Compass Health Receives Funding Worth $21 Million for Everett Affordable Housing and Behavioral Health Services Project

Compass Health Receives Funding Worth $21 Million for Everett Affordable Housing and Behavioral Health Services Project

Public funding adds momentum, keeps Broadway Avenue project on track for 2019 groundbreaking

EVERETT – Compass Health, Northwest Washington’s behavioral healthcare leader, recently received an allocation of low income housing tax credits worth approximately $17 million from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and nearly $4 million in grant funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce to help finance its new development off Broadway Avenue. The project will provide 82 new units of affordable housing, plus redevelopment of existing facilities for integrated treatment and support services for people with chronic mental and behavioral health issues.

In May, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a five-year plan to modernize and transform the state’s mental health care systems, expanding and strengthening the network of community-based behavioral health facilities – and the Commerce grants align with that effort.

“These are huge milestones, and we are thrilled with the momentum this funding provides to positively impact thousands of lives, expand affordable housing and address homeless and mental illness – some of the most critical issues facing our community and region,” said Tom Sebastian, president and chief executive officer for Compass Health. “All that said, we know we have a long way to go, and will look forward to continued support from the state, county and community to make this project a reality.”

The development, sited on the 3300 block of Lombard Avenue, will add 82 new Permanent Supportive Housing units and will provide key services to help address critical housing shortages and homelessness issues in the area – particularly among those with chronic mental illness. Once full project funding is secured, Compass Health anticipates breaking ground in 2019 with project completion slated for mid-2020.

The affordable housing project aligns with the City of Everett’s Housing First and Safe Streets initiatives, to help people transition out of homelessness by providing them with housing while they receive the other services and support they need. The 62,000-square-foot supportive housing complex will be staffed 24/7 by Compass Health residential counselors, with clinical services and other housing supports also provided on-site. Most residents will be formerly homeless individuals referred through Snohomish County’s Coordinated Entry System.

As part of a phased approach, Compass Health is also in early-stage planning for a redevelopment of its existing Broadway Avenue location to support evaluation and treatment, residential treatment services, and innovative models for integrated medical and behavioral health care. The Commerce grants support this component, which is slated to follow construction of the housing project and will require additional public and private funding through a dedicated capital campaign.

In addition to these latest awards, Compass Health also received $4.5 million in key funding from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund in March, financial support from Snohomish County in the fall of 2017 and will continue to seek additional public and community funding.

Compass Health already provides affordable housing support to more than 500 people with mental illnesses each year throughout Snohomish County and the north Puget Sound region. The organization serves community members of all ages with comprehensive behavioral healthcare services throughout Northwest Washington. From mental health treatment to crisis prevention and intervention, supportive housing, children’s services and much more, Compass Health delivered care to more than 22,000 people in 2017.

Learn more about Compass Health, its services in the community, housing programs and ways to support its mission on its website: www.compasshealth.org.

  

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About Compass Health:

Compass Health is Northwest Washington’s behavioral healthcare leader. The organization integrates behavioral health and medical care services to support clients and communities when and where they are needed. Building on a century of experience, Compass Health is forging new, nationally recognized models of care that bring together highly skilled mental health professionals, primary care providers, peer counselors and others to treat the whole person. From comprehensive mental health treatment to crisis intervention, children’s services and community education, Compass Health serves people of all ages throughout Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

Learn more: www.compasshealth.org

 Media Contact:

Annie Alley
206.466.2713
annie@firmani.com

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