A number of key decisions emerged from these themes that led to direct action including: Updating the mission, vision, and values; Creating the plans and process to better align the goals, structure and staffing of the agency to more accurately reflect the actual work taking place and to position the agency to succeed in the future. This includes: New name that more accurately reflects the jurisdictions and services provided; Creation of a communications plan/branding effort that will build community knowledge of both the agency and issues related to housing and homelessness; Review of options for creating a structure that would provide advisory or voting positions to allow broader representation from other jurisdictions; Development of mechanisms to expand and diversify the funding base of the agency. Prioritizing into the agency’s work and partnerships the incorporation of the services necessary to encourage clients to thrive; and Agreement on the need to develop additional housing and programs across jurisdictions. The Need/Context The four counties served by Housing Opportunities of S.W. Washington have consistently struggled compared to the rest of the state. They are economically depressed with high-unemployment, few family wage jobs, little economic growth, infrastructure challenges, and all of the by-products of a poor economy – drug use and alcoholism, homelessness/housing challenges/generational poverty, mental illness, aging populations, lack of services, etc. The historic reliance on resource extraction industries without the replacement by different types of industry and job creation have led to generational poverty and significant need for housing and programming to help people thrive. Although there are glimmers of hope and opportunity - the four counties consistently rank near the bottom of counties for length and Washington’s 39 quality of life and health factors such as physical environment (including housing), social and economic factors, clinical care and health behaviors. (Cowlitz 32, Lewis 26, Pacific 38, Wahkiakum 39) There has been a consistent increase in homelessness and housing shortages across the four county area served.
A number of key decisions emerged from these themes that led to direct action including: Updating the mission, vision, and values; Creating the plans and process to better align the goals, structure and staffing of the agency to more accurately reflect the actual work taking place and to position the agency to succeed in the future. This includes: New name that more accurately reflects the jurisdictions and services provided; Creation of a communications plan/branding effort that will build community knowledge of both the agency and issues related to housing and homelessness; Review of options for creating a structure that would provide advisory or voting positions to allow broader representation from other jurisdictions; Development of mechanisms to expand and diversify the funding base of the agency. Prioritizing into the agency’s work and partnerships the incorporation of the services necessary to encourage clients to thrive; and Agreement on the need to develop additional housing and programs across jurisdictions. The Need/Context The four counties served by Housing Opportunities of S.W. Washington have consistently struggled compared to the rest of the state. They are economically depressed with high-unemployment, few family wage jobs, little economic growth, infrastructure challenges, and all of the by-products of a poor economy – drug use and alcoholism, homelessness/housing challenges/generational poverty, mental illness, aging populations, lack of services, etc. The historic reliance on resource extraction industries without the replacement by different types of industry and job creation have led to generational poverty and significant need for housing and programming to help people thrive. Although there are glimmers of hope and opportunity - the four counties consistently rank near the bottom of Washington’s 39 counties for length and quality of life and health factors such as physical environment (including housing), social and economic factors, clinical care and health behaviors. (Cowlitz 32, Lewis 26, Pacific 38, Wahkiakum 39) There has been a consistent increase in homelessness and housing shortages across the four county area served.
HOSWWA-strategic-plan-.docx