Thurston County housing challenges explored

This list of curated articles explores housing challenges and solutions in Thurston County, focusing on issues such as high housing costs, policy changes and homelessness.

Several articles discuss the financial difficulties in building affordable homes due to rising land and development costs. Federal policy changes impact homelessness assistance, stirring legal action and state pushback. Thurston County faces challenges as federal shifts threaten housing stability programs.

Meanwhile, Olympia advances tenant protections, anticipating changes such as limiting income requirements.

Rob Rice (center) of Rob Rice Homes took part in a roundtable discussion during the Thurston Economic Development Council’s real estate forum on Thursday. By rboone@theolympian.com

NO. 1: BUILD A NEW HOME UNDER $500,000? IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, THURSTON DEVELOPER SAYS

Trying to build a new, single-family detached home in the area for less than $500,000 is almost impossible, a prominent Thurston County home builder told a real estate forum audience on Thursday. | Published September 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

Easily viewed from U.S. Highway 101 in west Olympia on Monday, several vacated tents still stand after the city completed its final phase of closing Percival Creek Canyon to camps. By Steve Bloom

NO. 2: PERCIVAL CANYON IN WEST OLYMPIA CLOSED TO ENCAMPMENTS. DOZENS MOVED IN FINAL PHASE

Thirty-two people have been moved into transitional housing after the city of Olympia completed the final phase of closing Percival Creek Canyon to homeless encampments last week. | Published October 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

Lacey council member Nic Dunning pressed Thurston County on its draft five-year homeless housing plan, debating housing-first versus shelter and rehabilitation approaches. By rboone@theolympian.com

NO. 3: LACEY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER GRILLS COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS

Lacey City Council member Nic Dunning grilled Thurston County housing officials on Tuesday about homelessness and what he feels is not working to address the problem. | Published October 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

Maple Court, an enhanced homeless shelter in Lacey. By rboone@theolympian.com

NO. 4: HERE’S WHY THIS LACEY HOMELESS SHELTER IS NOT ACCEPTING NEW RESIDENTS FOR NOW

The city of Olympia earlier this month completed the final phase of a long-term plan to move homeless residents out of Percival Creek canyon on the city’s west side and into housing. | Published October 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rolf Boone

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NO. 5: WHAT CAN LANDLORDS SCREEN TENANTS FOR? OLYMPIA TO HOST WORKSHOP ON NEW RULES

The City of Olympia is hosting a training workshop on Nov. | Published October 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ty Vinson

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced his office’s 45th case against the Trump administration at a news conference on Nov. 25, 2025. By Screenshot / TVW

NO. 6: FEDERAL CHANGES WILL INCREASE WA HOMELESSNESS, AG WARNS IN NEW TRUMP LAWSUIT

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown on Nov. | Published November 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

The City of Olympia will close its customer service counters early on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. By Steve Bloom

NO. 7: OLYMPIA ADVANCES NEW TENANT PROTECTIONS. WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR RENTERS?

The Olympia City Council voted 6-1 in favor of forwarding a slew of tenant protections aimed at making Olympia’s housing stock more accessible onto second and final reading Jan. | Published December 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ty Vinson

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A homeless encampment partially blocks the sidewalk along 96th Street East of Hosmer Street in Tacoma on Sept. 24, 2024. By Tony Overman

NO. 8: FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS LAST-MINUTE CHANGES TO FEDERAL HOMELESS FUNDING RULES

A federal judge has blocked changes made to homeless funding requirements by the U.S. | Published December 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Cameron Sheppard

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.