Vancouver Housing Authority’s CEO said the amount of drug-trafficking at two of the agency’s permanent supportive housing buildings is unlike anything he’s ever seen. But he assured the Vancouver City Council during a Monday presentation that the agency is taking action to protect tenants and neighbors.
Andy Silver spoke about VHA’s long-term plan for security measures and lease enforcement at The Pacific and The Meridian along Northeast 78th Avenue in Vancouver’s Ogden neighborhood. Both buildings, across the street from each other, house people exiting homelessness who may have mental illnesses and addictions.
Drug dealing is “having a very negative impact on the tenants in those buildings,” Silver said, adding it also affects residential and commercial neighbors. “Our goal is to do everything in our power to disrupt and end that activity.”
The Columbian reported on The Pacific and The Meridian in August, citing residents’ and neighbors’ concerns about increased crime and drug use on the campuses.
Over the course of six months and more than a dozen visits, The Columbian witnessed the aftermath of a shooting, people using drugs and nonresidents frequenting the campuses. Residents told The Columbian the stream of nonresidents hinders their stability in housing and in their addiction recovery.
Silver spoke of high-level criminal activity, including sex trafficking at the properties.
“This is a very serious situation, and we are taking it as such,” Silver said.
Bunk Moren, chief operating officer for VHA, said he’s been spending time on the properties to assess the situation and talk with neighbors. Moren said this strategy has informed VHA’s approach going forward. He’s also encouraged other community leaders to visit the sites, he said.
To date, VHA has installed a gate around The Meridian building, fenced breezeways at The Pacific and added more security cameras that are monitored regularly. The agency provides updates to tenants of a list of individuals not allowed on the premises. It also changed the legal notice process to quickly respond if a tenant is connected to criminal activity.
Moren said the goal is to make it more difficult for nonresidents to access the properties, to pinpoint which apartments are connected to criminal activity — “and to have a lease enforcement process that’s as quick as possible, assertive as possible so that we can make an impact.”
VHA is working closely with the Vancouver Police Department in these efforts.
Silver said the police department told VHA it can declare the apartment buildings “drug free” spaces which would increase penalties.
“We have moved ahead with signage around the building so that will hopefully help,” Silver said. “We’re actively working on a number of different communication strategies and ways to partner with VPD. … We’re hopeful that those are moving in the right direction.”
Silver said VHA expects there to be tenant turnover at these properties as the agency moves forward with the lease enforcement process.
For the past few months, VHA has worked with the city’s homeless response manager, Jamie Spinelli, on how the assessment process works for the two buildings (one has open concept, while the other has secured entry).
“As we have turnover, we’re going to be looking for people who really have the ability to control their front door, to be coming into these properties and not be as vulnerable to drug traffickers and other predatory elements,” Silver said.
In the next few months, Silver said he hopes to return to the city council with better news.
After the presentation, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle asked for updates on the air-conditioning units at the properties, as well as the status of bike lanes near the buildings. She also asked about the expansion of fencing in specific spots at The Meridian, where people often hang out and draw graffiti.
Bart Hansen said he drove past the properties and was “amazed” by what he saw. He shared his appreciation of the efforts VHA is putting into improving the sites.
“We’re looking forward to keeping them healthy and safe,” McEnerny-Ogle said.
