Last December, Joey Gagnier told an outreach worker that he was tired of living his life the way it was going. He wanted better for his life: a home for his family, consisting of his mother and their three dogs.
The next day, the outreach worker returned with an application for a new beginning. Within the next few days, Gagnier and his mother were moving from their tents into Kiggins Village, the city of Vancouver’s fourth Safe Stay shelter.
“It was an early Christmas present,” said Gagnier, 38.
Kiggins Village — which consists of 20 sleeping sheds enclosed by a fence in the Lincoln neighborhood — opened last December. State and local officials hailed the community as “lifesaving.”
The site is overseen by Portland nonprofit Do Good Multnomah. Within its first year, 17 people have moved into housing, with four more on the way — including Gagnier and his mother. Two others have moved into treatment for substance-use disorder. Other residents say the community has helped them connect with resources, foster community, and focus on themselves and their long-term goals.
“Without this place, my only outcomes were drugs, prison or death. This place allowed me to get my life back. It saved my life,” said Gagnier, who will celebrate one year in recovery from drugs in March.
New beginnings
Kiggins Village resident Rachel Williamson thanks God every night for a bed and a safe place to wake up, ready to accomplish her goals.
“Before, I was a mess. I was all over the place, tent to tent. I had an apartment, then lost it. … I was going through my addiction,” Williamson said. “But one day, I just said, ‘This isn’t the life for me. I can’t do this anymore.’”
After completing two sobriety and housing programs, Williamson found Kiggins Village through the Vancouver nonprofit Council for the Homeless. Initially hesitant, she’s now active in the community. She started a group called Open Thoughts for people to share openly and support each other.
She said she’s working on her goals, including taking American Sign Language classes and celebrating five years in recovery. Her long-term goal is to open a place like Kiggins Village.
“I try to let people know and put forth an effort to say, ‘I’m a good person to talk to, and if you need anything from me, I’m here,’” said Williamson, 39.
Kiggins Village offers case management and helps people connect to resources. In the past year, the shelter also has seen success beyond helping people move onto the next steps.
The shelter’s manager, Dale Smith, said no overdoses have occurred on site. Within the past five months, no one from Kiggins Village has gone back to homelessness, he said.
Smith also said Kiggins Village has retained 93 percent of its staff.
“In social services, turnover is really high. The average tenure is about 12 months, but our team has done such a good job in making sure that we’re healthy and we’re supporting our staff,” Smith said.
Kiggins Village residents said staff have been instrumental in helping them move forward.
“Sometimes when you’re transitioning, you’re like, ‘Where do I go? What do I do?’ Their guidance is a very good tool, and they guide you to the right directions,” Williamson said. “Especially for me, because I started off really low, and then they raised me up again and again.”
Residents said the Safe Stay community has allowed them to pursue hobbies and passions.
Stable housing not only has helped Gagnier get identification and a Social Security card; it also has given him time to focus on his art. One recent day at Kiggins Village, he swiped orange spray paint on a canvas to create a vibrant solar system with a sunset-hued planet.
“It’s been life-changing having a home base to where I can actually get things done,” Gagnier said. “I could never get anything done when I was in a tent.”
Near Gagnier’s makeshift studio under a pop-up canopy, Kate Mckenzie finalized her holiday decorations. She moved to Kiggins Village in April and has reconnected with her son after two years. The two plan to move in together after she leaves Kiggins Village.
“It can only go up from here,” McKenzie said.
‘Get back up’
Tammy Gagnier, 58, stepped out of her shed with a cup of coffee in one hand and a spray can of whipped cream in the other.
“Oh, what a nice day,” she said, before leaning down to spray a healthy glob of fluffy cream on a paper plate.
