In collaboration with several local governments, the County selected the Cedar River Group as the consultant to explore the development of a formal regional coalition. In 2020 the consultant worked with a group comprised of staff of several local governments and a Steering Committee comprised of local elected officials on the structure, budget, and work plan of the coalition. The recommendation on the structure, budget, and work plan of the coalition was brought forward to the full SSHAP group of elected officials in December 2020. In December 2020, the full SSHAP group agreed to move forward with a draft interlocal agreement with these key elements:

• The SSHAP coalition will be governed by an Executive Board comprised of elected officials (or other designated officials) of the members' governments. Each member will have one vote on the Executive Board;
• The SSHAP coalition will have an Advisory Board comprised of key housing stakeholders;
• Pierce County will act as the administrative entity and fiscal agent;
• SSHAP will include 1.5 staff to provide services to all member governments; and
• SSHAP will be structured to include the possibility of creating a capital fund.

Next steps:

• Complete a draft interlocal agreement for review (First Quarter);
• Presentations to the Councils of governments that have expressed an interest in joining SSHAP (First and Second Quarters);
• Approval of interlocal agreement by the Councils of the governments that wish to join (Second Quarter); 
• Hire SSHAP Executive Manager (Third Quarter); and
• Begin SSHAP work (Third Quarter).