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Vancouver reports rental-registration launch and housing fund shortfalls

Clark County Community Action Advisory Board · January 27, 2026

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Summary

City of Vancouver staff told the CAB the city's rental-registration program launched Jan. 1 and more than 10,000 units had registered; several locally committed construction projects await state awards and Smith Tower still faces an estimated $11 million gap.

Samantha Whitley, a housing team staffer for the City of Vancouver, updated the Community Action Advisory Board on the city's housing and homelessness work.

Whitley said Vancouver launched a rental-registration program on Jan. 1 and reported more than 10,000 units registered as of the Jan. 26 meeting. The city offered a three-month fee waiver to encourage early compliance and plans to hire a full-time staffer to manage registration and outreach this year. Whitley said the city will develop inspection protocols with the goal of a council adoption in fall 2026 and a rollout of inspections in 2027.

On capital projects, Whitley said the city held back approximately $4 million in construction commitments pending the Washington State Housing Trust Fund awards. Of the local projects, Claudia's Place received a trust-fund award and can move forward; other projects that received local commitments remain unfunded. Whitley said Smith Tower has received some federal funds but still faces about an $11 million gap to renovate roughly 170 senior units.

Whitley also described CDBG and HOME application timelines: scoring committee interviews in April, council review in April, HUD submittal in May and anticipated funding availability in July if federal appropriations proceed.

During Q&A, councilor Glenn Young asked for clearer public information about inspection timing; Whitley said the city would update website materials. Members discussed options for increasing competitiveness for state awards and using the Washington State Housing Finance Commission's LIHTC process.