The City of Vancouver is proposing the property at 415 W. 11th St. (downtown) as a potential location for its third Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The city believes that this location would be a good fit for a Safe Stay Community, as they say it will help address the needs of nearby unhoused residents and is close to public transportation.
Results will be shared after poll is closed 10/21/2022
The Safe Stay program is a worthy one that has resulted in some successes. The city needs to put this one in a more suitable location. It definitely does not belong in our downtown area. That would only result in a negative impact on the downtown area
Downtown has a significant number of unhoused people that need services. This opportunity will give those residents a chance to connect to services to get on their pathway to self sufficiency.
This camp will provide for a 1000 ft buffer that will remove all camping in that area.
There will no longer be campers in the park and on the doorways.
The unhoused will be safer snd the tourists, residents and employees will feel safer not passing people laying on the sidewalks.
The city has two very successful safe stay camps where neighbors feel very supportive of the camps, much to their surprise.
This is the right way to address a problem that has upset people in downtown for years.
The cry has been for the city to do something. They have found an answer to a very challenging problem. Let’s be supportive.
While I agree there are a significant number of unhoused people in the downtown area, I do not believe this Safe Camp will eliminate campers in the park and on the doorways. Once such a camp fills to capacity, the remainder of the unhoused will continue to camp outside of its confines, and more unhoused will come. There are other options (W. Evergreen Fire Station and the Marshall Community Center) near the downtown area that are vacant and easily accessible for services that public and private organizations already offer. As we continue to pursue business investors for our downtown, it would not be in the best interest to use this proposed area for a Safe Camp.
I feel this location will have a negative impact on the historic district of Vancouver. This is a wonderful program, but it needs to be in another location. Perhaps the railroad tracks where many homeless now reside. Many of my neighbors have suggested other locations, and the city finds an excuse why it will not work. I never had the pleasure of meeting Ed and Dolly Lynch, however, I have heard that they always were advocates for the historic area of downtown Vancouver as well as the redevelopment of downtown. I do not feel this will be an addition to that end. This program will tarnish the legacy that Ed and Dolly worked so hard to create.
these facilities always end up with more crime and the housing is not kept up. Lots of junk and crime. This brings down the value of the property for those who worked hard to purchase. Much of the homeless problem is due to mental illness and drug addiction. Put the money into these services so these folks can get well and be a part of society again. My heart breaks for them. I know it is a difficult social issue, but unfortunately a large percentage are mentally ill and our poor police are overburdened with calls for mental health crisis. Put the money into crisis intervention, drug addiction and mental health services. Help these folks get well.
While the program is doing goods things, the proposed site is simply not a good fit for the Central Business District and Arts District. While the city has pushed for increased density and provided significant tax breaks for the developments of such, to suggest that using an entire city block to house a couple dozen residents is counter to the density plan. The no longer used fire station on West Evergreen and a large swath of land next to the Marshall Community Center both provide ample space, parking, public transportation along with convenient access to plumbing, electrical and covered areas for inclement weather. The proposed site offer little except a gravel, uneven lot.
I have lived and worked downtown for more than 30 years and have yet to find a fellow business owner or neighbor in support of the proposed site. Perhaps the city needs to listen to the folks that are paying the bills for once.
I can not believe the city would potentially ruin what has taken the years OF MANY PEOPLE to remake the downtown into something to be proud of. The backlash could be devastating to the people who have chosen to live downtown and the millions of dollars individuals and companies have invested in the downtown. People will sell and move out, business will close, parents will be wary of letting their children ride their bike to the library with more homeless spending time in the facility. Close in neighbors who regularly visit the farmers market with visiting friends and families might think the area is now less safe than it was. Why the city with plenty of open space around the area available that meets their needs seem to refuse to consider any alternative.
Isn’t it interesting how the city totally altered their chosen path for light rail to travel up Main Street and encroach on the Dairy Queen to totally relocate its path over towards the VA and Clark College. They listed to the neighborhood voice that complained BUT for a homeless village in the core of a historic part of downtown they choose NOT TO LISTEN!!!!