Lived-experience steering committee selects Confluence Northwest for one-year facilitation contract

The Regional Housing Council approved the Homeless Services Advisory Board’s recommendation to select Confluence Consulting Northwest to facilitate the lived-experience housing steering committee (LESC) for a one-year contract at $50,000.

Casper, speaking for the Homeless Services Advisory Board, said the board unanimously supported Confluence Northwest based on the living-experience committee’s request; he added there was one abstention recorded in the advisory board’s vote. Casper said the LESC had recommended Confluence because that organization originally helped build the steering committee.

Kevin (county staff) and others provided background: Confluence was one of three applicants and had previously helped establish the LESC. The steering committee reviewed all applicants and chose Confluence to provide facilitation and support as the LESC prepares input for the county’s next five-year homeless response plan. The LESC will continue providing input on the plan through the plan’s drafting process; a listening session was scheduled as an ongoing milestone.

A motion to approve the Homeless Services Advisory Board’s recommendation to select Confluence Northwest as the awardee for facilitation passed unanimously after a second. The contract term discussed was one year and the amount presented to the council was $50,000.

Council members asked about Confluence’s prior involvement and why it had not continued earlier; county staff replied that earlier decisions favored a local nonprofit provider and there were funding changes and transitions. Several council members said they supported honoring the LESC’s choice to select its facilitator.

The approval allows staff to proceed to contracting for the one-year facilitation engagement.