PORT ANGELES – When a fire or some other emergency leaves people homeless, it’s often the Red Cross that offers them a haven until they find a new home.
Now the Olympic Peninsula American Red Cross, which serves both Clallam and Jefferson counties, is looking for a new home of its own.
The Red Cross has been housed at 281 McCarver St., in the former National Guard Armory Building, for the past six years rent-free.
The space is donated to the Red Cross by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, which leases the building from the Washington Military Department.
Maintenance problems with the building prompted the Red Cross organization to begin a search for new headquarters, said Phyllis Darling, executive director of the local Red Cross.
Mold was found in the building, according to Alice Hoffman, chief administrative deputy with the sheriff’s office.
In addition to the Red Cross, the state Department of Natural Resources also occupies an office in the building, Hoffman said.
She and Darling have been working with the owner of the building, the state Military Department, to fix the problem, Hoffman said on Monday.
The Military Department has determined that mold exists in the building, said Hoffman, and has taken some measures to improve ventilation.
Attempts to reach the state Military Department for comment were unsuccessful on Monday.
Hoffman expected to hear an update from the department today on what else will be done.
“We’re hoping to resolve the issue,” Hoffman said.
