Vancouver – The city of Vancouver began accepting applications Friday for $600,000 in grants to improve or create homeless shelters. The money comes from the city’s voter-approved Affordable Housing Fund, so projects must be within city limits.
Funds can go toward purchasing or constructing new shelters or rehabilitating existing shelters for “health, safety, livability or accessibility improvements,” the city said in a news release.
Proposed projects may or may not increase the number of shelter beds. Applicants can be nonprofits, private property owners or businesses and should have experience (or partners with experience) in running shelters.
Interested applicants can attend an optional workshop 3 to 4:30 p.m. July 12 in the Aspen Room at Vancouver City Hall, 415 W. Sixth St., where they can ask questions and learn more about the grants. The application and more information are at www.cityofvancouver.us/affordablehousingfund.
Grant applications are due by July 31. Funding recommendations will be made to Vancouver City Council in September.
