Science in Support of Local Decision Making for COVID-19: A Dialogue with Coastal Communities

In October 2021, the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS) hosted the second in a series of dialogue events on COVID-19 response and recovery. The purpose of the dialogue series is to bring together scientific experts and community members to discuss issues being navigated by local communities.

This event was designed and planned through monthslong engagement with community members and organizations in coastal counties to understand which issues were most pressing for them. The engagement was not a comprehensive representation from the region, but it was a chance to hear from a number of perspectives about challenges that stood out, questions that were top of mind, and key local factors and context. WSAS connected with its statewide network of scientific and technical experts to complement local expertise from a broad set of community members.

This virtual event focused on housing concerns facing coastal counties, especially Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan, and Island counties. These counties, made up of rural and suburban communities, range in population size from 17,000 to 85,000. Many of these areas have historically served as tourist and retiree destinations supported by various service industries, such as hospitality, healthcare, and community services. They also host above-average levels of vacation home ownership. They experienced an outsized impact from shifts in housing patterns due to the pandemic, alongside disruptions in income for many local workers. These shifts have exacerbated challenges with affordable housing in the region.