As part of the interlocal agreement, up to 30% of the shelter beds will be reserved for eligible Clark County residents from outside Vancouver
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver City Council and the Clark County Council both voted to authorize the signing of an interlocal agreement that will allocate $2.1 million to the city’s project to provide shelter and services to residents experiencing homelessness at the Bridge Shelter, which will open in 2026 at 5313 N.E. 94th Ave. The votes took place on July 7 and July 15, respectively.
“This agreement reflects what is possible when we come together across jurisdictions to respond to our community’s most urgent needs,” said City Manager Lon Pluckhahn. “I am grateful to Clark County for their partnership and shared dedication to addressing the crisis of homelessness in our community.”
“The County Council and staff appreciate the opportunity to partner with the City on this project and look forward to other opportunities in the future to support our community,” said County Manager Kathleen Otto.
The funding is made possible from revenue collected from the sales and use tax for chemical dependency or mental health treatment services or therapeutic courts collected by Clark County under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 82.14.460. The funds will be used to support capital costs related to the construction of the Bridge Shelter.
As part of the interlocal agreement, up to 30% of the shelter beds will be reserved for eligible Clark County residents from outside Vancouver. These residents will have access to the shelter for the first four years of its operation, and as space is available in successive years.
The Bridge Shelter is being designed to provide a low-barrier, trauma-informed, 24/7 shelter with integrated wraparound services such as mental health care, substance use treatment, peer support, and pathways to safe, stable, and sustainable housing.
The city declared an emergency related to homelessness in 2023 to accelerate the City’s work to address the crisis and the impacts on both the unhoused and housed.
Information provided by the city of Vancouver.
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What an utter waste of money so the Mayor can show off her incredible virtue for her favorite constituents. It is estimated that there are roughly 500 indigent “homeless” living in various squalid campsites all over the city. With a third of 120 shelter beds gone to the County, that leaves 80 beds to shelter 500 people??!!
Most of the indigent homeless will never see the inside of that shelter, and will continue to live right where they are. Most are either ineligible for entry or have simply refused to change their ways for years.
Millions already down the circular drain, with a 10 year guarantee that millions more will follow.
There will never, ever be enough money to make this work in any meaningful or cost effective way.