February 23, 2026

To our neighbors across the City of Bremerton and Kitsap County,

For the past two years, the four local nonprofits we lead, Bremerton Housing Authority, Kitsap Mental Health Services, Kitsap Community Resources, and St. Vincent de Paul, have worked side by side to bring forward a viable Hybrid Shelter proposal in Bremerton to address the need for a 24/7 low-barrier shelter, more transitional housing, and pathways out of homelessness.

We recognize that our proposal generated a wide array of feedback from both the City Council and the community at large, ranging from concern to broad support. Following our requests for support from the Bremerton City Council, we recently received a letter from Council President Jane Rebelowski that ultimately reflected a lack of buy-in for this project. We want to share the heart of our response sent to the Council and the path we intend to pursue now.

First, we are unwavering in our belief that every person in our community deserves a safe, dignified place to live. Unsheltered homelessness is a humanitarian crisis playing out on our doorsteps, on our sidewalks, and at our businesses across Kitsap County. It is a community challenge that demands a deep sense of urgency, compassion, and practical solutions. We remain all in on that mission.

As community partners, we have invested significant time planning and developing a responsible and scalable plan for a Hybrid Shelter model. Ensuring the successful construction and operation of a solution that pairs comprehensive on-site services with both congregate and transitional tiny home options requires strong alignment among service providers, housing partners, neighbors, and city leaders. If that alignment is not present, as it stands today, moving forward would invite significant conflict, extended delays, and unnecessary capital expenditures that ultimately make the project unworkable. Therefore, with guidance from our boards, we have determined that it is currently not feasible to advance the full Hybrid Shelter plan at Bremerton Housing Authority’s newly acquired 5-acre property adjacent to Sheridan Road (the Sheridan site) as originally proposed.

Because we are not able to accomplish the comprehensive approach outlined in the original interlocal agreement with the City, we offered to apply the City funds to a revised plan or to release the City from the agreement so they can redirect the funds as they see fit. We are committed to remain ready to proceed with the full Hybrid Shelter model if the City chooses to collaborate with us in that effort. In the meantime, and regardless of City funding, our organizations plan to move forward with a modified plan.

Since the congregate shelter is not feasible today given current design standards and costs associated with those requirements, our focus will shift to outreach and development of the tiny home community at the Sheridan site which will include 24/7 security, on-site stabilization, and engagement services. There is a large need to provide housing for individuals who are especially vulnerable in their homeless status, including seniors, veterans, and individuals living with disabilities.

Our next step is to follow the City’s permit and zoning processes and launch a broad outreach effort with three parts: education (clear information about the model, operations, and safeguards), impact (how we intend to measure outcomes, reduce neighborhood harms, and respond to concerns), and input (real opportunities to shape decisions). We will retain an independent facilitator to host public meetings and gather individual feedback so that all voices have an opportunity to be heard.

We recognize that building this tiny home community will require at least one zoning code change. Based on our current understanding, this part of the model should not be subject to the more complex design regulations that are driving the congregate shelter’s unfeasible timeline and cost. With the code change we will apply for, we believe the tiny homes can be available more quickly while maintaining safety, accountability, and care for the surrounding neighborhood. In parallel, Bremerton Housing Authority will begin development planning for future permanent, affordable housing at the Sheridan site because lasting solutions depend on expanding the inventory of housing that people can afford.

We are grateful to The Salvation Army for operating the community’s only low-barrier walk-up shelter. Their work saves lives every single day. Our organizations are committed to doing our part now to stand up the tiny home community and keep working toward a holistic solution in alignment with the needs of our City and community.

Homelessness is solvable through dignity, health, and partnership. We invite our neighbors and local leaders to join us in this next step because every person deserves a safe, dignified, and affordable place to call home.

With deep respect and shared purpose,

Jill Stanton, Bremerton Housing Authority
Monica Bernhard, Kitsap Mental Health Services
Joseph Crain, St. Vincent de Paul
Tony Ives, Kitsap Community Resources