Commissioners approve request for FYRE housing fund

OKANOGAN – The Board of Okanogan County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a $10,000 request earlier this month from the Foundation for Youth Resiliency and Engagement (FYRE) for the agency’s homeless housing fund. The action was taken during the regular BOCC meeting on July 3.

The money will help cover pre-development costs needed for the purchase of a downtown Omak building that, if successful, will serve as FYRE’s Independent Learning and Living Village.

 “The state gave us a capital appropriation of $3.3 million,” said FYRE co-founder Michelle Sandoval. “We’re still pre-contract, so we can’t get advanced funding. We have to pay pre-development costs on our own.”

Sandoval added that FYRE needs $15,000 for earnest money and an environmental assessment of the property.

Commissioner Andy Hover’s motion to grant FYRE’s funding request received unanimous approval.

FYRE was founded in 2020 by Michelle, Amitie, and Mady Sandoval. It is a local non-profit organization serving Okanogan County young people between the ages of 12-24. Since its October opening almost three years ago, FYRE has served hundreds of county youth. Last year alone, FYRE welcomed more than 700 individuals and logged more than 3500 visits.

FYRE is located at 23 Ash Street South (across from the Omak Library) and is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and by appointment on Fridays. Mountain (MTN), its after-school handout space for middle and high school youth, is open from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

 Learn about FRYE’s founders, board members, youth advisory committee, and mission by visiting its website at info@okfyre.org.