People are already being lined up to reside in Port Orchard’s homeless shelter slated to open Nov. 4.
The South Kitsap shelter – referred to as the Pacific Building – will house up to 75 men, women and family members along with their pets. The shelter is located in the former Olympic Fitness Center at 4459 SE Mile Hill Drive.
“The Pacific Building shelter facility is designed to help (residents) re-build and re-balance their lives,” said Robin Lund, executive director of Kitsap Rescue Mission, which will operate the shelter.
“There is nothing like it in Kitsap,” Lund added. “We will take the time necessary with each shelter guest to provide individualized on-site wrap-around services—such as medical care, dental care, substance use and mental health treatment and housing stability planning.”
Lund said residents will also be offered educational opportunities to learn life skills, such as how to write a resume. Student-age occupants will have access to tutors. No drugs, alcohol or firearms will be permitted.
People will reside at the shelter for up to 90 days, which can be extended a month at a time. The facility will be open only to residents. It will not be a drop-in facility.
Nearly 45 people have already been approved to move into the facility. Thus far, all the residents will be transferring from the Quality Inn shelter on Kitsap Way in Bremerton. There are six families lined up, with a total of 11 children, most under age 10.
The KRM director described some of those who will reside at the Pacific Building.
-A senior couple – the husband has medical conditions and wife has mental health issues. Both are in treatment and stable.
-A developmentally delayed single father who is raising a developmentally delayed 9-year-old son. Dad works full-time in the food services industry.
-A nearly 60-year-old woman, who has struggled with learning disabilities.
-A couple with a newborn. The mom attends Olympic College and is aiming to earn a science degree.
KRM is faith-based. The nonprofit has operated other homeless shelters in the county. During COVID, it oversaw the shelter at the fairgrounds for a year and a half. KRM now runs the Quality Inn shelter, which houses approximately 70 people.
Vetting process
It is a two-step process to be accepted into the shelter, Lund said.
First, the person contacts the Housing Solutions Center, the clearinghouse for shelters in Kitsap County. The center conducts a test to determine the “vulnerability” of the person. Vulnerability factors can include whether the person has an untreated chronic medical condition, behavioral issues or has young children. If interested in the new shelter, the paperwork is forwarded to Lund’s office.
KRM then does a background check. Anyone with a sex offense or felony assault on their record is ineligible. The potential resident has an intake appointment to determine needs that may need to be addressed, such as a substance use disorder.
Next, a candidate is required to complete a “guest agreement.” “They need to be good neighbors while (at Pacific Building shelter) and are required to participate in housing stability planning. They define their goals around employment if they are employable, and around securing longer-term housing,” Lund said.
The site
The county purchased the site in April of 2021 for $1.5 million. Multiple state grants designated for new emergency housing, affordable housing and homeless shelter projects were used to acquire the property, said Carl Borg, the county’s housing and homelessness division program manager. The 20,000-square-foot building is located on a nearly five-acre wooded site. The former gym has undergone considerable refurbishment, including roof repairs, demolition and redesign of the interior, Borg said. Electrical and sewer system upgrades were also installed. Finishing work is on tap in the coming weeks. The site was chosen because it is near transportation to community services and meets zoning requirements, the program manager said.
