YWCA and SHARE urge council to reopen affordable-housing shelter funding as city advances bridge shelter plans

Representatives from two local shelter providers urged the Vancouver City Council on Monday to restore a competitive application process for this year’s affordable housing fund shelter dollars, saying withholding the funds for the city’s planned bridge shelter puts existing lifesaving programs at risk.

Britney Lassane, speaking on behalf of YWCA County, told councilors the city removed the ability for nonprofits to apply and instead “chosen to hold back these funds for its own project without going through the same process required of nonprofit providers.” She said the affordable housing fund supplies about 40% of the budget for Safe Choice, the only domestic-violence shelter serving Vancouver, Clark County and the broader Southwest Washington region, and warned that losing that portion of the budget could force service reductions or closure.

“This is about ensuring our entire community continues to have safe, accessible shelter options,” Lassane said.

Amy Reynolds, executive director of SHARE, echoed the plea and asked the council to reopen the application process and consider expanding total net shelter capacity. “We support the city in wanting to create more shelter in this community. We absolutely agree that we need it. We just also need the shelters…