Lewis_County_Letter_to_Commissioners_7_31_2025.docxJuly 31, 2025
Dear Lewis County Commissioners:
Thank you for your longstanding partnership with the Department of Commerce supporting
a comprehensive and effective homeless crisis response in your community.
I am writing to you today regarding the funding available to Lewis County under the
Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG). Commerce awards CHG funds to communities
using a formula with a foundation based on need and recent actual spending. As part of a
long planned rebalancing process, Commerce intends to review the final 2023-2025
spending and needs in every county starting in the Fall.
At that point, after discussions with counties regarding capacity and need, Commerce may
ask counties to reduce their contract awards to better match ability to spend and will offer
reclaimed funds to communities that demonstrate need and capacity to spend additional
funding.
As a starting point in the discussion of what is needed in Lewis County, Commerce can, if
preferred, rescind the current CHG contract we recently sent to Lewis County and in its
place send a revised contract with awards equal to actual 2023-2025 spending in each
budget category. This would reduce the 2025-2027 award by $1.4 million dollars. If you
prefer this strategy, please let us know right away and we will reissue a new contract.
We look forward to discussion in the coming months with Lewis County regarding funding
for the Consolidated Homeless Grant in your community.
Sincerely,
Tedd Kelleher
Interim Assistant Director
Housing Division
Washington State Department of Commerce
Cc: Meja Handlen, Director, Lewis County Public Health Social Services
Kathy Kinard, Managing Director, Homelessness Assistance Unit, Commerce
Docusign Envelope ID: 1E992984-E2C3-4250-A860-561C6185BA27
Docusign Envelope ID: 1E992984-E2C3-4250-A860-561C6185BA27