In the Oct. 31 story, “New day center space planned,” Vancouver’s mayor said it will be “a strategic acquisition that will assist in addressing our community’s need to provide services to its homeless population.”
I agree. It needs to be more than just a place to come for shelter. It needs to provide job training and job placement. I’ve read about an idea that has worked in other cities; people being housed or using services are asked if they can contribute funds to support the center or, if not, work in its kitchen, sort and process food or clothing donations, or do landscaping and maintenance.
Currently, we have only one agency that seems to be the “go to” place for these services: Share House. I would expect that this new center could become a model for locating more of these needed services in other areas of the city.
I invite any who want to provide input to be part of the meetings to discuss what this day center can become. Open houses will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 15 and Nov. 28 at City Hall’s Aspen room, 415 W. Sixth St.
