Homelessness Response Plan

The City of Vancouver’s first supportive Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness will be located at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle on city-owned right of way along an undeveloped cul-de-sac in the North Image neighborhood. View map (PDF).

This is the first of several supportive sites the city plans to establish as part of its Homelessness Response Plan. Previously referred to as supportive campsites, the city’s Safe Stay Communities will use modular pallet shelters instead of tents, which will offer residents safer and more stabilizing shelter as they work to resolve their homelessness.

The Safe Stay Community at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle will provide 20 modular shelters housing up to 40 people. The site will be fenced and staffed 24/7 by the onsite nonprofit operator, Outsiders Inn. It will include trash receptacles and sanitation services, portable toilets and handwashing stations, meeting and office space, and access to supportive services provided by local agencies.

Part of the area near the city’s first supportive site is currently occupied by multiple homeless encampments. These encampments will be removed when the new Safe Stay Community is set up in adherence with the city’s camping ordinance, which prohibits camping within 1,000 feet of the supportive sites. The city anticipates work to clear and set up the first Safe Stay Community will begin in early December.

Public comment period now open

The city will mail letters to property owners, residents and businesses within 1,200 feet of the first Safe Stay Community site informing them of the decision and inviting them to provide feedback during a public comment period that ends Dec. 1. Comments are being accepted online, via email and by telephone. Learn more at www.cityofvancouver.us/safestaycomment.

The city will also host two virtual community information sessions during the comment period to share information about the first Safe Stay Community site and how it will be operated with nearby residents and businesses and respond to their questions.

Details about the information sessions will be included in the letters mailed to residents and property owners. Video recordings of each session will also be posted publicly on the Homelessness Response Plan webpage on Be Heard Vancouver (www.beheardvancouver.org/homelessness-response) and the City’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/CityofVancouverUS).

Additional updates on the city’s Homelessness Response Plan

The city plans to open additional Safe Parking Zones for people living in their vehicles as part of its Homelessness Response Plan. The city’s first Safe Parking Zone, located at C-TRAN’s Evergreen Transit Center, 1504 N.E. 138th Ave., was opened during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Vancouver Mall parking lot before moving to the transit center, has been operating successfully for more than a year.

With over 50 parking spaces for RVs/trailers and other passenger vehicles, the Safe Parking Zone currently serves more than 60 people. Similar services to what will be offered at the Safe Stay Communities are also provided at the Safe Parking Zone. Recently, the city hired one of the current residents to help manage the site and hopes that the opportunity will help him and his family transition to permanent housing soon.

Learn more about the current Safe Parking Zone at www.cityofvancouver.us/safeparking.

The city also recently hired a full-time encampment response coordinator as part of its Homeless Assistance and Resources Team (HARTeam). The primary responsibilities of the encampment response coordinator will be to assess camps for cleanup and sanitation needs, and locate, assess and clear abandoned camps. The city’s HARTeam provides compassionate outreach and assistance to people experiencing homelessness and serves as a point of contact for community members with concerns or questions about homelessness.

Community members can report active or abandoned camps and other concerns related to homelessness within the city limits to the HARTeam using the free MyVancouver mobile and desktop app. Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/MyVancouver to learn more.

Vancouver, Washington – On Monday, Sept. 27, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to award a professional services contract for the operation of the city’s first supportive campsite for people experiencing homelessness to Vancouver-based Outsiders Inn—a homelessness advocacy and support organization.

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

“Securing a committed and experienced service provider like Outsiders Inn is the next important step to urgently addressing the systemic issue of homelessness in the city,” said Jamie Spinelli, homeless services coordinator for the city. “They are a peer run organization with services delivered by trained individuals who have lived experiences with homelessness, so they know what support is needed, how best to deliver it and do it with compassion.”

Determining a location for the first campsite is the next step in implementing the Vancouver’s supportive campsite program, which is part of the city’s Homelessness Response Plan. The city’s goal is to open three supportive campsites by the end of the year, providing support to approximately one-quarter of the estimated unsheltered population in Vancouver.

“Our city’s temporary supportive campsite program is not designed to resolve homelessness in the community, but rather to alleviate some of the most immediate, severe impacts to people and place,” said Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes. “Because these sites are supported, campsite residents will have greater access to services, increased stability, and more safe, healthy and humane living conditions as individuals work to resolve their homelessness.”

Once the city selects locations for the campsites, the city will do extensive and robust outreach to all residents and business owners within 1,200 feet of the selected sites, seeking their input during a public comment period.

The supportive campsites will be managed 24/7 by nonprofit on-site operators, will have screening or fencing, will provide sanitation and hygiene services, and offer limited health services on site.

Per the terms of the approved, one-year contract, the city will pay Outsiders Inn $571,148 for the services rendered.

Backed by a new state law and grant funding, the City of Vancouver is working with state of Washington and Clark County agencies to help address litter along key highway ramps.

A contract with a local non-profit, Outsiders Inn, for the operation of City-sanctioned supportive campsites will be brought to Vancouver City Council for authorization at their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27.

The meeting is being held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but can be viewed live at www.cvtv.org or on the City's Facebook (www.facebook.com/VancouverUS). People can also call in to listen to the meeting by telephone. Instructions for calling in are available on the meeting agenda.

Public comments about the items on the agenda will be accepted either in writing in advance of the meeting or live via remote testimony. Instructions for how to provide comments using either method are available on the meeting agenda.

View the Sept. 27 City Council meeting agenda.

Following a public hearing Monday, Sept. 20, on the subject of implementing supportive campsites, City Council approved an ordinance that amends the City’s camping code. The approved revisions to Chapter 8.22 of the Vancouver Municipal Code are necessary to implement the supportive campsites pilot program which is one component of the City’s Homelessness Response Plan. The ordinance also defines the criteria that will be used to identify potential locations on public land for the campsites.

Though the amended ordinance is effective 30 days from its approval date, the opening of the first campsite is anticipated to take place some time after that 30-day period. The City must first take up the process of identifying a campsite operator and awarding a service contract. Identification of a location for the first site must also take place.

The goal remains to open three campsites by the end of the year. Managed 24/7 by nonprofit on-site operators, the sites will have screening or fencing, provide sanitation and hygiene services, and have limited health services on site. It’s currently anticipated that the temporary program will facilitate up to three campsites this year, providing support to approximately one-quarter of the estimated unsheltered population in Vancouver. The program is not designed to resolve homelessness in the community, but rather to alleviate some of the most immediate, severe impacts to people and place.

On Monday, Sept. 13, City Council voted 6-1 to amend Section 8.22.070.B.2(b) of the City’s camping code, moving both ordinance options forward to a public hearing and second reading on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.

Revisions to Chapter 8.22 of the Vancouver Municipal Code related to camping are necessary to implement the supportive campsites component of the City's Homelessness Response Plan.

Community members who want to share feedback on the ordinance options can register here: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/citycouncil/webform/register-provide-council-meeting-testimony.

>> Read the full staff report about the proposed ordinance changes.

Monday's City Council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is not open to in-person attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Councilmembers and City staff will attend remotely.

Community members can watch the workshops and meetings live on Clark/Vancouver Television Comcast cable channels 23/323, online at www.cvtv.org or on the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VancouverUS. The public can also listen to the meeting by telephone by calling 1-877-309-2073 and entering access code 169-338-917 when prompted (credentials unique to this meeting).

City Council is accepting public comments about the items on its consent and public hearing agendas. Comments can be submitted in writing in advance of the meeting or live via a remote video conferencing platform during the meeting (advance registration required). Instructions for providing comments remotely are included in the meeting agenda.

City staff will present proposed revisions to the City's camping ordnance to Vancouver City Council for action during its regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 13.

Revisions to Chapter 8.22 of the Vancouver Municipal Code related to camping are necessary to implement the supportive campsites component of the City's Homelessness Response Plan.

>> Read the full staff report about the proposed ordinance changes.

Monday's City Council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is not open to in-person attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Councilmembers and City staff will attend remotely.

Community members can watch the workshops and meetings live on Clark/Vancouver Television Comcast cable channels 23/323, online at www.cvtv.org or on the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VancouverUS. The public can also listen to the meeting by telephone by calling 1-866-899-4679 and entering access code 717-796-941 when prompted.

City Council is accepting public comments about the items on its consent and public hearing agendas. Comments can be submitted in writing in advance of the meeting or live via a remote video conferencing platform during the meeting (advance registration required). Instructions for providing comments remotely are included in the meeting agenda.

Originally published in the City's email newsletter, Vancouver Connects, on Sept. 1, 2021

This is a significant time of change for Vancouver: our city is growing, and we are investing in essential services—such as parks, streets, utilities, and public safety—to serve the community. The impacts of the pandemic have been challenging for Vancouver households and businesses, impacting some more than others similarly to what communities across the nation have seen. The overall economic recovery from the pandemic has been stronger than anticipated so far, and assistance from the federal government has helped this happen.

Through all these dynamics, there is a broad concern about homelessness in Vancouver. Many of us see some of our most vulnerable residents living unsheltered in the heat and cold and needing support and stabilization as they seek a pathway forward. Some are experiencing homelessness because of a lack of affordable housing or employment security, while others struggle with mental illness and substance abuse. As with many other cities, homelessness in Vancouver is reaching crisis proportions.

The significant humanitarian concerns are compounded with the impact homelessness is having on livability in our community. Our residents’ concerns about safety, trash, waste, fire hazards and more are real, and I share those concerns.

As we seek ways to address homelessness in Vancouver, it is important to understand the laws around homelessness. In a landmark legal decision that has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court (Martin v. Boise, 2019), homeless persons cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property when there is an absence of adequate alternatives such as shelter space. In Vancouver and Clark County, there is insufficient shelter to house all individuals experiencing homelessness. Consequently, camping in the city—within certain limits—is legal.

Within this context, and to address the immediate challenges of homelessness, the City of Vancouver is pursuing three approaches simultaneously:

Establish safe and supported campsites for the most vulnerable: City Council recently endorsed a plan to pilot a temporary supportive campsite program for the next two to three years to address most immediate needs.

The pilot project envisions supportive campsites at different locations across the city, serving up to 40 people per site (20 individual tents). Managed 24/7 by a nonprofit on-site operator, the campsites will have screening or fencing, will provide sanitation and hygiene services, and will have limited health services on site.

The process of identifying potential locations for the supportive campsites on publicly owned land throughout the city is underway. Location guidelines include dispersing supportive campsites equitably throughout the city, avoiding areas with heightened economic vulnerability, and availability of public transit. We are engaging with residents, businesses, nonprofits, and other community stakeholders in finding sites that have the best chance of aiding our unhoused residents while mitigating the concerns that commonly surround unmanaged homeless encampments.

We anticipate the temporary program will facilitate up to three campsites this year, providing support to approximately a quarter of the estimated unsheltered population in Vancouver. The program will not resolve homelessness in our community, but we believe it’s an avenue toward alleviating some of the most severe impacts to people and place.

The process of shaping the program continues. I encourage you to stay informed on our progress and provide feedback.

Expand permanent bridge shelter capacity: Through a collaboration between the City of Vancouver, Clark County and the Vancouver Housing Authority, Clark County is opening the first expansion of shelter capacity in decades with Bertha Cain Baugh Place—the conversion of an existing motel into a new 65 bed bridge shelter. The City is seeking further opportunities like this with our partners in Southwest Washington to add capacity to the homeless crisis response system led by Clark County.

Increase the supply of income-based housing: Affordable and income-based housing continues as a long-term priority for the City. The Affordable Housing Fund passed by voters in 2016 has delivered more than 470 affordable housing units and prevented 796 households from falling into homelessness. In 2020, the City Council passed a new 1/10% sales tax dedicated to affordable housing and services for the most vulnerable such as veterans, seniors, youth, domestic violence survivors and people with disabilities or behavioral health disabilities.

On Sept. 13, City staff is scheduled to provide the next update to City Council with a first reading of proposed changes to camping ordinances that will allow for the pilot program to advance. The council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and you can watch on CVTV or via the City’s Facebook page.

To learn more about the City’s efforts to address homelessness, ask questions, and share ideas and personal stories, visit www.beheardvancouver.org/homelessness-response.

Staff briefed Vancouver City Council on the plan for supportive campsites and related changes to the City's camping ordinance at a workshop on Monday, Aug. 2.

Watch video of the workshop.

Staff will update Vancouver City Council on the City's plan for supported campsites and related changes to the City's camping ordinance during a workshop at 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 2.

The workshop is open to the public and community members can either attend in person at City Hall (415 W. Sixth St.) or watch it live on Comcast cable channel 23. It can also be streamed live or viewed on demand afterwards online at www.cvtv.org or www.facebook.com/VancouverUS. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about this component of the City’s Homelessness Response Plan.

Read the staff memo and view the presentation slides for the workshop.