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Residents and businesses press council for stronger response to homelessness as city cites progress
Summary
Business owners and residents described repeated drug use, violence and sanitation problems around encampments; council and city manager said outreach has moved nearly 250 people into permanent housing and promised targeted outreach and follow-up.
Business owners and nearby residents urged the Vancouver City Council on Jan. 27 to escalate response to local unsheltered homelessness, citing public drug use, discarded needles, assaults and repeated disturbances near shelters and the sound wall. Council and city staff said the city is expanding shelter capacity and outreach and will follow up with targeted contacts.
Several residents and a property owner described repeated public-safety and sanitation problems they attributed to people living outdoors near retail and residential properties. Kimberly Goheen Alban, who identified herself as a long-time Clark County resident, said large sums have gone to homelessness services in recent years and questioned whether those expenditures have produced adequate results. "Millions and millions of hard earned tax dollars through this last 4 years have gone to homeless," she said.
Josh Arden, who said he owns property at 9430…
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