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Safe Stay Community #3

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Vancouver's third Safe Stay Community, located at 415 W. 11th St., opened on Nov. 20. This temporary community, which provides stable shelter and supportive services for up to 40 people, is now full. Residents consist primarily of individuals who were previously living unsheltered in the downtown area. The site is staffed and managed 24/7 by the non-profit operator Outsider's Inn.


Frequently Asked Questions

Safe Stay Communities are temporary housing communities offering residents greater access to services, increased stability, and safe, healthy, and humane living conditions to support transitioning out of homelessness. Each Safe Stay Community has 20 two-person structures that offer safe shelter for up to 40 residents. A nonprofit operator provides 24/7 onsite management and services.

Health and safety are major priorities for the city and its partners. For this reason, all Safe Stay Communities will have screening or fencing, will provide sanitation and hygiene services, and offer a range of health services on site.

When determining where to propose a Safe Stay Community, the City of Vancouver considers four primary factors:

  1. Dispersing Safe Stay Communities equitably throughout the city,
  2. Availability of public transit
  3. Assessing residential areas with heightened economic vulnerability
  4. Acute need resulting from camping in nearby parks, pathways or greenways

The property at 415 W. 11th, is a privately-owned property with access to public transportation and local services.

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. Once a proposed Safe Stay Community is open, public camping is not allowed within 1,000 feet. The first, located at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle in east Vancouver, opened in Dec. 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.

Homelessness is a complex topic that can only be addressed by working together with a wide range of city, county and community partners. Groups working to address homelessness in Vancouver include, Clark County, Council for the Homeless, Share Vancouver, Clark County Food Bank, Outsiders Inn, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and Vancouver Public Schools' Family-Community Resource Centers.

The City of Vancouver's Homelessness Response Plan seeks to address the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness, as well the safety and sanitation needs of the community, including:

  • Garbage, trash and clutter in public spaces
  • Residents living in tents/vehicles in public rights-of-way
  • Livability concerns for the unhoused, including the removal of barriers to accessing services

The City's Homeless Assistance & Resources Team (HART) provides compassionate outreach and assistance to folks living unsheltered and serves as a point of contact for community members who may be concerned about safety or sanitation. The team includes staff from the City Manager’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, Public Works Department, and City Attorney's Office. You contact HART by using the MyVancouver app, emailing hartteam@cityofvancouver.us or calling 360-487-8626.

Vancouver's third Safe Stay Community, located at 415 W. 11th St., opened on Nov. 20. This temporary community, which provides stable shelter and supportive services for up to 40 people, is now full. Residents consist primarily of individuals who were previously living unsheltered in the downtown area. The site is staffed and managed 24/7 by the non-profit operator Outsider's Inn.


Frequently Asked Questions

Safe Stay Communities are temporary housing communities offering residents greater access to services, increased stability, and safe, healthy, and humane living conditions to support transitioning out of homelessness. Each Safe Stay Community has 20 two-person structures that offer safe shelter for up to 40 residents. A nonprofit operator provides 24/7 onsite management and services.

Health and safety are major priorities for the city and its partners. For this reason, all Safe Stay Communities will have screening or fencing, will provide sanitation and hygiene services, and offer a range of health services on site.

When determining where to propose a Safe Stay Community, the City of Vancouver considers four primary factors:

  1. Dispersing Safe Stay Communities equitably throughout the city,
  2. Availability of public transit
  3. Assessing residential areas with heightened economic vulnerability
  4. Acute need resulting from camping in nearby parks, pathways or greenways

The property at 415 W. 11th, is a privately-owned property with access to public transportation and local services.

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. Once a proposed Safe Stay Community is open, public camping is not allowed within 1,000 feet. The first, located at 11400 N.E. 51st Circle in east Vancouver, opened in Dec. 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.

Homelessness is a complex topic that can only be addressed by working together with a wide range of city, county and community partners. Groups working to address homelessness in Vancouver include, Clark County, Council for the Homeless, Share Vancouver, Clark County Food Bank, Outsiders Inn, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and Vancouver Public Schools' Family-Community Resource Centers.

The City of Vancouver's Homelessness Response Plan seeks to address the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness, as well the safety and sanitation needs of the community, including:

  • Garbage, trash and clutter in public spaces
  • Residents living in tents/vehicles in public rights-of-way
  • Livability concerns for the unhoused, including the removal of barriers to accessing services

The City's Homeless Assistance & Resources Team (HART) provides compassionate outreach and assistance to folks living unsheltered and serves as a point of contact for community members who may be concerned about safety or sanitation. The team includes staff from the City Manager’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, Public Works Department, and City Attorney's Office. You contact HART by using the MyVancouver app, emailing hartteam@cityofvancouver.us or calling 360-487-8626.