 meetings also can be viewed online at these links:
The partners also released some frequently asked questions with the announcement.
Who will live at the shelter?
The shelter will serve people experiencing homelessness in the Lacey area, including individuals, couples, and people with pets. This includes seniors, veterans, and people living with disabilities, and does not include individuals under the age of 18.
Individuals being considered for the shelter will be prioritized by:
- People currently living at the property;
- People living in the state’s right-of-way in Thurston County;
- Single adults identified through the Thurston County Coordinated Entry system;
- Single adults living in Lacey and/or Thurston County that are displaced from an unsheltered encampment who are not on the Thurston County Coordinated Entry Master List;
- Other agreed upon populations when space is available.
Will there be rules?
Residents will be required to agree to a Code of Conduct as a condition of staying at the site. This includes common standards for living successfully in a community and respecting fellow residents, surrounding neighbors and businesses.
The Code of Conduct prohibits alcohol and drugs within public spaces, prohibits violent/threatening behaviors and requires adhering to safety and cleanliness standards.
It also requires residents to work with on-site case management and includes a six-month goal to find permanent or long-term housing..
Will there be community input?
A Community Advisory Group will be formed to provide community oversight, advisory input to staff on operations and services, and support. The CAG will meet monthly, and members will include representatives from immediate neighbors, local businesses and organizations, community and faith groups, service providers, and others.
All meetings are open to the public. If you would like to become a member and serve on the CAG or receive information on the meetings, contact Josh Castle at josh.castle@lihi.org.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 10:42 AM.
