Bill Hinkle, executive director of Community Action of Skagit County, told the Sedro‑Woolley City Council on Oct. 22 that the agency is expanding services across the county and described specific outcomes in Sedro‑Woolley.

"We're an anti‑poverty organization," Hinkle said, summarizing the agency's mission to stabilize lives and equip people to move out of poverty. He described a network of resource centers, street outreach teams and a new central food distribution facility that serves local food banks.

Hinkle said Community Action conducts a community needs assessment every three years; the 2024 review again identified availability and affordability of housing as the county's top concern. He highlighted the agency's role in prevention — short‑term financial assistance, energy help and employment supports to keep households housed — and said those efforts are less costly than rehousing people once they become homeless.

The presentation gave these local figures from the agency's client database for Sedro‑Woolley: 2,595 people identified Sedro‑Woolley as their home community; Community Action reported helping 403 Sedro‑Woolley residents avoid homelessness, assisting 2,115 with access to nutrition programs, helping about 2,400 households increase income and distributing about $116,000 to Sedro‑Woolley landlords through housing supports.

Hinkle described countywide operations including the Skagit Food Distribution Center, which he said distributed about 3,300,000 pounds of food to area food banks last year, and partnerships that place outreach medical providers with street outreach teams. He also outlined recent and planned housing projects: Cascade Landing in Burlington, a conversion of underused office space into 34 affordable units that prioritizes veterans and houses Skagit Vets Connect on the ground floor; and a two‑phase project with the Mount Vernon School District (referred to as Colschen View in the presentation) to create about 48 apartments for homeless students and their families.

Council members pressed Hinkle on trends and program details. Councilman Cook asked about increases in need and food supply; Hinkle said demand across partners has risen, food bank supplies have tightened and SNAP disruptions could further strain resources. Councilman Levoca asked how the agency prevented homelessness for 403 Sedro‑Woolley residents; Hinkle said most cases involve short‑term prevention assistance (rent or move‑in help), as well as energy assistance and referrals to benefits. Council members also asked about weatherization and energy programs; Hinkle said Community Action offers energy assistance and conservation education and partners with the Housing Authority of Skagit County on formal weatherization programs.

Hinkle noted Community Action is pursuing housing development and partnerships but said the agency was not making a funding request to the council at the meeting; he asked the council to consider allocation of the city's House Bill 1590 ("15/90") funds when the city deliberates those awards.

Public commenters who spoke after the presentation urged the council to weigh local priorities when making funding decisions. Sally Carlson, a Sedro‑Woolley resident, asked the council to consider more support for seniors and senior programs such as Meals on Wheels. Other residents asked the council to maintain local services and to prioritize road and facility maintenance alongside homelessness and housing programs.

The council did not take action on Community Action's presentation; the agency's representatives left the council with contact information and materials, and council members said they would consider Community Action projects as part of upcoming funding deliberations tied to House Bill 1590.

Ending — Next steps: Community Action representatives said they would continue outreach to Sedro‑Woolley staff and council members and that the agency will appear as needed in future budget and funding discussions.