City seeks input regarding proposed location of third Safe Stay Community
The City of Vancouver is proposing the property at 415 W 11TH 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.
