Capital Overview
In order to help individuals and families achieve self-sufficient, healthy lives, the Department delivers a wide array of services in a variety of locations statewide. Three key divisions - Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, Mental Health, and Developmental Disabilities - support state-owned institutions located on ten separate campuses, seven group homes, and on the grounds of the old Northern State Hospital. These facilities range from historical buildings at Western State Hospital, built in 1853 as part of Fort Steilacoom, to newly renovated wards at Western and Eastern State Hospitals. Approximately one-half of the facilities were constructed prior to 1975. Nearly 500 state-owned buildings require ongoing maintenance and renewal in order to serve the agency's clients.
DSHS also holds over 260 leases for approximately 2.5 million square-feet of leased space with a monthly cost exceeding $2 million. While not owned directly by the state, these facilities must be adapted for program use and the attendant lease costs must be accommodated in the agency's operating budget.
In addition to the impact of aging buildings, the Department must balance the needs of both changing clientele and regulatory requirements. Constant changes in the populations being served present significant challenges in meeting the needs of rapid growth in the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA). In addition, careful capital planning is undertaken for programs in mental health and developmental disabilities where populations are declining. Coordinating investments in facilities, while managing the necessary funds to maintain programs and transfer individuals to other institutions is a challenge. The Department's capital plan addresses the linkage between capital facilities and changing program requirements and priorities.
Capital Plan Highlights
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