Cowlitz County Faces Critical Decision on $11 Million Homeless Funding as Hope Village Closes

Cowlitz County stands at a crossroads. In the coming weeks, commissioners must decide whether to accept $11 million in Washington State Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG) funding. The vote arrives at a decisive moment: Hope Village—Longview’s transitional housing program—closes October 1st, leaving a gap in housing stability just as demand grows. For more than two years, Hope Village required proof of county residency and helped over 110 residents find stability. Its closure underscores the urgent reality: our community must decide whether to keep control of state funding or allow Olympia to send the dollars here through outside agencies.

Hope Village’s closure is more than symbolic. It removes a critical bridge from tents to keys, from survival to stability. Built on accountability and residency requirements, it was proof that structured pathways work. Without it, Longview and Kelso lose capacity at a time when inflation, rising rents, and economic pressures threaten more families. At the same time, $11 million in CHG funding is on the table. If accepted, county commissioners maintain oversight and direct resources where they are needed most. If rejected, the money still comes to Cowlitz County, but decisions on how to use it will be made in Olympia, not here.

Concerns about a “magnet effect” have surfaced, with Commissioner Rick Dahl noting that state funding has nearly tripled since 2023. The fear is that spending more on services could draw people here from elsewhere. But the data tells another story. Cowlitz County’s homeless population has remained stable for over a decade. The 2023 California Statewide Study found that 90% of people became homeless where they last lived, and 75% stayed in the same county. Homelessness is overwhelmingly local. And the CHG program isn’t about attracting people—it’s about preventing families already here from losing their homes.

The impact of these funds is clear. Last year, nearly $4.8 million in CHG resources kept families housed, stabilized landlords through direct rent payments, and supported mediation programs that resolved disputes before eviction. Lower Columbia CAP distributed $1.76 million directly to landlords, preventing evictions for hundreds of households. Mediation services resolved conflicts that could have otherwise ended in housing loss, protecting both tenants and property owners. Coordinated entry ensured the most vulnerable residents received help first, based on need rather than who showed up at the right time. Transitional housing programs like Hope Village provided proof that accountability-based models can succeed.

Neighboring counties are facing the same questions. Lewis County commissioners recently voted 2-1 to accept $6.6 million in CHG funding after recognizing the benefits of prevention, even while raising concerns about local numbers. Since 2012, counties across Washington have used the program to combine evidence-based strategies with local decision-making. The lesson is clear: communities that accept the grant maintain control. Communities that reject it give up their seat at the table while the money still flows.

Economically, the math is undeniable. Prevention saves taxpayers money. Every dollar spent on rent assistance or mediation saves $4 to $7 in emergency room visits, jail bookings, and crisis services. Rejecting the grant doesn’t save the county money—it just shifts control. The dollars will come, but without our ability to direct them where they do the most good.

For residents, this decision is an invitation to be heard. Public commission meetings are open at the courthouse. Commissioners can be contacted directly. Local organizations like Lower Columbia CAP, Family Promise, Phoenix House, and Love Overwhelming continue to carry the weight of housing insecurity and need community support. Businesses, churches, and civic groups can step in with volunteers, donations, and advocacy.

The decision before commissioners is about more than a single grant. It’s about who we are as a county. Do we value local control, accountability, and prevention, or do we give up that responsibility to Olympia? Hope Village showed us what’s possible when structured, residency-based transitional housing is paired with accountability. Now the question is whether we have the courage to keep building on what works.

Cowlitz County will either hold the reins of this $11 million investment or hand them off. Either way, the dollars will be spent. The real decision is whether we shape our future or let someone else do it for us.