By Mike De Felice
Kitsap News Group
PORT ORCHARD — The first phase of the new homeless shelter off of Mile Hill Drive in Port Orchard has been completed.
The next step of the $6.3 million project is for the county to hire an architectural firm to design and help oversee the construction of the facility.
“I think progress has been slow at this point,” said Doug Washburn, director of Kitsap County’s Department of Human Services.
“Just getting through all the hoops — environmental reviews and legal requirements that come with federal dollars — takes time.”
The shelter, expected to be completed by mid-2023, will house 75 residents, Washburn said. Once finished, the Port Orchard shelter will be the first of its kind in South Kitsap County. The additional shelter beds will reduce the number of homeless individuals in the county, including those living in encampments like those at Veterans Memorial Park, Washburn said.
County officials working on the new shelter said they plan to hold a public meeting, possibly in May, to update the community on the progress of the project. A similar session was held in November and provided neighbors of the shelter the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns they had about the project.
During the community meeting last winter, some neighbors of the project wondered why the shelter was located near a residential area. David Grout, who identified himself during the public meeting as president of Mile Hill Public Safety Organization, complained the county had considered how to operate the shelter but failed “to do the hard thinking to integrate this project into the surrounding community.”
The shelter at 4459 Mile Hill Drive is being constructed in the building that once housed the Olympic Fitness Club, next to the Astound Broadband office (formerly WAVE Broadband). The 20,000-square-foot facility, which sits on 4.69 acres, is set off from the road and has a large backyard.
The site was selected because it met zoning requirements, the building was connected to the sewer system, and came equipped with several restrooms and showers, Washburn said. The location’s proximity to transportation and community services were other factors that favored the location.
Work already done on the building includes installation of a security camera system and roof repairs, Washburn reported. He said fire and safety assessments have been made. A hazardous materials review and landscape work have also been completed.
Future tasks include installing heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, and a new sprinkler system. Structural changes needed to transform the former gym into a shelter will be determined by the architectural firm designing the project, he said.
Shelter funding has come from a grant from the state Department of Commerce, federal COVID recovery legislation and local sources, he said.
Some of the funding comes with a lot of strings, Washburn added. “For example, we need to make sure we follow the state and the national environmental policy acts, which means significant environmental reviews,” he said.
The shelter will house men, women and families. To stay at the new facility, an individual will need to apply at Housing Solutions to ensure they are a good fit. There is no limit to how long a qualified resident can stay, Washburn said.
The new shelter will benefit both its residents and the community, according to planners.
“We know when we can bring people [into the shelter]. They don’t have to wander the streets all day,” he said.
Residents will have access to community services, including medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment, he said. Job training and placement services will also be provided.
“Once settled, people are more likely to be amenable to treatment, whether it’s mental health or chemical dependency treatment,” Washburn said.
The need for a Port Orchard homeless shelter increased when county officials learned in June 2021 the shelter at the pavilion on the grounds of the Kitsap County Fairgrounds had to close. With COVID concerns dissipating, the county parks department sought to revert the pavilion in Bremerton back to its original use as an events center.
To avoid putting the pavilion shelter inhabitants on the street, the county lined up a block of rooms at the Quality Inn on Kitsap Way in Bremerton to house approximately 70 former residents.
The Port Orchard shelter was originally scheduled to open last fall. According to officials, that date was delayed due in part because of difficulty in obtaining building materials and the requirement to meet numerous permitting requirements.
