Bridge Shelter

While Vancouver’s homelessness response strategies are working, the complexity and magnitude of homelessness in Vancouver continue to grow.

• Since Dec. 2021, the City has more than doubled the number of shelter beds available to adults experiencing homelessness in Clark County – adding 140 new beds across the city through our four Safe Stay Communities.
• Between Jan. 2023 and July 2024, the City’s four Safe Stay Communities and Safe Park graduated 136 residents into stable housing

Despite this progress, there are not enough shelter beds to house the more than 500 Vancouver residents who remain unsheltered. Without shelter, people have no place to go, and for many, the consequences can be deadly:

• From January through June this year, the Vancouver Fire Department responded to 1,134 medical/EMS calls related to homelessness
• At least 31 individuals have died since Vancouver’s Dec. 2023 Homeless Memorial ceremony, representing a 50% increase from last year
• At least 48% of these deaths were due to overdose. These overdose deaths are occurring largely among people who are living in isolation, either unsheltered or in individual supportive housing:
  • 80% of overdose deaths were those living unsheltered
  • 20% of overdose deaths occurred in supportive housing

While there have been overdoses and deaths in shelters, no deaths due to overdose have been reported. In addition to filling a much-needed gap in shelter capacity, the bridge shelter model, including on-site behavioral health services, can provide a lifesaving stepping stone for adults experiencing addiction before transitioning into safe and stable housing.  

The bridge shelter will provide 24/7 on-site support by a non-profit operator. To help with the critical needs of those seeking help, the City anticipates the shelter would also include 20-25 medical respite beds, on-site substance use services, medication-assisted treatment, peer recovery support and expanded capacity for severe weather events. To access bridge shelter services, individuals must adhere to a code of conduct outlining expectations for behavior and accountability, like those in place at the City’s Safe Stay and Safe Park communities.

Services

• Day-to-day support: Case management, housing assessments, peer-to-peer recovery support, meals and hygiene services
• Medication-Assisted Treatment Program: Treatment for substance use and mental/behavioral health support
• Respite beds: Medical recovery beds for those exiting a hospital setting with nowhere to recover
• Other services: Work opportunities, education, animal care/clinics and severe weather shelter

Estimated costs

• $16 million – to acquire property, develop the land and build the shelter
• $6.5 million – annual operating and management cost in the first year. This cost would grow at the rate of inflation annually for the shelter’s 10-year lifespan

Funds to establish the shelter will come from the existing City budget. City Council and staff are considering potential new revenue options to support the ongoing operational costs of the shelter as part of the City’s 2025-26 budget. City staff also continue to research additional funding sources, including federal/state grants, private philanthropic donations and interlocal partnerships to support the cost of the shelter.

The City is considering a tension fabric structure because it offers power, climate control, weather protection and faster construction time than a traditional shelter or reuse of an existing building. The physical space would provide 150 beds, a dining area, a community space, a kitchen, shower and restroom facilities, and additional flex space for severe weather shelter expansion. 

Photos of similar tension fabric shelters used in other communities:

After researching several potential properties, the City has identified one that could work well for a bridge shelter.  

This property, located at 5313 N.E. 94^th Ave. in the Van Mall neighborhood, could be a good fit because it’s:  

• located on or near a transit line
• near services
• appropriately zoned for this use
• large enough to accommodate an up to 150-bed shelter (at least 2.5 acres)

As the property acquisition process progresses, surrounding neighbors and businesses will be invited to share feedback and learn more about the shelter’s operations.

Given the magnitude of the homelessness crisis and deficit of income-based and permanent supportive housing, the City anticipates operating the bridge shelter for 10 years.

Before opening a bridge shelter, the City must:

• Secure ongoing, operational funding. The City Council continues to review funding options for shelter operations as part of the 2025-26 biennial budget process.
• Acquire a property. We’ve identified a potential property that could work for a shelter. The City is working to acquire the property with the support of a private donor who has purchased the property with the intention of selling it to the City for future use.
• Hire a nonprofit operator. On Aug. 20, the City issued a request for proposals (RFP) to identify a service provider for the bridge shelter. Following the closure of the RFP process on Sept. 11, staff will review and recommend an operator to the City Council for approval. 
• Engage the community. Following the donor acquisition of the potential bridge shelter property, we began outreach to engage neighbors and businesses within 1,200 feet of the potential shelter location. This fall we will engage the community through online feedback, email, social media, direct mail and in-person events to gather feedback, share information and address community questions. Stay informed of future engagement opportunities.

The City is seeking a qualified service provider to establish and operate the shelter 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The selected operator must have strong knowledge of the complexities of substance use, mental health and trauma to implement evidence-based practices and coordinate with the on-site medication-assisted treatment program to address behavioral health issues, particularly the impacts of the Fentanyl crisis. 

Qualified respondents will have a clear plan for: 

• Establishing and maintaining a safe, accessible, clean, welcoming, and supportive space. 

• Reducing the number of people living without shelter in coordination with HART and the City’s approach to encampments and unsheltered homelessness.  

• Assisting participants with identifying and reducing barriers to stability, health and housing. 

• Increasing successful exits to housing, housing retention rates, and overall health and wellness amongst community members experiencing chronic homelessness 

• Increasing neighborhood/community support for and understanding of the bridge shelter and mitigating any potential neighborhood impacts.  

Review the full RFP. 

To access services participants must follow a code of conduct/rules. The code of conduct will be developed by the selected service provider, with input from people with lived experience with homelessness and informed by the best practices used for the City’s Safe Stay/Safe Park communities and the needs/concerns of surrounding neighbors and businesses. Check out the Safe Park code of conduct for an example of what community rules could look like. 

Yes. There are many tools to address the complex needs of unsheltered people in Vancouver (Safe Stay Communities, Safe Park, etc.), but no single solution or shelter style will work for everyone. The bridge shelter model will allow us to get many unsheltered adults indoors and safely supported, for the lowest possible cost.  

Yes. We intend to include flex space that can be used to expand shelter capacity for severe weather and poor air-quality events.

Since 2021, the City has made significant strides in addressing homelessness and its related challenges.

Key efforts include:

• Establishing and expanding the Affordable Housing Fund through voter-approved Propositions 1 and 3
• Creating the Homeless Assistance and Resources Team (HART)
• Modifying the City Code to protect environmentally sensitive and fire-impact areas
• Opening four, temporary Safe Stay Communities and a Safe Park
• Partnering with Clark County District Court in the development and operations of a Community Court program
• Funding various services and supportive housing programs for individuals experiencing homelessness in Vancouver. 

In 2023, we declared a state of emergency in response to the growing complexity and challenges associated with homelessness in our community, including increased use of the highly addictive drug known as Fentanyl. Following this emergency declaration, we adopted a Homelessness Emergency Action Plan to address the current strain on our crisis response system and the heightened demands unsheltered homelessness places on emergency services. The bridge shelter is a central component of this plan.

Following the negotiation and acquisition of property for a potential shelter, we mailed an initial postcard notice to all neighbors and businesses within 1,200 feet of the property. Additional community engagement, including in-person and virtual events, will start this fall.  

A robust community engagement process, including online and in-person outreach, will help us identify any potential issues with establishing a bridge shelter in this location, allow us to address community concerns and incorporate feedback into final plans and operating procedures for the future bridge shelter.   

We want to hear from you. Follow the project and share your questions on Be Heard Vancouver.