Bayside Housing & Services Marks 10 Years of Hope

PORT HADLOCK, WA — The notes of a live piano mingled with the clink of glasses and the warmth of gratitude on Thursday as Bayside Housing & Services celebrated a decade of transforming homelessness into stability. The 10th Anniversary Reception, held at the historic Old Alcohol Plant Inn, was not just a milestone but a testament to what Executive Director Gary Keister called “the compassion and commitment of this community.”

Since opening its doors on April 16, 2016, the Jefferson County nonprofit has provided more than 500,000 nights of safe shelter, served over 80,000 hot meals and helped 420 individuals access housing and supportive services. Today, 60% of participants move on to safe, stable homes of their own. The organization has grown from a single vision into a comprehensive network of care. 

“Behind every one of those 500,000 nights of shelter is a neighbor who needed a safe place to land,” Keister said during the ceremony, which drew a crowd of staff, donors, volunteers and local officials to the inn.

A journey from six residents to a regional anchor

Board President Terry Umbreit, who has been involved with Bayside since before the organization purchased the Old Alcohol Plant, recalled the organization’s humble beginnings. “We started with six residents in the tower,” he said, referencing the multi-story portion of the building and noting that an immediate waiting list revealed the region’s need. Early challenges included securing grants without a track record and finding apartments for clients in a community with virtually no vacancies.

“We learned that housing alone isn’t enough,” Keister stated to the full room. “When people have stable housing combined with case management, health services and opportunities to build skills, they’re far more likely to move forward into lasting stability.”

A network of care: From emergency shelter to permanent housing

Bayside’s model is built on a continuum of care, operating six distinct properties that meet individuals at different stages of their journey. The organization manages the Jefferson County Emergency Shelter located in the basement of the American Legion building in Port Townsend, which serves as the county’s only overnight homeless shelter. Bayside took over operations from OlyCap in July 2024, and under their leadership, the shelter provides up to 38 people each night with safety, hot meals and connections to case management.

From the emergency shelter, individuals can step into transitional supportive housing. Bayside operates two tiny home “healing villages” designed as sober living communities. Peter’s Place in Port Hadlock, built in 2020 on the grounds of the Community United Methodist Church, features 12 tiny shelters where up to 12 participants receive intensive case management and self-governance support. 

Pat’s Place in Port Townsend, which opened in 2022, expands this model with eight single units and two double units that can serve up to 12 participants, plus a dedicated 320-square-foot kitchen commons that serves as a community gathering space for meal preparation and dining.

Transitional and permanent supportive housing

The organization’s largest transitional site is Bayside Tower, located in the historic Old Alcohol Plant Inn in Port Hadlock. Here, Bayside master-leases 24 hotel rooms, offering private bedrooms and bathrooms with shared kitchen and community room amenities. This site currently serves 32 program participants, including families with children. It is where daily hot meals—prepared by the inn’s Spirits Bar & Grill using organic produce from on-site gardens—are served.

In 2022, Bayside made a significant leap into permanent housing with the purchase of the Hadlock Motel, renamed Woodley Place in honor of the former owners. This property features 16 studio apartments and one four-bedroom unit, increasing Bayside’s housing capacity by 30 percent. Unlike transitional sites, where stays are time-limited, Woodley Place operates as permanent supportive housing, with renovations underway to add kitchenettes and meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards. 

The organization also acquired the historic Starrett House Bed & Breakfast in uptown Port Townsend in August 2023. They plan to convert part of it to be workforce housing, primarily for employed women. They also plan to maintain the property’s historic integrity, operating as a B&B and offering high tea gatherings. 

Wraparound services and community partnerships

Across all sites, Bayside pairs housing with trauma-informed case management, assisting residents with employment applications, medical appointments, and navigating social services. The organization also operates the Jefferson County MASH Free Clinic and the Bayside Skill Center, ensuring that health services and skill-building opportunities, like their culinary training program in the Spirit’s Bar and Grill, are integrated directly into their housing model. This comprehensive approach, from emergency shelter beds to permanent apartments, creates a complete ecosystem that moves neighbors from crisis to lasting stability.

‘The Doers’ receive formal recognition

The evening included formal proclamations from Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend.

County Commissioner Greg Brotherton read a resolution declaring April 16, 2026, as “Bayside Housing & Services 10th Anniversary Day,” praising the organization for “strengthening the social fabric” of the county. “I was a new commissioner when Bayside was pretty new as well,” Brotherton said. “It’s amazing what you’ve accomplished in such a short time.”

Port Townsend Council Member David Faber followed with a city proclamation, calling Bayside “the doers” who step up when an issue needs immediate action. “What we can do as a city is set the rules that allow housing to be created in the first place, but that's a long-term solution that requires years, 10-20 years to really come to fruition. As Gary said in his speech, we don't need it 10 years from now. We need it now.” Faber said. “We would be in a much worse place as a community if not for all of you.”

Looking ahead: A ‘super shelter’ and new partnerships

While celebrating past achievements, Keister and Umbreit quickly pivoted to the work ahead. Keister announced a new partnership with Discovery Behavioral Health to provide on-site mental health and addiction services, noting that an estimated 80% of current guests face such challenges.

He also revealed a strategic alliance with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) of Seattle, a major developer of tiny homes and apartment housing. “What we need is housing, not 10 years from now, but now,” Keister said. LIHI will help Bayside with architectural fees and low-income tax credit expertise to accelerate the development of properties like the Healing Villages and the San Juan property.

Perhaps most ambitious is Keister’s vision to transform the county’s emergency shelter into a “super shelter” model. “It’s not the way to treat people to give them a meal and shove them out the door when it’s cold and rainy,” he said. “We want to set an example here—a shelter where they have medical care, case management, and a real pathway through.”

A toast to the future and a call to donors

As the clock neared 5 p.m., attendees raised their glasses in a series of toasts to the founders, the staff (including eight original team members still serving), the community partners, and the future. 

Founders Chris and Carolyn Eagan, Vince and Marianne Romeo, and Gary and Susan Keister were honored for their early vision and personal sacrifice. Umbreit noted that Keister himself had used his own money to meet payroll in the early years.

The evening also launched the Bayside Eagan Legacy Society, a planned giving initiative named in honor of Chris and Carolyn Eagan to help sustain the organization for decades to come. The program welcomes community members and donors to include Bayside in their estate plans, ensuring their generosity will secure lasting housing and services for those in need. 

“Ten years in, we’ve learned a lot about what works, and we’ve also seen how great the need remains in Jefferson County,” Keister said. “The next decade will be about building more pathways from homelessness to stability.”

Bayside Housing & Services continues to accept donations and volunteers. For more information, visit www.baysidehousing.org.