The Boiler Room Board of Directors is seeking proposals from the community to keep its mission going in Port Townsend. However, if the board does not receive an “actionable plan” by Sept. 19, it will liquidate all assets, including its building.

“The Board of Directors of The Boiler Room … announced a structured plan to offer an opportunity for those interested in keeping The Boiler Room open and in its current operating space to step forward with proposals,” a press release Sept. 2 from board President David Faber stated. “If no actionable plan is presented, The Boiler Room will liquidate assets including the building at 711 Water St., in downtown Port Townsend.”

Community input

Faber’s press release comes almost a month after it was announced The Boiler Room could not continue to operate under its current structure.

The Boiler Room Executive Director Amy Howard told The Leader in August The Boiler Room has seen a decline in donations and volunteerism. This, paired with the organization acting as a day shelter for the homeless, led to the decision to revamp the facility’s mission.

“The Boiler Room has become more of a day shelter, when it was originally intended for youth services,” Howard said. “Our donations went off the edge of a cliff starting in January of 2017, and volunteer and youth engagement have been down.”

On Aug. 18, the board held a community meeting to gather input from those wanting to make sure The Boiler Room stayed open for youth in the community.

“The community seemed to understand the circumstances facing us, and are hoping that the Boiler Room can rise from the proverbial ashes again, like it has on at least two previous occasions,” Faber said of the meeting. “A lot of people testified to the lives saved by The Boiler Room, and there were a lot of tears from people who have been touched by The Boiler Room, so I'm hoping the community can hear that message and are willing to put in their blood, sweat, and tears to making sure the Boiler Room (or something like it) will have a home again.”

During the community meeting, many shared their stories on how The Boiler Room saved them, one minor even noting she would currently be a drug addict if she had not had The Boiler Room to turn to.

Examples given at the meeting showed how The Boiler Room transitioned from a safe place for youth to operating as a day shelter for homeless people. This transition started to make it unsafe for the young minors working and going there.

Next step

Faber said, in the Sept. 2 press release, interested community members have until 5 p.m. Sept. 19 to submit a proposal to the board.

Each proposal must include a new core group of board members, readily available funding of about $150,000 in existing and accruing debts and obligations, a realistic and actionable youth-oriented and youth-driven plan, and a way to continue operations at its current location “while addressing the need for an off-site homeless day shelter.”

The requirements to submit a proposal also include having a fundraising plan to pay the mortgage and the overall plan “must be actionable by Nov. 1.”

“The Boiler Room Board of Directors will review all submitted (plans) Sept. 19 at a closed meeting,” the release stated. “If no viable (plans) are submitted, the board of directors will consider options to sell 711 Water Street and for liquidating other assets.”

Plans can be submitted by emailing Howard at amy@ptbr.org or during a question-answer session from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 11.