Commissioners to consider funds for sex offender housing
By Terry Murry on Monday, August 15th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA — The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners meets today (Monday) at 1:15 p.m. On the agenda, a discussion and possible decision regarding an application from Joe’s Place for $25,000 in community outreach funds for sex offender housing for the homeless in Walla Walla County.
According to the community outreach funds application, Director Joseph Field said a modular classroom from Walla Walla Public Schools was donated and plans are underway to turn it into affordable housing for the sex offender program at Joe’s Place, which is a facility founded to get previously incarcerated sex offenders on a good track once they are released from prison.
The donated classroom will be remodeled into a four-bedroom home on Joe’s Place existing property on the 500 block of Ash Street. Once completed, the project will benefit four males, who are registered sex offenders. One of the goals of the project is to start housing registered sex offenders from Walla Walla’s Sleep Center in a more secure transition home and give them stable housing but with considerable oversight. By doing this, Field said Joe’s Place addresses safety concerns for Walla Walla County and the city of Walla Walla.
The entire project is estimated to cost approximately $162,347. Total cash donated so far is $130,780.64. Field said the following key players have donated money, time, advice, and in-kind services: Walla Walla Police Department, the city of Walla Walla, landowner Ora Rae Ottmar, Walla Walla Public Schools, J&S Land Excavation, Joe’s Place, Providence St. Mary Medical Center, 7 Electric LLC, and Home Depot.
