Sequim, WA partnered with Sequim Health & Housing Collaborative to launch the HOPE Outreach Program
Sequim, WA HOPE Outreach Program health and human services
The city of Sequim hosted a Human Services Summit with 50 services providers from across the county to look for new ways to address community issues such as substance use disorders and homelessness. The city's goals were to focus on outcomes, encourage collaboration, and prioritize funding to the greatest needs. The city awarded a three-year contract to nine non-profit social service organizations, the Sequim Health & Housing Collaborative (SHHC), which launched the HOPE Outreach Program.
Newsworthy
2021 Community Partnership Award: Under 10,000 Population | icma.org
Sequim Health & Housing Collaborative Sequim, Washington Charisse Deschenes, Interim City Manager Sequim city staff responded to city council concerns about homelessness in 2017 by examining its human services funding and accountability. Staff were also fielding complaints, criticisms, and questions about how the city—specifically its police department—addressed panhandling, homelessness, and mental illness. Councilors wanted to know what could legally be done.
Agencies team up to address homelessness | Sequim Gazette
A multi-year, multi-agency effort to address homelessness/housing, drug abuse and addiction, mental health issues and food security has hit the Sequim streets in the form, on some days, of personal masks and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Project Succeeded
The HOPE Team documented 832 encounters, prevented homelessness for 54 households, enrolled 78 households in intensive case management programs, and provided 160 shelter nights for households that did not qualify for traditional shelter options. SHHC also arranged another 569 nights of emergency shelter and provided more than 1 million meals in 2020. The city of Sequim received the ICMA's 2021 Community Partnership Award for Excellence.
Related Projects
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