Homelessness Response Plan

On November 7, City Council voted 5-2 in favor of supporting staff recommendations calling for the City’s third supportive Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness—to be located at 415 W. 11th Street. The approval follows a community engagement and input period of six weeks. Community feedback has helped shape potential next steps relating to:

• Site design: Including parking, lighting and fencing options
• Accessibility: Minimizing sidewalk closures and impacts on those who walk, bike or use a mobility device near the Safe Stay Community
• Public Safety: Informing the work of the City’s Homeless Assistance and Resources Team (HART) and Vancouver Police Department
• Communication: Helping inform materials presented during community information sessions and resources that will soon be shared with neighbors

Following the development of a site plan and the approval of relevant permits, construction is expected to begin in December. The site is expected to open in January 2023. HART and the Vancouver Police Department will enforce the City’s ban on camping within 1,000 feet of Safe Stay Community sites once site preparation begins.

The City will mail a resource guide to neighbors with relevant links and contact information for HART and the nonprofit site operator, Outsiders Inn. The City will also email the guide to neighborhood leaders and post copies on Nextdoor and Be Heard Vancouver.

All Safe Stay Communities are home to 20 temporary modular structures which will offer up to 40 residents safer and more stabilizing shelter as they work to transition out of homelessness. The temporary communities will improve community health, safety and cleanliness for both housed and unhoused community members by:

• Offering residents greater access to services, increased stability, and safe, healthy, and humane living conditions to transition out of homelessness
• Reducing garbage, trash and clutter in public spaces
• Relocating residents who are currently living in tents or vehicles. As part of the opening, the City will work with local nonprofits and the City’s Homelessness Assistance and Resources Team to relocate unhoused residents, prioritizing those living in camps in the downtown area, to this site
• Prohibiting camping within 1,000 feet of the site

This location will be the third of several supportive sites the City is establishing as part of its Homelessness Response Plan. The Safe Stay Community will be managed by the nonprofit Outsiders Inn, current manager of the City’s first Safe Stay Community that opened in December 2021. Since opening, this community has successfully placed 25 people in housing, provided other residents with referrals for permanent housing, job placement support, and access to critical health and treatment services necessary to exit homelessness. The City’s second Safe Stay location opened in April.

The Safe Stay Community program is supported by the Affordable Housing Fund. In March, Vancouver City Council adopted a resolution approving the City’s 2022 Affordable Housing Fund recommendations, which includes $1,007,900 to support necessary site preparation and the purchase of the modular shelter units. Site preparation includes installation of electrical utilities at the site and electrical hook-ups to each shelter unit, installation of fencing, gates, parking and all necessary permits and fees. View the site plan.

The City of Vancouver is adding a third engagement and information session for community members to share their thoughts and feedback on the City’s proposed site at 415 W. 11th St. for its next Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

The additional online listening session will be:

• Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Community members wishing to attend can register here.

Previously scheduled information session options include:

• Attend in Person – Saturday, Oct. 15 from 9:30 to 11 a.m., City Hall (415 W. 6th St.). Please RSVP to Kerry.Peck@cityofvancouver.us
• Attend Online – Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Participation in both virtual sessions can be done using a computer, smart device or phone. It’s not necessary to attend all sessions. Registration for Wednesday’s session is not required; community members can simply click here to join.

The City is committed to informing and involving neighbors and surrounding businesses in the Safe Stay Community planning process. Community members are also invited to visit www.beheardvancouver.org/ssc3 to share their thoughts and feedback about the proposed site.

Learn more.

The City of Vancouver is proposing the property at 415 W 11^TH St. as a potential location for its third Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

As part of its ongoing public outreach process, the City sent letters to all residents and business owners within 1,200 feet of the proposed site, seeking their input during a public comment period as a next step in advancing the City’s Safe Stay Community program.

The City believes that this location would be a good fit for a Safe Stay Community, as it will help address the needs of nearby unhoused residents and is close to public transportation.

Once a proposed Safe Stay Community is open, public camping is not allowed within 1,000 feet of the location, which will be enforced by the City’s Homelessness Assistance and Resources Team (HART) as it is at the other two sites. Safe Stay Communities help address the immediate impacts of homelessness on community health, safety, and cleanliness, including removal of garbage, trash and clutter in public spaces and relocation of residents living in tents or vehicles in public rights of way.

Public comment period now open

The City is committed to informing and involving neighbors and surrounding businesses in the Safe Stay Community planning process. Community members are invited to visit www.beheardvancouver.org/ssc3 to share their thoughts and feedback about the proposed site.

The City also invites community members to attend one of four community information sessions, two online and two in-person. These sessions will include a chance to ask questions, learn more about the proposed Safe Stay location and meet the service provider, Outsiders Inn. Session options include:

• Attend In-Person – Saturday, Oct. 15 from 9:30 to 11 a.m., City Hall (415 W. 6th St.). Please RSVP to Kerry.Peck@cityofvancouver.us
• Attend Online – Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Participation in the virtual session can be done using a computer, smart device or phone. It’s not necessary to attend both sessions. To register, please visit www.cityofvancouver.us/cis
• Attend Online – Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Community members wishing to attend can register here.
• Attend In-Person – Thursday, Nov. 3 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. City Hall (415 W. 6th St.). Please RSVP to Kerry.Peck@cityofvancouver.us 

For registration by phone or to request language interpretation services, community members are asked to please call (360) 487-8616. Comments can also be emailed to Kerry.peck@cityofvancouver.us.

The City’s goal is to collect as much information as possible to help learn about any potential impacts of locating its next Safe Stay Community at the proposed site. The deadline for submitting comments about the proposed Safe Stay Community site at W. 11th St is Friday, Oct. 28.

Depending on the outcome of public input and engagement sessions, and pending review by City Council, the City would open this proposed Safe Stay Community in December 2022.

If approved, the proposed site at 415 W. 11th St. would be the third Safe Stay Community to open in Vancouver. The first, located at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle in east Vancouver, opened in December 2021 on city-owned property. The second, located at 4915 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., opened in April 2022 also on city-owned property. Since opening, these communities have successfully provided their residents with referrals for permanent housing, job placement support and access to critical health and treatment services necessary to exit homelessness.

To learn more about the City’s Homelessness Response Plan and sign up to receive email updates, please visit https://www.beheardvancouver.org/homelessness-response.

Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is proposing the City-owned property at 4915 E. Fourth Plain Blvd, 98661, as a potential location for its second Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

The City is currently conducting extensive outreach to all residents and business owners within 1,200 feet of the proposed site, seeking their input during a public comment period as a next step in advancing the City’s Safe Stay Community program.

The City believes that this location would be a good fit for a Safe Stay Community, as it is close to public transportation and will help address the needs of nearby unhoused residents.

The proposed site at 4915 E. Fourth Plain Blvd would be the second Safe Stay Community to open in Vancouver. The first, located at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle in east Vancouver, opened in December 2021 on another city-owned property. Since opening, this community has successfully provided its residents with referrals for permanent housing, job placement support and access to critical health and treatment services necessary to exit homelessness.

Like the first Safe Stay Community, the proposed second site would provide 20 modular shelters housing up to 40 people. The site will be fenced and staffed 24/7 by the onsite nonprofit operator, Living Hope Church. It will include trash receptacles and sanitation services, portable toilets and hand washing stations, meeting and office space, and access to supportive services provided by local agencies.

Public comment period now open

Community members are invited to visit http://www.beheardvancouver.org/ssc2 to share their thoughts and feedback about the proposed site. The city also invites community members to attend one of two upcoming community information sessions on Zoom. These sessions will include a chance to ask questions, learn more about the proposed Safe Stay location and about service provider, Living Hope Church. Sessions will be held on:

• Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Community members can participate in the virtual sessions using a computer, smart device or phone. To register, please visit www.cityofvancouver.us/cis

To register by phone or request language interpretation services, please call (360) 487-8616.

To learn more about the City’s Homelessness Response Plan and sign up to receive email updates, please visit https://www.beheardvancouver.org/homelessness-response.

Following public input and final approval, the city would open this proposed Safe Stay Community in the spring of 2022.

With the help of funding from the City of Vancouver’s Affordable Housing Fund, the City opened its first Safe Stay Community located at 11400 NE 51st Circle on Dec. 23, 2021. More than six months later, it continues to provide the most vulnerable in our community with comfortable, dry and secure surroundings and access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare and social services while they work to transition out of homelessness.

The City has developed a report summarizing the Community’s key accomplishments and services Safe Stay Community residents received in its first six months of operation (Dec. 23, 2021 – June 30, 2022).

Key accomplishments include:

• 74 referrals made to partner agencies for medical and mental health care, education, employment, housing, pet care and other benefits assistance
• 14 people transitioned to housing
• 30% reduction in police calls and officer-initiated visits within a 500 ft radius of the community compared to the same time last year
• 9.6% reduction in Fire/EMS calls to the community address compared to the same time last year

View the report.

On Monday, Feb. 7, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to award a professional services contract to Living Hope Church for the operation of the city’s second supportive Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Living Hope Church has extensive experience providing shelter and outreach services to those experiencing homelessness in the community.

The nonprofit will run daily operations at the future Safe Stay Community ensuring safety, security and sanitation measures are maintained, and that residents have access to the stabilization resources and services they need.

“Securing a committed and experienced service provider like Living Hope Church is the next important step to opening a second Safe Stay Community in the city,” said Jamie Spinelli, homeless response coordinator for the city. “They are already strong advocates for supporting our unsheltered neighbors, providing regular outreach services such as meals, food/clothing bank, mobile shower trailer and more on a weekly basis. They also currently operate the only walk-in severe weather shelter in Clark County. Living Hope Church knows what support is needed, how best to deliver it and how to do it with compassion.”

Determining and finalizing a location for the City’s second Safe Stay Community is the next step in advancing the Safe Stay Community program which is part of the city’s Homelessness Response Plan. The first Safe Stay Community, located at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle in east Vancouver, opened in December 2021 on city-owned property. Since opening, this community has successfully provided its residents with referrals for permanent housing, job placement support and access to critical health and treatment services to exit homelessness.

The City has identified a potential location for its next Safe Stay Community, and is conducting extensive outreach to all residents and business owners within 1,200 feet of the proposed site, seeking their input during a public comment period.

All Safe Stay Communities will be managed 24/7 by nonprofit on-site operators, will have screening or fencing, will provide sanitation and hygiene services, and offer a range of health services on site.

Per the terms of the approved, one-year contract, the city will pay Living Hope Church $552,212 for the services rendered.

The City’s goal is to have a total of three Safe Stay Communities opened by late summer 2022, providing support to approximately one-quarter of the estimated 500+ people living unsheltered in Vancouver.

Vancouver, Washington – On Dec. 23, 2021, the City of Vancouver opened its first Safe Stay Community, providing the most vulnerable in the community with warm, dry and secure surroundings where they have access to high-quality, compassionate life-saving and social services while they work to transition out of homelessness.

The Safe Stay Community, located at 11400 NE 51st Circle on city-owned right of way along an undeveloped cul-de-sac in the North Image neighborhood (view map here), provides 20 modular Pallet shelters housing up to 40 people. The Safe Stay Community program is the direct result of a galvanized vision at the City to create an effective path for those seeking a permanent way to get off the streets.

“Many at the City of Vancouver have been diligently working towards this achievement for most of the year, so to finally see it come together gives me reason to smile,” City Manager Eric Holmes said. “I am grateful to the Mayor and City Council for understanding and embracing the urgency to address homelessness. The Safe Stay Community is making a world of difference to those who moved into the shelters just before Christmas, offering them renewed hope and opportunity in 2022.”

For the safety and security of Safe Stay Community residents, the site is fenced and staffed 24/7 by nonprofit operator Outsiders Inn. In addition to the security measures, the site includes trash receptacles, sanitation services, portable toilets and handwashing stations, meeting and office spaces and access to supportive services provided by local agencies.

“This Safe Stay Community is helping address immediate humanitarian needs and the urgent safety, livability, social justice and public health concerns resulting from the homelessness crisis,” Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said. “It’s also the result of the impassioned work of many at the City who care deeply about addressing homelessness.”

The City of Vancouver plans to open two more Safe Stay Communities before next summer, equitably distributed around the City following the site selection criteria approved by City Council.

“Safe Stay Communities are not a long-term solution to ending homelessness, but they’re an immediate, compassionate alternative for people living on our streets so they can move toward living indoors again,” Holmes said.

Community Information Session #1: Nov. 30, 2021

Community Information Session #2: Dec. 1, 2021

Get a sneak peek at the prefabricated Pallet Shelters that will be used at the City's Safe Stay Communities.