Expanding the Tribe’s presence on Fidalgo Bay, the Samish Indian Nation’s Health and Human Services Department is moving into a new space adjacent to Cap Sante Marina and Seafarers’ Memorial Park in Anacortes.

In August, Tribal Council authorized the purchase of the east side of the Cannery Building, a high quality office building, constructed in 2006, for future tribal office space needs. The building consists of three suites, all of which were rented at the time the purchase closed. One of those tenants, the Salish Sea Deaf School, had outgrown its suite and obtained additional office space in Burlington. Tribal Council granted the deaf school’s request for an early termination of its lease, which paved the way for the HHS Department to move to the suite.

In late November, the Tribe signed an agreement to sell the existing HHS building at 1809 Commercial Avenue to a private party; in late December, Tribal Council authorized money to remodel the suite in the Cannery Building for HHS. Located a brief walk from bus routes on R Avenue, the new suite will have comfortable client meeting space, ample parking, LED lighting, high-speed networking connection to other tribal sites, and efficient heating and cooling systems. 

The Housing, Social Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation programs in the HHS department are expected to be fully moved into their new space by the end of March with no interruption in service to tribal citizens. The new physical address of the HHS Department is 715 Seafarer’s Way Suite 103, Anacortes. Entry is through exterior doors in the southeast corner of the building. The Public Health and Purchased and Referred Services of HHS will continue in its current location behind the Tribal Administration building, 2918 Commercial Avenue.