Thurston County nonprofits that feed and shelter residents in crisis are owed $79,684 in federal reimbursements that have been frozen for months.
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners plans to discuss a follow-up letter to state legislators during a Tuesday, Sept. 22 work session, pressing them to help release the stalled funds.
The letter, included in the county's agenda packet, describes money already spent by local organizations that the federal government has not paid back.
The frozen funds come from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), authorized by Congress under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and administered by FEMA. The program requires nonprofits to spend their own money first, then seek federal reimbursement.
That model has stalled. The local EFSP board has stopped authorizing new spending because organizations do not want to take on more costs while prior reimbursements remain unpaid, according to the letter.
Who is owed
Three Thurston County nonprofits are named with specific outstanding amounts: Family Support Center ($23,125), Senior Services for South Sound ($16,540) and Catholic Community Services ($15,595).
Other local EFSP recipients listed in the letter include Interfaith Works, ROOF Community Services, Thurston County Food Bank and the Salvation Army.
The $79,684 total covers Phase 40 reimbursements of $29,520 and Phase 41 reimbursements of $50,164.
Beyond what is already owed, Phase 42 funds totaling $98,963 for Thurston County remain frozen. Phase 43 funding, expected at $94,067, is also pending. That puts nearly $273,000 in current and future EFSP money in limbo for the county.
A regional problem
The freeze extends beyond Thurston County. Mason County agencies are awaiting $304,051 in unpaid reimbursements, with some expenses dating to March 2022, the board wrote. Mason County also has $40,867 in Phase 42 and Phase 43 funds pending.
The commissioners ask legislators to advocate for release of all approved reimbursements, support prompt disbursement of Phase 42 funds and coordinate with FEMA to resolve the pause.
The letter describes itself as a follow-up to one the board sent in 2025 on the same subject.
Other Sept. 29 agenda items
The commissioners' next business meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. at 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Room 110, in Olympia, carries several other items on its consent agenda.
A $300,000 contract with South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity would fund the organization's Critical Home Repair program from Sept. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027. Jen Freiheit, director of Public Health and Social Services, would be authorized to execute the contract.
The county is also seeking two County Road Administration Board (CRAB) Rural Arterial Program grants: $2,280,000 for the Tilley Road Bridge replacement and $2,720,000 for improvements on Morris Road SE. A $336,293 increase to the Washington State Department of Health consolidated contract is also on the agenda.
Residents can offer public comment on agenda items at the start of the Sept. 29 meeting.
