With poll showing growing public concern over homeless camps, tighter limits are needed to protect public safety, health, and quality of life
VANCOUVER – An attorney for Clark County Matters, a grassroots non-profit, has sent a letter to the Vancouver mayor and city councilors urging seven specific changes to city ordinances to limit the growing problem of homeless camps in the city.
“Along with more shelters and services, Vancouver needs an equal or greater commitment to end dangerous homeless camps in our city. These seven specific ordinance changes will incentivize the homeless to seek and accept assistance and will better protect residential and business neighborhoods. We urge the mayor and council to take action,” said Amy Harris, spokesperson for the group.
A copy of the full letter and recent polling is available here.
Recommended city ordinance changes include:
- Requiring residents of safe stay communities to comply with local, state and federal laws and comply with lawful orders of law enforcement.
- Prohibiting camping within 1,000 feet of any existing street, sidewalk, or right-of-way in such a way that restricts access.
- Prohibit camping within 1,000 feet of a school church, senior care facility or community center.
- Restricting camping in privately owned parking lots and areas to those restricted from daytime camping except where express permission has been granted by the private owner.
- Prohibit camping within 200 feet of the nearest edge of certain natural resources and repealing provisions applying to specific areas.
- Expanding the periods of time that daytime camping and outside habitation are restricted.
- Restricting camping in vehicles.
Information provided by Clark County Matters.
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I’m very glad to see this, but I doubt it will convince City Clowncil to change their current policies of Homeless Musical Chairs/Whack-A-Mole. The biggest problem we have here with the so-called homeless is their ability to refuse services, while continuing to squat in their own filth on public property.
If local government would stop enabling these vagrants, and restricting what law enforcement can do about it, this mess will never improve. Unfortunately the only plan the City if focused on is their 10-year plan for a low/no barriers “bridge shelter” up in Van Mall neighborhood.
This whole issue should be front and center of every single City Council race this Fall. What the City is doing now is not working.
You say “What the City is doing now is not working.” How true, how true!
It is time for a new direction for Vancouver City. This next election must result in Mayor annie ogle and several of the City clowncil being shown the door.
Homelessness visibility increasing
Fourth Plain and other streets being ridiculously striped to restrain flow of traffic
Downtown parking being trimmed down, with prices being raised
Elimination of parking altogether on Columbia for the 3? bicyclists per day
Tax deferrals and/or forgiveness for developers, while my property taxes increase due to “lack of funding”
annie ogle’s involvement in the debacle of fire-Michelle-Belkot-cuz-she-speaks-up-for-constituents
City clowncil’s desire for exorbitant costs and tolls for a bridge that achieves nothing other than to bring the choo-choo to Vancouver
We need changes!
Here is how I see this problem. As a clean addict for many years now I was once on the street but I was able to keep my job. If we want to clean up this problem the fix isn’t just free housing. If we are going to spend lots of money why not make it count. Offer free mandatory treatment and as part of the plan they have to get a part time job to start with. Have them learn how to be a self sufficient person. After this is established have to add some of the cash there earning go to pay for a percentage of the Rent and food. Utilities and get them into a normal routine. I was lucky enough to realize I didn’t want to be an addict all my life and I put myself through treatment 35 years ago and made AAA my go to almost every night for over a year. It worked for me and it would work on a large % of people. Just giving an addict free housing is a bad idea. Thanks for all your doing to help our community.