City to open Third Safe Stay Community Monday, Nov. 20
November 16, 2023
The City of Vancouver’s third supportive Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, located at 415 W. 11th St., is scheduled to open Monday, Nov. 20.
Prior to residents moving in, members of the media are invited to tour the site from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20. The site’s operator, City staff and City Councilmembers will be available to interview. Following media availability, the site will host an open house from 10 a.m. to noon for members of the community to visit the facility. Residents are scheduled to move in following the open house and the site will not be available to the media while residents move in.
This is the third of several supportive sites the City is establishing as part of its Homelessness Response Plan. The Safe Stay Community, managed by the nonprofit Outsiders Inn, will be home to 20 temporary modular structures that will house up to 40 residents. The temporary community will improve health, safety and cleanliness for both housed and unhoused community members by:
- Offering residents greater access to services, increased stability, and safe, healthy, and humane living conditions to help transition out of homelessness
- Offering onsite restrooms, showers and laundry facilities for residents
- Relocating residents who are currently living in tents or vehicles. The City’s Homelessness Assistance and Resources Team and local nonprofits have worked to relocate unhoused residents, prioritizing those living in camps in the downtown area, to this site
- Prohibiting camping within 1,000 feet of the site
Learn more about the background of Safe Stay Community 3.
This Safe Stay Community builds off the success of the City’s two existing Safe Stays located in east and central Vancouver. As of Aug. 31, these communities have served a total of 186 people; helped 48 residents gain employment; and placed 73 in stable housing. Watch success stories.
The City and its partners look forward to opening a fourth Safe Stay at 4611 Main St. on property owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation before the end of the year.
Emergency Declaration to address the growing homelessness crisis
While the City and other partners continue working to address homelessness, the complexity and magnitude of the issues related to homelessness continue to grow in Vancouver. To enable the City to continue its urgent response, on Nov. 6 the City Council passed an Emergency Declaration to allow the City Manager to immediately issue emergency orders that provide the speed and additional tools needed to address the evolving issue of homelessness.
Learn more about the City’s Emergency Declaration.
Contact: Tim Becker, Strategic Communications Manager, tim.becker@cityofvancouver.us