Sex offender housing near Tenino has been canceled, but officials say it’s just first step
Sex offenders will not be housed at a controversial Tenino property, the owner has announced.
Supreme Living LLC, a residential care services company, announced Tuesday it would not proceed with opening a supportive housing facility at 2813 140th Ave. SW.
The decision was taken as a victory for local project opponents, who have mounted protests against the Tenino facility as well as Supreme Living’s other properties in Thurston County and objected to how neighbors were not included in the decision to site the facility in Tenino until it was preparing to open.
However, Supreme Living management officially blamed the decision on “resources and expenses associated with land use requirements,” according to a post on its website.
The company had planned to open the Tenino facility by Feb. 1. However, Thurston County officials raised permitting concerns on Jan. 24 that delayed those plans and ultimately led to their cancellation.
At the time, County Manager Ramiro Chavez described the concerns as a short-term strategy that could delay but not outright stop the facility’s opening.
“In essence, we have put this facility on notice that they need to meet the minimum requirements of water supply, septic and sewage systems as well as services before they can open this facility,” Chavez previously said.
Chavez told The Olympian that Supreme Living directly notified the county of its decision on Wednesday. He said the county will continue to work with the state to address its concerns about the siting process.
“From the county’s point of view, I’m glad they came to that conclusion,” Chavez said. “It was a long road for the county. It goes back to when this particular facility was sited in the Tenino area. There was no public process, which the state needed to engage the community and the county ahead of siting this facility.”
The Washington state Department of Social and Health Services had contracted Supreme Living to house clients at the facility, officially called a Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA) community home. The residents would have included sex offenders released from McNeil Island Special Commitment Center.
Supreme Living managers have notified DSHS that they intend to terminate their contract for the same reasons they stated publicly, said DSHS spokesperson Tyler Hemstreet.
The resident who was slated to go to the now-canceled facility will remain at the Special Commitment Center for now, Hemstreet said. The resident will have to work with their legal counsel and the court to find a new placement, which may or may not be a DSHS-contracted LRA, he said.
For their part, Supreme Living managers said they appreciated the courtesy and professionalism of DSHS and Thurston County staff.
“Supreme Living values its relationship with the Department of Social and Health Services and continues to strongly believe in the importance of providing much needed supportive service,” Supreme Living said in a statement.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders responded to the cancellation in a Facebook post on Tuesday. He previously expressed concerns about public safety around the home.
“This incident exposed a number of substantial flaws in how we handle LRAs, and I look forward to working with our state government and representatives in the future to find a long-term solution to this problem that protects everyone,” Sanders said.
Sanders weighed in on the facility soon after taking office this year. He has met with concerned residents, addressed the Board of County Commissioners alongside protesters, and organized a town hall that state officials backed out of due to threats.
Though Sanders was critical of Supreme Living and state officials, he called threats against them “unacceptable.” On Tuesday, he also gave Supreme Living credit for the facilities they already operate in Thurston County.
“It’s imperative to convey to the public that Supreme Living runs a number of successful and much-needed supportive housing programs in our county, and we particularly appreciate the mental health housing services they provide for those needing assisted living,” Sanders said.
State legislators respond
Republican state legislators from the 35th District, which includes Tenino, reacted to Supreme Living’s announcement in a joint news release on Tuesday.
Sen. Drew MacEwen, Rep. Dan Griffey and Rep. Travis Couture were pleased with the announcement but said they will continue to push for reforms.
MacEwen thanked vocal Tenino community members for bringing the matter to his attention.
“I also am grateful for the quick action by Thurston County to slow this down,” MacEwen said. “Now it is time for the Legislature and governor to enact meaningful legislation that creates an open process (for siting facilities) and ensures the safety of all of our communities.”
Couture said he would not stop pushing for reforms until the public is made “absolutely safe.” He credited the people of Tenino and Thurston County officials for this development.
“For now, Tenino is safe from the state’s plan to release sexually violent predators into their neighborhoods,” Couture said. “But we need to put a stop to this practice for good. No community in Washington state deserves what almost happened to Tenino and what is happening in other regions.”
Griffey called the news a victory for Tenino but remained critical of state policies that allow this scenario to occur. He said other communities could still face similar developments.
“That is why it is imperative that we put a moratorium in place and create a task force to find the best path forward for placing dangerous, sexually violent predators in less restrictive alternatives that meet the constitutional requirements of the court while protecting the most vulnerable in our communities,” Griffey said.
MacEwen has introduced Senate Bill 5544, which aims to improve community notification procedures for LRA placements. Couture has introduced a companion bill, House Bill 1734.
Griffey and Couture also have introduced HB 1813, which would temporarily pause LRA community home placements while a task force considers changes to state law.
This story was originally published March 1, 2023 at 10:14 AM.
