A jail in Yakima could be transformed into a different sort of facility, if plans proposed by the Yakima County Commissioners come to fruition.
The commissioners are considering transforming the Yakima County Jail, which is located on Pacific Avenue, into a homeless shelter, and are also considering possibly using a part of the facility for affordable housing as well. The commissioners say they would call the project the Yakima County Care Campus, where they would create a permanent homeless shelter, and provided substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment services as well.
Officials say that the jail is used largely to house inmates contracted to Yakima from other areas, and has been utilized completely. The latest plans would create a “mixed-use care facility” from the current jail. The goal of the project in the long term would be to offer permanent housing on the campus, which covers ten acres. Long term and transition housing would also be provided.
Mike Leita, one of the commissioners, said it was time to find a better use for the Yakima County Jail, one that would help meet the needs of the community. No time frame has been given for the project, or what construction would entail, as the effort is in the earliest planning stage. Flyer printing can be used to create informative materials to update residents on projects like this.
