Nonprofit Fourth Plain Forward will use $95,000 grant to aid Vancouver residents affected by extreme weather

The Washington State Department of Health awarded Vancouver nonprofit Fourth Plain Forward $95,000 to reduce economic and health disparities caused by climate change in Vancouver, especially along the Fourth Plain Boulevard corridor.

The nonprofit, which aims to reduce systemic racism, poverty and health disparities in Vancouver, is one of 41 community organizations and tribes that received a piece of the state’s Climate Commitment Act funds.

In 2021, the Legislature passed the act, which caps and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s largest sources and industries. The funds are used to promote the health of communities disproportionately impacted by the consequences of climate change, according to a news release.

Fourth Plain Forward specifically received funding from the Climate and Health Adaptation Initiative Community Capacity Grant Program, making it one of eight projects to receive that funding.

The cold snap in January and extreme heat during summers highlighted disparities, said Almendra Velazquez, the nonprofit’s climate and health coordinator.

People already struggling to pay bills lacked adequate heat and air conditioning. Warming shelters were full and emergency services were flooded with calls about heat-related illnesses. All the while, many suffered to make ends meet.

“People had to go to work, even though it was unsafe,” Velazquez said. “Some restaurants said that they had to stay open seven days a week to make up for that loss of just three days (during the cold snap).”

Fourth Plain Forward will use the funds to help people most at risk of experiencing the consequences of climate change adapt to a new norm, she said.

“We want to alleviate that stress,” Velazquez said.