Vancouver updates homelessness response; Safe Stay providers urge permanent status

City Council on Feb. 24 heard extensive public testimony in support of Safe Stay alternative shelters operated by Outsiders Inn and received a monthly homelessness situation report from city staff detailing placements, shelter exits and an upcoming encampment closure.

The reports and public comments focused on housing exits, winter‑shelter use and a March 5 deadline to clear an encampment along the Mill Plain sound wall. Jamie Spinelli, the city’s homelessness operations lead, said the report covered January 2025 operations and the city was preparing for the sound‑wall closure: "March 5 is the day," she said, adding that notices had already gone out and additional move‑outs were expected as Safe Stay residents finish paperwork and accept housing offers.

The council heard a series of public comments from residents and Outsiders Inn staff and program participants. Adam Kravitz, executive director of Outsiders Inn, thanked the council and asked that Safe Stay sites be treated as a long‑term part of the city’s response: "Will you champion these non congregate alternative shelters as an insessional permanent component of the continuum of care for individuals experiencing homelessness?" Kravitz said. Ren Autry, deputy director of Outsiders Inn, read letters from neighbors and residents describing reduced crime and improved safety near an Outpost site.

City staff presented data from January: Hart team outreach and responses continued through winter; city crews collected 42.88 tons of solid waste from public property through large and small cleanups that month (36.87 tons from large crews and about 6 tons from smaller crews); staff responded to 104 app submissions; 57 naloxone kits were distributed and one naloxone was reportedly used for overdose reversal in January. Winter shelters served families and individuals: the Arts Hub reported serving 64 people (45 adults, 17 children) and reported four exits to housing; the Czech‑lov shelter served 28 people (19 adults, nine children). Separate Safe Stay and Safe Park operations recorded 10 moves into housing in January from those programs.

Spinelli told the council the city had a list from October of 52–53 people living at the Mill Plain sound wall and provided a status breakdown: about 20 had moved into Safe Stay programs, two had exited Safe Stay, two were ineligible, 15 had declined shelter offers, 10 were not currently present at the site and several were in process for placement. She said about 35 people were at the sound wall at the time of her briefing and about three or four of those were slated to move into Safe Stay soon.

Council members asked for additional data and said they valued the operational metrics. Councilor Stober said she would evaluate future proposals through an equity lens and urged explicit operational plans for services to people who are unbanked and for wayfinding related to parking (a separate agenda item). Council discussion also touched on county funding options for the city’s planned bridge shelter; Spinelli said the city had submitted funding proposals and county conversations were ongoing.

The public testimony provided personal accounts of program outcomes: multiple residents and program alumni described housing placements, sobriety milestones and rehiring of program graduates. Tina Walker, a resident, said the program helped with health care and recovery supports; Crystal Drake read a resident letter that called the Outpost "a lighthouse for those with no light to come home to."

The city will close the Mill Plain sound wall encampment on March 5 unless additional arrangements are made, and staff said they expected multiple housing move‑ins from Safe Stay within weeks. Spinelli and other staff emphasized coordination across departments — police, public works, fire, solid waste and legal — and noted the effort required to process documents and coordinate property management for placements.

Outsiders Inn leaders asked the council to remove the pilot label for Safe Stay sites and make them a stable, long‑term component of the homelessness response. The council did not take policy action at the meeting; staff and providers will continue operational work and follow up with additional details and requests for partner funding.