Hope Village, located at 4915 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., opened in April 2022 as Vancouver’s second temporary shelter community
VANCOUVER – On Friday, April 26, the city of Vancouver, non-profit operator Live Love Outreach and the many previously unsheltered individuals who have called Hope Village Safe Stay Community their temporary home, celebrated the community’s second anniversary.
“This program has pulled a lot of people off the streets and given them a safer place to live and transition out of homelessness,” said Jamie Spinelli, homeless response manager. “It’s also provided relief for the community because we’ve reduced camping in the area by providing these folks with a safe place to live and opportunities for neighbors to plug in and support its success.”
Hope Village, 4915 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., opened in April 2022 as Vancouver’s second temporary shelter community serving nearby unsheltered residents. From 2022 to 2023 Hope Village has served 86 unsheltered community members and graduated 36 into stable housing.
This Safe Stay is one of four temporary communities funded by the city of Vancouver to provide safe shelter and supportive services to unsheltered neighbors on their path to stable housing. In Nov. 2023, the city declared a state of emergency related to the growing complexity and magnitude of issues related to homelessness in Vancouver. Safe Stay programs are one of several tools the city uses to address the homelessness crisis in Vancouver. Learn more about the city’s emergency response efforts.
About Vancouver’s Safe Stay Program
In 2021, City Council approved a plan to create temporary, supportive Safe Stay Communities for people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver.
Safe Stays are temporary communities offering residents greater access to services, increased stability and safe living conditions to transition out of homelessness. Each Safe Stay has 20 two-person structures that offer shelter for up to 40 residents. A nonprofit operator provides 24/7 onsite management and services. All Safe Stays have fencing, provide sanitation and hygiene services, and offer health services. Camping is not permitted within 1,000 feet of a Safe Stay community.
Information provided by the city of Vancouver.
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“From 2022 to 2023 Hope Village has served 86 unsheltered community members and graduated 36 into stable housing.”
So taking the initial build/purchase costs of the shelter units, plus the operational costs each year, and assuming that there were a similar 36 clients moved to stable housing in the year 2023-24… doesn’t that make those 72 “success stories” pretty expensive?
Is Vancouver really getting its money’s worth?
Of course, Jamie Spinelli, the homeless czar for Vancouver, has a lot riding on there being continued homelessness. After all, she and her entire staff all get nice paychecks and city benefits… but only as long as homelessness continues. So do you really think they are working very hard to eliminate homelessness?
Again… is Vancouver really getting its money’s worth (especially from Spinelli and her minions)?
If simply sheltering homeless people is the goal, then I guarantee I can do it a LOT cheaper and save the taxpayers a LOT of money! Hire me and fire Spinelli !!!
If moving the homeless to stable housing is the goal, then taxpayers are NOT getting their money’s worth.
Clueless observation… what would you say if it was your family member? Go touch grass….
What would I say?….. I’d say “Get cleaned up and go find a job! People don’t owe you a thing; it’s up to you!”
Once the freebies get cut off, and the homeless start getting cold, hungry, and wet, they’ll either find work, move on to somewhere else, or overdose and die (as the majority of homeless are crack heads). I’m perfectly fine with any of the three.
Boom! Problem solved.