Homelessness Initiatives in Vancouver WA
Homelessness Initiatives in Vancouver, WA
A look at the city's emergency declaration response — Safe Stay Communities, Community Court, and the numbers behind the effort.
Hey everyone, it's Cassandra Marks, also known as Realtor Cas, your local expert and friend, guiding you through everything Southwest Washington, Clark County, Vancouver, and even Portland. If you're considering making a move to our beautiful area, please don't hesitate to reach out via email, text, or DM on my socials at Realtor Cas. Let's chat about your Pacific Northwest and homeownership questions!
Today, we're addressing a pressing issue that has been a hot topic in Vancouver, Washington — homelessness. While this isn't about the NAR lawsuit, it's certainly something you've likely seen discussed on platforms like Reddit, Instagram, and even on my YouTube channel.
First off, I've got some good news. I'm genuinely impressed with the strides Vancouver is making to combat homelessness, and I think it's a significant positive development for our city, especially for current and future homeowners like you. So, let's dive into the latest updates!
Emergency Declaration on Homelessness
On November 3, 2023, City Manager Eric Holmes declared an emergency related to homelessness, which the Vancouver City Council ratified on November 6, 2023. This emergency declaration allows the city to bypass unnecessary procedural delays, enabling swift action to address situations that may cause injury, death, or property damage. It also provides options to recover funds spent on critical issues, ensuring the public's safety and welfare.
Key Strategic Directions
Since the declaration, the Vancouver Housing and Homelessness Strategy Group has focused on three key strategic directions: increasing the supply of affordable housing, encouraging a diverse housing mix across neighborhoods to enhance residents' quality of life, and providing strong leadership and supporting partners to improve housing stability.
The fifth Homeless Emergency Situation Report, released on April 17, 2024, offered the following updates.
Community Court & Encampment Cleanups
Community Court has identified a new location for its program, designed to help individuals charged with offenses like unlawful camping break down barriers to obtaining housing. Supported by Clark County, this successful program operated on Mondays at the Recovery Cafe on East Fourth Plain Boulevard, with plans to expand to a new location with extended service hours by summer 2024.
The city also conducted cleanups at multiple locations, including Orchards Park, West Burnt Bridge Creek, around the Share House, and along the East Mill Plain sound wall, addressing sanitation and safety concerns.
Improved Data Collection
The city worked to develop a better system for tracking calls for services related to homelessness through Vancouver Fire, Police, and CRESA, to help measure the success of initiatives over time.
Safe Stay Communities (May 2024 Snapshot)
Vancouver operated four Safe Stay Communities at the time, featuring small shelters with basic amenities:
- The Outpost: Four previously unsheltered residents moved in, with one resident celebrating four months of sobriety and transitioning from part-time to full-time work.
- Hope Village: Six new residents moved in, one exited to stable housing, and a partnership with the YWCA was developed for residents who have experienced domestic violence.
- 415 West: Eight residents were transitioning into housing, four exited to stable housing, and three obtained employment. A couple achieved sustained sobriety and were working on reunification with their children.
- Kiggins Village: Six residents exited to housing, one went to detox, and a dog run was installed for residents' pets.
Road to Home
This Safe Park program provides shelter for those living in RVs or automobiles. At the time, recent updates included two residents moving to more substantial shelter, one exiting to transitional housing in Portland, and 11 people moving into housing in February 2024 alone.
Additional Support
Vancouver received funding from the Health Care Authority for rental assistance for those with behavioral health barriers. The city also hired a new HART (Homeless Assistance and Resources Team) police officer and formed a community response team to address medical, mental health, or substance abuse crises.
Update: Where Things Stand Now
Since this article was first published, the city has continued to release regular situation reports. As of the most recent point-in-time count available (Summer 2025), the city counted 456 individuals living unsheltered in Vancouver, a 6% decrease from 2024. Safe Stay and Safe Park communities served 466 people over that period, an 8% increase from the prior year, with a 42% positive exit rate from Safe Stay communities (obtaining housing or other long-term supportive care) — more than double the national average for shelter program exits.
Moving Forward
These updates are truly heartening, showcasing Vancouver's commitment to creating a cleaner, safer city and strengthening resources to help our community. While challenges remain, the city's proactive approach is a promising step forward.
If you're considering moving to Vancouver, know that our community is actively working towards positive change. For more on another pressing topic — squatters and their rights — check out my article on squatter rights and eviction.
Thanks for spending time with me today. I'm Cassandra Marks, also known as Realtor Cas. Happy to be your go-to resource for all things real estate in Southwest Washington. Until next time, bye!
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Cassandra Marks
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764