Homelessness Emergency Action Plan (HEAP) drafted and approved by Incident Commander to provide clarity on staff roles and responsibilities related to declared emergency. 

Briefed all VPD patrol officers about the updated policy and procedures related to or involving unsheltered homelessness, bringing patrol’s response into alignment with HART’s processes and providing patrol greater clarity and more tools for responding to calls for service involving unsheltered homelessness. 

Gotten approval to expand the Community Court from one half day to one full day every week. This transition will occur as soon as a new location for the Community Court is secured. 

Established Fourth Plain corridor response team to provide both behavioral health response and community engagement and activation to reduce the significant negative impacts related to unsheltered homelessness in that area. 

Opened Safe Stay Communities 3 and 4, doubling the total Safe Stay capacity in Vancouver and bringing a new service provider into the community. 

Under the existing Emergency Order 2023-03 the City Manager has closed five public properties so as to address and mitigate the adverse impacts of homelessness.

Made easier to read and understand by using plain language in alignment with Governor Inslee’s recent Executive Order 23-02. 

Consolidated reference to all relevant VMCs to clarify enforcement criteria and potential actions. 

Provide increased objectivity (and therefore, improved enforceability) with respect to the activities that qualify as “meaningful engagement”. 

Remove a previous reference to being able to “pack up and leave the area in an hour” to avoid any potential hardship posed on qualified individuals with a disability.