How Clallam County Health and Human Services addresses homelessness

​Q&A with Jenny Oppelt, MS, Deputy Director
By Paul Pickett

I see that you have developed a strategic plan for homelessness. How do you implement that plan?
We implement the 2025–2030 Homeless Housing Plan by turning its five objectives into concrete action steps, timelines, and partner responsibilities. The plan is built around required state objectives and includes detailed strategies—for example, expanding one-stop resource access, strengthening workforce capacity, preventing homelessness episodes, prioritizing people with the highest barriers, and increasing stable housing options. Implementation occurs through the Homelessness Task Force (HTF), partner cities/other government organizations, Tribes, community providers, and county departments. Progress is monitored through HMIS data, community reports, and regular assessments of shelter, outreach, and housing systems. The plan is considered a living document and will be updated as needed to ensure homelessness becomes rare, brief, and non recurring. (Read the entire Plan.)

What other activities do you do to address homelessness (besides plan development)?
In addition to planning, the County and the HTF manage and coordinate a wide range of response activities. These include contracting with service providers; supporting outreach, respite, and behavioral health services; coordinating safe parking and shelter projects; developing tiny shelter village strategies; supporting rental stabilization and eviction prevention services; and expanding access to health services and coordinated case management.

Where do you get funding for homelessness activities?
Funding comes from a mix of state and local sources. The Clallam County Homelessness Task Force (HTF) oversees the allocation of a portion of local document recording fees that are designated for “Affordable Housing and Homeless Housing and Assistance.” These are defined by RCW 36.22.250. While the revenue of these funds fluctuates over time, they are anticipated to collect around $547,000 in 2026. The WA State Department of Commerce also receives a portion of local document recording fees and has recently sent some of these funds back to local communities to help support local homelessness services. Our department works with the HTF to allocate the additional state funds. For July 2025-June 2026, the additional funds from the state total $445,167.

Do you pass on funding for homelessness response and prevention, and who gets funding?
Yes. Most funding is passed through to community-based organizations that operate shelters, housing programs, outreach, behavioral health services, and homelessness prevention programs. Funding recommendations are developed with the HTF through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process to ensure resources go to programs that meet community needs and demonstrate positive outcomes. The HTF then makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners based on identified needs, system gaps, and performance data so funds can have the greatest impact. See recent funding awards.

What are the County’s top priority activities? What activities do the most good? 
Priority activities are aligned with the five core objectives of the plan. These include:

• Strengthening the crisis response system—expanding one-stop access, improving shelters, developing safe parking, and exploring tiny shelter villages.
• Supporting the workforce—retaining and training the staff who provide frontline homeless services.
• Preventing homelessness—investing in rent stabilization, eviction prevention, workforce training, and employment partnerships.
• Prioritizing assistance for those with the highest barriers—expanding respite care, medical discharge planning, and coordination with behavioral health and hospitals.
• Increasing stable housing options—working with landlords, creating an accessible county housing information hub, and advancing housing for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, youth, and others with complex needs.

Prevention and diversion offer a particularly strong return on investment because they keep people housed before a crisis worsens. At the same time, maintaining and expanding shelter, permanent supportive housing, and behavioral health support opens pathways out of homelessness for those needing more intensive assistance.

What can people reading my article do to help with homelessness?
Community members can help by:

• Supporting or volunteering with local service providers, shelters, and outreach programs.
• Learning about the root causes of homelessness—such as the severe shortage of affordable housing and rising rents in Clallam County—and sharing accurate information.
• Advocating for affordable housing development, supportive housing projects, and continued funding at the state and local levels.
• Encouraging landlords to participate in rental vouchers and supportive housing programs.
• Supporting workforce development and training opportunities for individuals transitioning out of homelessness.

The plan invites all residents, leaders, and organizations to take part in this work; community engagement is essential to making homelessness rare and brief.