When a group illegally occupied a hotel in downtown Olympia Sunday, leading to 10 arrests, they released a list of demands. The group’s statement noted the Federal Emergency Management Agency “provides 100% funding for houseless people who are 65 years old or at a high risk of contracting COVID to stay in non-congregate shelter.”
Further, the group demanded the Thurston County Health Department apply for FEMA funding for just that purpose. As of today, however, county officials have a few questions about how recent changes at FEMA work.
On Jan. 21, President Joe Biden signed an executive order allowing 100 percent reimbursement of certain COVID-related safety measures within local jurisdictions. Those measures include “the safe opening and operation of eligible schools, child-care facilities, healthcare facilities, non-congregate shelters, domestic violence shelters, transit systems, and other eligible applications,” according to the executive order. It goes on to say: “FEMA shall make assistance under this section available at a 100 percent Federal cost share until September 30, 2021.”
Under President Donald Trump, FEMA reimbursed a maximum of 75 percent. And to-date, Thurston County hasn’t received any FEMA reimbursement for COVID-19 related safety measures, said Assistant County Manager Robin Campbell during a meeting today.
“Even though we’ve known that FEMA funding was available to support the pandemic, like so many aspects of COVID support, those rules around that funding have been changing and to-date the county has not had any expenses that are eligible for FEMA claim,” said Campbell.
The county reached out to FEMA in July 2020 in the form of a letter written by County Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek. The letter highlighted the need for supported congregate and non-congregate shelter or temporary care centers “as part of the public health response to address the pandemic.”
The letter was a FEMA requirement to establish eligibility for reimbursement. It might be time for a new letter, said County Manager Ramiro Chavez.
County staff created a packet before today’s meeting, detailing what they know and don’t know about the executive order, including two questions:
The questions are: “Does the Executive Order change previous FEMA [Public Assistance] guidance regarding what activities are eligible for reimbursement? If so, what are these new eligibility guidelines?
“What jurisdiction applies for FEMA reimbursement? FEMA guidelines state they will reimburse the local jurisdiction. For these activities, is the local jurisdiction the city in which a person is assisted or the County, as the local health jurisdiction?”
County officials laid out their next steps, which are, simply enough, reach out to FEMA for guidance. There is no estimated timeline for when FEMA will respond. But, when they do, county staff will take the response to the commissioners to take whatever action is necessary.
Thurston County Homelessness Prevention Coordinator Keylee Marineau said during today’s meeting that she learned about Oly Housing Now’s demands as the occupation event was still ongoing. She went to the hotel and spoke with members and organizers of the event, prompting the county to look into the recently signed executive order.
Oly Housing Now describes itself as “Olympia residents working to end homelessness throughout our city. We support direct action to end our city’s housing crisis and get everyone housed.” They’re supported by Tacoma Housing Now which planned a similar occupation in Fife, where houseless people occupied 16 hotel rooms in December. They were evicted.
Ten people were arrested during the occupation Sunday, after police say people carried batons and clubs, and hotel staff members locked themselves in a room in the basement. One of them reported being pushed and threatened by a person holding a knife.
Beyond applying for FEMA funds, their list of demands included: to stop sweeps of and provide resources to encampments, support homeless people with hotel vouchers, “increase impact fees on luxury and commercial property” in downtown Olympia and incentivize housing construction for people with low incomes.
Olympia’s Assistant City Manager Keith Stahley said the city wasn’t likely to change their homeless response.
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