Outreach Programs
Community Care Navigation - Roving Outreach Camp Support
Resource Connections & Advocacy
The Roving Outreach Camp Support ("ROCS") program umbrellas our Care Navigation and Safer Spaces programs. These outreach teams provide a range of services dedicated to reducing harm associated with unsheltered homelessness and promoting health and stability, both for people experiencing homelessness, and the broader community. In partnership with the CHOICE Network, OlyMAP is contracted to provide Community Care Navigation outreach services that connect our participants with resources that support their health, stability, and safety. Though we are disheartened to no longer be supported by the WA Rights of Way Program, Community Care Navigation allows us to continue to provide services to people living unsheltered and housing insecure in local encampments and expanded community locations. In additional, this work continues to play a crucial role in collecting the data points that create our evidence based practices, and prove a vital link between the services we provide, such as temporary shelter, shelter-in-place, housing first practices, harm reduction, advocacy, social support, and overall community health.
Safer Spaces Outreach and Advocacy Program - ROCS
Advocacy and Supplies
The Safer Spaces Outreach and Advocacy Program (SSOAP), now part of the larger ROCS program, aims to help decrease encampment fires, the burning of noxious garbage, and other concerns related to unsafe burning practices within encampments in Olympia, WA. This program was first conceptualized after meeting with the Olympic Regional Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), who were receiving complaints related to trash burning and fire concerns originating from various encampments in Thurston County. OlyMAP partnered with ORCAA and created a program to help address these concerns by providing support to camps through trash removal, provision of supplies to encourage safer burning practices, and alternative methods of finding warmth while living unsheltered. OlyMAP does outreach to several camps in Olympia to distribute and provide safe warming supplies such as tent-safe heaters, propane and associated materials, tents, sleeping bags, and even firewood as well as assist with clean burning. Also, SSOAP workers provide weekly meals and frequently assist with garbage removal from camps, which helps decrease the incidence and frequency of garbage burning. There are many more participants who need help to stay warm this winter, far beyond what OlyMAP can provide. The SSOAP team is currently looking for any donations to help them provide more supplies and support to individuals living unsheltered, especially as we are in the cold months of the year.
Rights of Way Initiative (RoW)
Advocacy and Relocation Support (Previous)
In June of 2022, Washington state legislators released a plan to respond to the “phenomena” of unsheltered homelessness and camp communities along the I-5 corridor and Rights of ways (RoWs). Funding was allocated to five different counties, including Thurston County, to create additional shelter and housing options for individuals living in camp communities living on RoWs, and provide move-in support for relocating camp residents. While the RoW project has evolved over time, OlyMAP’s role remained the same until 2025 — providing advocacy and support to participants to help maximize their success of getting into housing and staying in housing. Though OlyMAP is no longer funded by the ROW program, we continue this work through out other outreach services.
