Seventeen nonprofits serving homeless and housing-insecure residents in Thurston County will receive $15.3 million in funding on time.

The Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 on Tuesday, June 23, to approve 49 homeless services contracts.

The unanimous vote reversed a 3-2 decision on Tuesday, June 16, when commissioners tabled the contracts after an objection from first-year Tumwater Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff.

That delay had threatened to push funding as late as August, leaving a weeks-long gap in shelter, rent assistance, and basic needs programs.

The contracts cover a second-year renewal funded by a mix of state and local housing tax revenue and grants. The largest include $3.7 million for Catholic Community Services to operate the county's housing and essential needs program, which provides rent assistance, security deposits, move-in costs, hygiene products, and case management.

Another $2 million goes to Interfaith Works' shelter program for adults experiencing homelessness.

After the June 16 pause, Tumwater City Administrator Paul Simmons sent the county 18 questions about spending, outcomes, and communication. The Regional Housing Council convened an emergency online meeting Monday, June 22, to address those concerns. County staff shared a spreadsheet with partial answers to Tumwater's questions.

"The spreadsheet was something that we pulled together quickly, with Friday being the holiday," Public Health and Social Services Director Jen Freiheit told the council. "We have answers to all of those questions, and they've all been provided publicly in many, many forms."

The RHC voted without dissent to recommend the 49 contracts again. Tumwater City Council member Meghan Sullivan voted in favor of 48 contracts and recused herself from a $55,000 housing basic needs contract with Together!, citing her employment with that nonprofit.

Mayor Dahlhoff attended the June 22 RHC meeting and acknowledged the disruption her objection caused. She said she supported moving the funding forward and floated bringing in a third-party consultant to evaluate the RHC's communication and processes.

Sullivan, speaking at the same meeting, said Tumwater's goal was not to interrupt funding but to push for better transparency.

The $15.3 million begins flowing Wednesday, July 1. The RHC did not take public comment at its June 22 emergency meeting.

Residents who want to weigh in on future housing funding decisions can attend the next Regional Housing Council meeting on Wednesday, July 22. Board of County Commissioners meetings are held at 3000 Pacific Avenue SE, Room 110, Olympia, and livestreamed on the Thurston County YouTube channel.