North Star Recognized with Project of Impact Award
Last month, North Star was honored with a Project of Impact award from the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC), presented to the Skagit County Commissioners during the WSAC County Leaders Conference. The award recognizes county governments and leadership making a positive difference in their communities. It celebrates efforts to offer a new service to county residents, enhance their daily lives, improve satisfaction through increased utilization of county services, foster cooperation with other governments and community partners, or create or improve upon revenue sources.
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A founding member of North Star, Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki, is proud of the progress and collaboration shown through North Star and the positive impacts it has had so far in Skagit. “North Star is a shining example of what our community can do when we truly work together, pooling our resources, and inspiring a vision of a thriving Skagit for all.”
North Star is looking forward to celebrating the completion of the STAR (Stabilization, Treatment, and Recovery) Center expansion later this month. The STAR Center includes the currently operating North Sound Evaluation and Treatment facility, which offers 16 acute inpatient mental health care beds. The second phase of the STAR Center is a 48-bed crisis stabilization center operated by Pioneer Human Services, which includes 16 crisis stabilization beds, 16 acute detox beds, and 16 co-occurring treatment beds, opening in early 2026.
The North Star Leadership Team, which includes the four city mayors and county commissioners, is eager to continue their collaborative efforts in 2026, including the development of transitional housing in Skagit County. The community has a very limited number of transitional housing beds, which are a vital component of the continuum of care during the recovery process. Transitional housing provides a temporary residence for people exiting treatment or jail, allowing them to continue receiving behavioral health and addiction treatment while they wait for permanent supportive housing to become available. Skagit County is evaluating the use of the Lila Lane facility for conversion to transitional housing, and North Star will advocate to the state legislature to help fund the remodeling of the current facility for its new use.
Background on North Star
North Star is a public-private partnership in Skagit County, uniting local governments, first responders, housing and health organizations, and many other community leaders to tackle homelessness and behavioral health challenges. Recognizing that fragmented systems often lead to inefficiencies and gaps in care, North Star aims to streamline services, coordinate resources, and create an integrated system that better serves the most vulnerable. Together, we are creating a thriving Skagit County for all.
To drive meaningful change, the initiative focuses on two key priorities: building a community-based system of care and ensuring access to stable and safe housing. By coordinating crisis response, expanding recovery support services, and strengthening behavioral health services, North Star seeks to provide the care and support people need more efficiently and effectively. Simultaneously, North Star is facilitating access to diverse housing options by building a pipeline of affordable housing and making pathways to housing faster and easier to navigate to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
Since its inception in July 2022, North Star has made significant progress. The initiative secured $24 million from the Washington State Legislature to expand Skagit STAR Center, a facility that provides intensive, long-term treatment for adults facing substance use and mental health challenges. Additionally, North Star facilitated the opening of Martha’s Place, Skagit’s first permanent supportive housing development, and has implemented a shared software system for first responders to coordinate and improve care for people in crises. Looking ahead, North Star plans to develop a coordinated data approach to measure progress, continue expanding resources to support individuals on their journey to recovery and stability, and facilitate an increase in the availability of housing options.
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