Kira Erickson reports in the South Whidbey Record.
A community meeting in Freeland this week about a shelter project at the Harbor Inn may have yielded more questions than answers.
In 2022, Island County commissioners voted to provide $1.5 million in matching funds to the Low Income Housing Institute, commonly known as LIHI, for the purchase of the motel in Freeland. The Seattle-based nonprofit organization plans to turn the rooms into short-term housing for Island County residents in danger of becoming homeless….
Representatives from LIHI held an informational meeting Monday night at Trinity Lutheran Church about the project and were met with heavy criticism from members of the community. The LIHI speakers were peppered with questions about the building’s septic capability, permit applications and asbestos abatement, among other concerns. The building is not currently ready to house any guests, but LIHI has stated it plans to open this spring. However, the organization has not yet obtained any building permits from Island County, which could take months, as one commenter pointed out.
They Said It
Island County Sheriff Rick Felici, who was present at the meeting, asked how staff intended to work with law enforcement to ensure residents are meeting the facility’s code of conduct laid out by LIHI. Audible laughter filled the room as one LIHI representative struggled to respond to the sheriff.
Commissioner Melanie Bacon spoke at the end of the meeting to acknowledge that there seemed to be a lack of trust from the community.
“This has been a painful meeting, I think, for all of us and I want to ask you to ensure that we are gonna keep this conversation going,” she addressed the representatives.
Later, Bacon said she felt disappointed by the meeting. She drafted a letter to LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee, detailing her dissatisfaction with the responses to the questions posed by Whidbey citizens.
“Unfortunately, the LIHI staff was not prepared for the questions, nor did they exhibit much knowledge about the project or our community,” Bacon wrote.
