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Homelessness

In 2023, the City declared an emergency related to homelessness in Vancouver.

Homelessness is a humanitarian crisis with many causes. Those living on the street or in vehicles face tremendous challenges—from the loss of a job or home to mental health conditions or addiction.

Since declaring an emergency, the City has expanded our efforts to address this crisis and its impacts on both the housed and unhoused.

Latest updates

Outcomes

January – March 2024

  • 38 people moved into stable housing from a Safe Stay or Safe Park
  • 94 people served at Safe Park (Road2Home)
  • 12 encampment clean ups
  • 112 tons of trash/solid waste removed
  • 232 MyVancouverapp service requests completed
  • ~Three acres of publicly owned property closed to camping

This year, $6.9 million in Affordable Housing Funds were awarded to support:

  • 70 units of permanently affordable housing for households exiting homelessness
  • two rental assistance projects to prevent homelessness for 54 households
  • 38 temporary shelter beds
  • 14 transitional housing beds for people exiting incarceration

Ways to help

Safe Stay/Safe Park opportunities

Road2Home: Safe Park 

Donate

  • Lysol wipes
  • Towels
  • Dawn dish soap
  • Personal hygiene items, such as soaps, tampons, pads, toothbrushes, toothpaste, depends, allergy medications, sunscreen and aloe

To donate, contact charlesh@thrive2survivewa.org.

Volunteer

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Thrive2Survive, our Safe Park operator, contact lexic@thrive2survivewa.org.

Sign up for a meal train or donate to support meal service at Road2Home.

The Outpost: Safe Stay 1 

Volunteer

Meal train cooks and drop off facilitators for lunch (11 a.m.) and dinner (5:30 p.m.) 

Sign up for a meal train or donate to support meal service at The Outpost.

Hope Village: Safe Stay 2 

Volunteer

Help cook dinners (drop off at 6 p.m.)  

Sign up for a meal train or donate to support meal service at Hope Village.

415 West: Safe Stay 3 

Volunteer

Meal train cooks and drop off facilitators for lunch (11 a.m.) and dinner (5:30 p.m.) 

Sign up for a meal train or donate to support meal service at 415 West.

Kiggins Village: Safe Stay 4  

Donate

  • Coffee/creamer/sugar 
  • Breakfast bars  
  • Gently-used shoes 
  • Toilet paper 
  • Paper towels

Wish list item/volunteer project

Cosco gazebo/seating and help constructing.

To donate, contact: Dale Smith, 503-442-8914, dalesmith@dogoodmultnomah.org or Lisa Horness, 971-634-0011, lhorness@dogoodmultnomah.org 

Southwest Washington Victory Food Project

To learn about volunteer opportunities at the Safe Stay 1 and 3 community gardens, follow @swwa.victory.food.project on Instagram or email swwavictoryfoodproject@gmail.com.

Litter Stewards

Picking up litter in public spaces helps keep the Vancouver community safe and clean for all to enjoy. There has been a strong response from the community to help with litter removal throughout Vancouver and, in response, the City’s Litter Stewards program provides training and equipment for community members to help us with this complex need.

Homelessness response strategies