St. Paul Lutheran Church’s 26-bed men’s shelter will remain open through the winter and spring months now that the Clark County Council has agreed to provide interim funding to the shelter. The council received the request for funding from the city of Vancouver in October.
“We could fund this. We would be taking away from future activities for as long as this is funded, but it could be done,” Michael Torres, community housing and development manager for the county, said during the council’s Dec. 8 meeting.
The shelter is operated by Outsiders Inn and provides food and beds to 26 residents. From April 2020 to October 2021, it has provided services to 256 individuals.
Torres told the council the funding would come through the homeless crisis response system, which is currently open to applications for funding to be awarded over the next six months.
The county will provide $25,000 per month to the shelter until at least July 1, or a maximum of $160,000.
“The idea of not having these shelter beds available would be disappointing and concerning for me. I would generally be in support of funding this,” Councilor Julie Olson said at the meeting.
Councilor Karen Bowerman said she was in favor of funding the request because it was an important opportunity for Clark County and the city of Vancouver to work cooperatively, and because the shelter provides overnight beds instead of another tent camp.
“I’m a little concerned, though, about the question of long-term funding,” Bowerman added.
According to a letter from Aaron Lande, policy and program manager for Vancouver, Outsiders Inn approached the city in 2019 about transitioning from being part of the Winter Hospitality Overflow network to a year-round shelter but needed additional funds. Unfortunately, Lande said, the request fell between funding cycles.
Outsiders Inn has already submitted applications for funding to both Clark County and the city of Vancouver.
“If they were awarded, if that proposal is selected, that contract would go into place July 1, 2022,” Torres said.
The city of Vancouver previously funded the St. Paul shelter through a combination of Community Development Block grants, Affordable Housing Fund dollars and AHF funding decisions. Funding decisions for both of those sources won’t happen until May.
The total annual budget for the shelter is just over $300,000 for the 2022 calendar year. That budget covers two staff on-site at all times, along with 10 part-time staff.
Councilor Gary Medvigy said he supported the request but also had some concerns. Along with being a new organization without a proven track record, he said, more robust services are needed.
“It’s just a night shelter with no other wraparound services or outreach. Some of the statistics aren’t real good. They go right back to homelessness,” Medvigy said. “So we need to make a concerted effort to join all of our other efforts to removing these people, once they get the services of the shelter, from homelessness for the long term.”
