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Friday,  November 22 , 2024
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Stories by Alexis Weisend

Columbian staff reporter

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Volunteer Alisandra Parmenter restocks potatoes Friday at FISH of Vancouver. The organization set a record for number of families served this week.

FISH sets record with aid: Vancouver food pantry serves 203 households on Wednesday as holidays take toll

Volunteer Alisandra Parmenter restocks potatoes Friday at FISH of Vancouver. The organization set a record for number of families served this week.

December 29, 2023, 5:09pm Clark County News

FISH of Vancouver served a record number of households at its downtown food pantry on Wednesday: 203. Read story

The Washington Department of Transportation gave the city of Vancouver special permission to lease the lot, which is the department&rsquo;s property, at 4611 Main St. Carley Francis, regional administrator for the department&rsquo;s Southwest Region, said this was a way for the agency to contribute to alleviating homelessness that often occurs on its property.

Homelessness Year in Review: Progress, setbacks seen in Clark County in 2023

The Washington Department of Transportation gave the city of Vancouver special permission to lease the lot, which is the department&rsquo;s property, at 4611 Main St. Carley Francis, regional administrator for the department&rsquo;s Southwest Region, said this was a way for the agency to contribute to alleviating homelessness that often occurs on its property.

December 29, 2023, 6:09am Clark County News

This was a big year for local efforts to address housing affordability and homelessness. Read story

Clark County wants more input on how funding is spent to help low-income residents

December 28, 2023, 6:05am Clark County News

To help make spending decisions on local programs, Clark County Community Services will hold public forums to get more feedback on the results of its survey of needs for people with low incomes in the county. Read story

Valerie Alexander, owner of Coyote Ridge Ranch, walks through one of the gardens on her property while joined by family dog Kelo, 15, near La Center.

Farm cultivates history: Owner of Coyote Ridge Ranch near La Center takes pride in its harvest, longtime connection to surrounding community

Valerie Alexander, owner of Coyote Ridge Ranch, walks through one of the gardens on her property while joined by family dog Kelo, 15, near La Center.

December 27, 2023, 6:08am Business

Photographs are the first items Val Alexander, 85, grabs when wildfire approaches her farm. It’s something she’s done before, living among the brush and towering trees atop a hill. Read story

Many of the businesses that participate in the Greater Vancouver Chamber's SPEND IT LOCAL gift-certificate program are in downtown Vancouver, but there are participating businesses all over the county.

Greater Vancouver Chamber rebrands gift-certificate program Grow the (360) to SPEND IT LOCAL

Many of the businesses that participate in the Greater Vancouver Chamber's SPEND IT LOCAL gift-certificate program are in downtown Vancouver, but there are participating businesses all over the county.

December 26, 2023, 6:22pm Business

The Greater Vancouver Chamber changed the name of its gift-certificate program from Grow the (360) to SPEND IT LOCAL to be inclusive of businesses with different telephone area codes. Read story

Jimmy Howland of Vancouver, who had his leg amputated in 2020, navigates the small ramp he built for his unit at Hope Village in Vancouver. At top, a man has his vitals checked at the Evergreen Crossing respite medical clinic in Portland.

Hurt and homeless with no place to heal: Could a successful Oregon program be a model for Clark County?

Jimmy Howland of Vancouver, who had his leg amputated in 2020, navigates the small ramp he built for his unit at Hope Village in Vancouver. At top, a man has his vitals checked at the Evergreen Crossing respite medical clinic in Portland.

December 23, 2023, 6:14am Clark County Health

When complications from a blood clot forced amputation of Jimmy Howland’s leg, it might have led to a chance for him to get into housing. Instead, the hospital ushered him into a reluctant relative’s home to fully recover. Read story

Shelter beds are ready in the Winter Hospitality Overflow shelter at St. Paul Luther Church in Vancouver. Congregations and nonprofit organizations in Clark County are working to expand the number of winter shelter beds available with Satellite Overflow Shelters at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church and River City Church. Other locations will provide more beds in the event of extreme winter weather.

Council for the Homeless issues severe weather alert as temperatures expected to drop

Shelter beds are ready in the Winter Hospitality Overflow shelter at St. Paul Luther Church in Vancouver. Congregations and nonprofit organizations in Clark County are working to expand the number of winter shelter beds available with Satellite Overflow Shelters at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church and River City Church. Other locations will provide more beds in the event of extreme winter weather.

December 22, 2023, 3:01pm Clark County News Free

Council for the Homeless issued a severe weather alert on Friday for the emergency shelter system in Clark County. Read story

Volunteers Rob Fleskes, left, and Laurie Southwell, both of Vancouver, sort bins of frozen meat Tuesday at the Clark County Food Bank.

12 ideas for giving season: Many places in Clark County could use your gift of time or supplies

Volunteers Rob Fleskes, left, and Laurie Southwell, both of Vancouver, sort bins of frozen meat Tuesday at the Clark County Food Bank.

December 20, 2023, 6:08am Business

The end of the year is often called the season of giving, with people exchanging gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other holidays. Read story

The city of Vancouver's fourth Safe Stay opened Friday. The pallet shelter community&rsquo;s opening was well attended by community members and politicians, including Gov. Jay Inslee.

Vancouver’s fourth Safe Stay opens; Gov. Jay Inslee says communities are life saving for homeless residents

The city of Vancouver's fourth Safe Stay opened Friday. The pallet shelter community&rsquo;s opening was well attended by community members and politicians, including Gov. Jay Inslee.

December 15, 2023, 5:11pm Clark County News

A handful of people who were experiencing homelessness in Vancouver will be home for the holidays. Read story

Thrive to Survive Director of Operations Erin Honan, left, and Program Manager Rick German, center, talk to Jason Nelson and dog Roach, 3. Nonprofit Thrive 2 Survive is taking over management of the program from the city. Nelson and his partner are on the waitlist to get into the parking facility.

‘A road to home’: Thrive 2 Survive to provide staffing, case management to people living at Vancouver’s Safe Parking Zone

Thrive to Survive Director of Operations Erin Honan, left, and Program Manager Rick German, center, talk to Jason Nelson and dog Roach, 3. Nonprofit Thrive 2 Survive is taking over management of the program from the city. Nelson and his partner are on the waitlist to get into the parking facility.

December 13, 2023, 6:07am Clark County News

Thrive 2 Survive, a Clark County-based nonprofit that offers services to people experiencing homelessness, will provide 24-hour staffing and case management to people living in Vancouver’s Safe Parking Zone, where people are allowed to live in their vehicles. Read story