City issues fourth homeless emergency situation report
April 8, 2024
Since declaring a state of emergency related to homelessness in Vancouver in Nov. 2023, the City continues to make addressing this crisis, and its impacts on all of us, a top priority.
Below is a summary of key efforts to address homelessness in February/early March:
Community Court
In March, we identified a new location for the Community Court Program. The program is designed to help individuals charged with unlawful camping and other livability offenses break down barriers to obtaining housing. With support from Clark County, we are expanding this successful program to full-day and adding a day to the schedule. The program now operates on Mondays at Recovery Cafe on E. Fourth Plain Boulevard. We anticipate moving into a new location with expanded service hours by the summer.
Encampment clean-ups
We conducted clean-ups to address sanitation and safety concerns at Orchards Park West, Burnt Bridge Creek, around Share House and along the E. Mill Plain sound wall.
Improving data collection
We’re developing a better system to track calls for service related to homelessness through Vancouver Fire, Police and CRESA. The new data will be used to track our progress over time and measure the success of our efforts related to the homelessness emergency.
Safe Stay Communities
415 West (Safe Stay 3): Opened Nov. 2023
- Eight people on deck to transition to housing
- One couple, after having achieved and sustained sobriety here, is working on reunification with children and now have unsupervised visits with them
- Partners at Humane Society are donating pet food, supplies and connecting residents to spay and neuter services for their pets
- Victory Food Project met with residents to begin planning a community garden build and education on growing food
In the news
- ‘There was a miracle that happened there’: First graduates of downtown Vancouver Safe Stay celebrate milestone (The Columbian)
- Formerly houseless Vancouver man finds a new home and a fresh start after leaving downtown Safe Stay (The Columbian)
Kiggins Village (Safe Stay 4): Opened Dec. 2023
- Celebrated its first two graduates to housing
- Partnering with the Vancouver Police Department K-9 trainee for group training classes with residents and their pets
- Installed a dog run for resident’s pets
In the news
Road2Home (Safe Park)
- Six people moved into housing
- Three people moved into Safe Stay Communities
- One resident renewed their citizenship for another decade
Housing results
- 11 people moved out of a Vancouver Safe Stay/Safe Park and into housing in February.
Community Response Teams
From Jan. 26 – February 28, Columbia River Mental Health Services Community Response Teams:
- Completed 16 in-person responses to calls regarding people experiencing a medical concern, mental health issue, or substance use crisis
- Now providing direct outreach to unsheltered individuals at five local service providers at least once a week
Learn more
Follow the City’s Emergency Declaration page to read the latest situation report and learn more.