• Share House (Men’s Shelter): A year-round shelter for single adult men operated by Share. It offers 53 beds for men, plus 25 transitional housing beds (a 2-year program) and 1 medical respite bed (in partnership with PeaceHealth)[1]. Residents receive meals, showers, laundry facilities, and on-site case management support[2].

• Share Orchards Inn & Share Homestead (Family Shelters): Two family shelter facilities (owned by Vancouver Housing Authority and operated by Share) serving families with children and single women. Each shelter has 14 family rooms and 2 medical respite rooms, with an individual capacity of up to ~86 people after recent renovations (up from 50 previously)[3][4]. Combined, these shelters provide space for dozens of parents and children in a semi-private setting. Both sites offer communal dining, children’s play areas, computer rooms, and both shared and private bathrooms[3]. There is no maximum length of stay, and case managers help families work toward permanent housing.

• Women’s Housing and Transition (WHAT) Shelter: A women-only shelter (operated by Share in collaboration with St. Luke’s Episcopal) providing 18 beds in 6 semi-private rooms (each room divided with privacy curtains, 3 beds per room)[5]. It is staffed 24/7 by paid Share staff and funded by the City of Vancouver and Clark County[6]. The facility offers a shower, laundry, personal storage, and essentials, along with case management. It prioritizes reducing barriers for women to obtain stable housing.

• St. Paul Lutheran Men’s Shelter: A year-round men’s shelter in downtown Vancouver (in St. Paul Lutheran Church) operated by Outsiders Inn under a peer-support model. It serves approximately 20–25 single men (up to 25) nightly[7]. Guests have access to bedding, showers, restrooms, storage, meals, and on-site case management provided by staff with lived experience of homelessness[8][7]. Note: St. Paul also doubles as a daytime warming center during severe weather, opening its doors for unsheltered people to get warm during extreme cold weather alerts[9].

• Bertha Cain Baugh Place: A non-congregate shelter (converted from a Howard Johnson motel in 2022) operated by Catholic Community Services. It consists of 63 private rooms (approx. 62 beds available) for people experiencing homelessness[10]. The shelter primarily serves single women, couples, and seniors over 55. Being non-congregate, each individual or couple has a private room rather than a dormitory-style bed. This site is named after Bertha Cain Baugh (a notable local civil rights leader) and was established with support from Clark County and VHA. It provides on-site services and has no set time limit for stays.

• Bertha’s Too: A second shelter operated by Catholic Community Services (opened in late 2021) to complement Bertha’s Place. It offers 32 beds in a non-congregate setting, serving single women, couples, and individuals over 55 years old[11]. Bertha’s Too is located at a former treatment center (Elahan Place) and works in tandem with Bertha’s Place to increase capacity. Behavioral health services are provided on-site through a partnership with Columbia River Mental Health[11].

• Oak Bridge Youth Shelter: A 24/7 crisis shelter for youth ages 9–17 operated by Janus Youth Programs. It provides immediate emergency shelter (with a small capacity of about 5 beds for youth) along with crisis intervention, family reunification, and counseling services[12][13]. The goal is to offer a safe haven for unaccompanied or at-risk minors and reunite them with family or find longer-term solutions. Youth can access this shelter via a hotline or referral from schools, law enforcement, or social services.

The City of Vancouver has established “Safe Stay” tiny-house village communities since 2021 as an innovative approach to transitional shelter. Each Safe Stay community features 20 small modular shelters (tiny homes) that can house up to 40 residents (each shelter sleeps 1–2 people)[14]. The sites are fenced, staffed 24/7 by a nonprofit operator, and include hygiene facilities (restrooms, showers), trash services, and on-site case management and outreach services[15][16]. Residents have 24/7 access and support to help them stabilize and work toward permanent housing. The current Safe Stay sites include:

• Safe Stay #1 “The Outpost” – Opened Dec 2021. Operated by Outsiders Inn at 11400 NE 51st Circle. Houses ~40 residents in 20 shelters[17]. This was the first city-supported tiny home community, established on a site that was previously a large unsanctioned encampment.

• Safe Stay #2 “Hope Village” – Opened 2022. Operated by Live Love Outreach at 4915 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. Provides shelter for up to ~40 people in 20 cabins[18]. Hope Village was the second Safe Stay community and is supported by a faith-based nonprofit partner. (The City reported that each Safe Stay can accommodate 20 individuals or 20 couples, meaning maximum ~40 if fully paired up.)

• Safe Stay #3 “415 West” – Opened Nov 2023. Operated by Outsiders Inn at 415 W. 11th Street (downtown). Offers up to ~40 beds in 20 shelters, primarily serving individuals who had been living unsheltered in the downtown area[19]. This site was opened to increase shelter in the city core and is similarly equipped with sanitation and is staffed around the clock.

• Safe Stay #4 “4611 Main Street” (Kiggins Village): Opened Dec 2023. Operated by Do Good Multnomah at 4611 Main St. (north Vancouver). Like the others, it consists of 20 tiny houses (~40 person capacity) and full-time staff[15]. This site was developed in partnership with WSDOT to relocate people camping along state highway properties[20], and it has a special focus on serving veterans experiencing homelessness (Do Good Multnomah specializes in veteran homelessness)[20].

All Safe Stay Communities provide secure, weatherproof shelter instead of tents, plus on-site resources. Residents sign a code of conduct and work with case managers on housing and health goals. The model has shown success in reducing police and EMS calls in the surrounding area by transitioning people out of unsanctioned encampments into these managed sites[21].

During the cold-weather months (typically November 1 – March 31), Vancouver/Clark County activates additional seasonal overnight shelters to ensure nobody is left outside in life-threatening weather. These winter-only shelters are generally hosted by churches and staffed largely by volunteers, with coordination by local nonprofits:

• Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) at St. Andrew Lutheran Church: Located in the Orchards area, this long-running winter shelter provides roughly 50 beds for families with children, couples, and single women[22]. It is entirely volunteer-staffed by community volunteers and interfaith partners, while Share handles intake and case management for guests[23]. The WHO program was founded in 2003 as a partnership between faith communities and Council for the Homeless to expand shelter capacity in winter. WHO at ST. Andrew is now the only remaining site of the original WHO program, after the former WHO shelter for men at St. Paul’s was repurposed in 2020 to a year-round model[24]. Guests access the shelter via the Council for the Homeless hotline referral; each evening they receive a hot meal, a mat or cot to sleep on, and in the morning a to-go breakfast, along with compassion and basic needs support[25].

• Satellite Overflow Shelters (SOS): A network of rotating small-capacity shelters hosted by different churches on different nights, designed to “overflow” when other shelters (like WHO or Share) are full. Each SOS site offers approximately 15 beds for single adults (and in some cases couples or small families), and operates on specific nights of the week on a recurring schedule. For winter 2024–25, the SOS schedule is: Immanuel Lutheran Church on Wed–Thu–Fri nights, River City Church on Saturday nights, and (in past years) Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church on Sun–Mon–Tue nights[26]. However, Beautiful Savior’s building suffered major flood damage in April 2024 and is under repair, so it cannot host shelter this season[27]. The City of Vancouver has stepped in to fill that Sun–Tue gap with its Chkalov emergency site (see below). The SOS shelters are staffed by a mix of Outsiders Inn paid staff and volunteers, following a peer-support and hospitality model. They have a combined capacity of around 45 beds per night across all sites when fully operational. (Guests access SOS beds via the Council for the Homeless referral system, same as WHO.)

• Washougal Winter Shelter (East County): In eastern Clark County, a seasonal winter shelter serves the Camas/Washougal area. Formerly, a volunteer group Refuel Washougal operated a severe-weather shelter at the Washougal Community Center or local churches. Starting winter 2024, this effort merged with the Camas-Washougal Salvation Army, which now hosts an overnight winter shelter at the Salvation Army facility (1612 “I” Street, Washougal)[28][29]. The merged program, often just called the Washougal Severe Weather Shelter, provides around 22 beds for adults (and even allows pets) during cold snaps[30]. Last winter, this East County shelter provided over 400 overnight stays to people in need (a measure of total “bed-nights” of service). Guests receive a warm place to sleep, meals, hygiene facilities, and connection to resources. The Salvation Army partnership has expanded the service, now keeping the shelter open 24 hours during declared severe weather so that guests don’t have to leave during the day[31]. (Outside of severe weather activation, the Salvation Army also runs a daytime hospitality center on weekdays for people who are homeless in Camas/Washougal.)

New in winter 2024–25, the City of Vancouver opened additional emergency winter shelter sites to increase capacity, especially after declaring a homelessness state of emergency in late 2023. These city-funded shelters operate nightly (or on specified nights) through the winter months and are staffed by Outsiders Inn under contract[32][33]. Access is by referral through the Council for the Homeless hotline (no direct walk-ins)[34]. The city’s winter shelter sites are:

• Vancouver “Arts Hub” Building: The city repurposed the former Vancouver Community Library building (1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd, now an Arts Hub) as a temporary winter shelter. It provides up to 45 beds nightly for families and individuals[35]. Hours are 6:30 PM to 7:00 AM, seven nights a week during the winter[35]. Priority is given to families with children, then other vulnerable populations (seniors, people with disabilities or health conditions, DV survivors, etc.)[36][35]. Outsiders Inn manages this site, with measures in place to minimize impact on the nearby elementary school (security, screening, morning cleanup)[37][38].

• 521 Chkalov Drive Shelter: A city-owned building in east Vancouver opened as a 15-bed winter shelter on a part-week schedule[39]. It is open overnight Saturday through Tuesday (6:30 PM–7:00 AM) to align with when other volunteer shelters are closed[39]. This location effectively replaces the capacity lost from Beautiful Savior Lutheran’s closure, covering those four nights per week. Like the arts hub, it is run by Outsiders Inn and requires referral. It mainly serves adults (individuals or couples) and helps ensure there is shelter available every night of the week in Vancouver.

• Esther Short Commons (Safe Park Zone shelter): The city has arranged for a 15-bed emergency shelter space at Esther Short Commons (555 W 8th St.) to be activated during severe weather events[40]. This space is specifically reserved for participants of the City’s Safe Parking Zone program (people living in vehicles in a city-sanctioned lot) to come indoors when the weather becomes dangerously cold[40]. It is supported by a nonprofit partner (Thrive2Survive) and opens on nights when a Severe Weather Alert is declared. This is a targeted approach to protect a particularly vulnerable subset of unsheltered people (those in vehicles) from freezing conditions. In addition to this, the city has identified backup locations (like the community center and City Hall ground floor) if more severe-weather capacity is needed[40].

In addition to the structured winter shelters above, the community implements a Severe Weather Shelter plan whenever extreme cold or other hazardous weather is forecast. A “Severe Weather Alert” is typically called by the county Severe Weather Task Force when the nighttime temperature is expected to drop to 32°F or below (in recent years this threshold was raised to 36°F to trigger more readily)[41]. During those emergency periods:

• Living Hope Church: This church in Vancouver (2711 NE Andresen) serves as a walk-in overnight warming center whenever severe winter weather is declared[42]. It opens its doors to anyone in need of a safe, warm place, no referral needed, from roughly 7 PM to 7 AM on severe weather nights[43]. Living Hope has been a crucial partner, often taking in dozens of people on short notice during snow, ice, or extreme cold events. They provide mats or cots, blankets, hot drinks, and basic hospitality. (Living Hope Church is also known to activate as a cooling center during summer heat waves, illustrating their broader role in weather emergencies.)

• Daytime Warming Centers: During daytime hours of a severe cold snap, several sites offer heated indoor space so people can get out of the frigid weather. St. Paul Lutheran Church (downtown) is one such site – for example, it often opens from midday to early evening on severe cold days as a warming center for anyone (with snacks, hot beverages, etc.)[9]. Other community centers, libraries, or churches also step up as daytime warming locations as needed, coordinated through the Severe Weather Task Force[44]. These daytime centers complement the overnight shelters, ensuring that vulnerable individuals have somewhere warm to go 24 hours a day during the coldest emergencies.

Local officials, the Council for the Homeless, and emergency services actively publicize the locations and hours of severe weather shelters when an alert is activated. The goal is to prevent weather-related deaths or illnesses by guaranteeing that no one who wants shelter in life-threatening weather is turned away. In this community, no referral or screening is required for severe weather shelters – they are low-barrier and open to all, including those who might not access regular shelters.

Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO): A seasonal shelter program (operational each winter Nov–Mar) launched in 2003 as a collaboration between faith-based organizations and homeless service agencies to increase cold-weather shelter capacity[24]. Originally, WHO had multiple church sites (e.g. St. Andrew for families/women and St. Paul for men) staffed by volunteers. Today, St. Andrew Lutheran is the only church still running the traditional WHO model, offering ~50 beds run entirely by volunteers, with support from Share for intake and case management[23]. The WHO model emphasizes hospitality – providing meals and a caring environment – in addition to basic shelter.

Satellite Overflow Shelters (SOS): A network of small-capacity winter shelters that operate on a rotating schedule at different churches to collectively cover all seven nights of the week. Each SOS site typically has about 15 beds and is open on specific nights (e.g. certain days at Immanuel Lutheran, River City Church, etc.)[26]. The SOS system is coordinated by Outsiders Inn, which provides trained staff to work alongside church volunteers each night[45]. These shelters act as an “overflow” safety valve – taking in people when year-round shelters and the WHO are full. Access is managed through the Council for the Homeless hotline (no walk-ups without referral). The SOS concept leverages community resources (church space and volunteers) to expand capacity during winter, offering a warm place to sleep, a meal, and friendly support on nights when people might otherwise be turned away.

Safe Stay Communities: The City of Vancouver’s branded supported tiny-house villages program. Safe Stay communities are sanctioned, managed encampments with non-traditional shelters (tiny homes/pallet shelters) instead of tents. Each site has 20 lockable cabins, typically accommodating up to 40 residents at full capacity[14]. They are fully fenced and staffed 24/7 by a nonprofit operator, with amenities like portable toilets or plumbed restrooms, showers, garbage service, and communal spaces for residents[16]. Crucially, Safe Stays provide on-site case management and security. The model, first implemented in 2021, is meant to offer stability and safety for unsheltered individuals as they transition toward permanent housing, while also reducing the negative impacts of unsanctioned camping on neighborhoods[15][21]. Residents agree to a code of conduct (no violence, no drug use on site, etc.), and the sites often have good neighbor agreements. Safe Stay Communities are a “bridge shelter” solution somewhere between traditional shelter and permanent housing.

Severe Weather Shelter: An emergency, short-term shelter activated only during officially declared severe weather events (e.g. extreme cold below 32°F, heavy snow/ice, or extreme heat in summer). These are low-barrier, life-saving shelters where anyone can come in to escape dangerous weather without the usual intake referral. In winter, severe weather shelters (like Living Hope Church and others) open on nights when temperature/windchill falls to a critical level (the county recently adjusted this threshold from 32°F to 36°F based on conditions)[41]. They typically provide basic mats or cots in a heated space, blankets, and hot food/drinks. Some operate overnight, while others (day warming centers) cover daytime hours. The philosophy is that no one should die of exposure on nights when the weather is life-threatening, so these shelters cast a wide net to bring people indoors in a crisis.

Coordinated Entry / Housing Hotline: A centralized intake system for homelessness services in Clark County. In Vancouver, the Council for the Homeless operates the “Housing Solutions Center” hotline (360-695-9677) which serves as the single point of entry for most shelters, housing programs, and prevention resources[46]. When someone is homeless or about to be, they call this hotline to be assessed and referred to an appropriate shelter or housing program. Coordinated Entry ensures that placements are made based on need and eligibility, avoids duplication, and maintains a streamlined way for people in crisis to access help. All major providers (Share, Outsiders Inn, Salvation Army, Janus Youth, Catholic Community Services, etc.) take referrals from this centralized list[46]. (During severe weather, as noted, separate walk-in options are also available without going through the hotline.)

Non-Congregate Shelter: A shelter model where clients have private or semi-private rooms rather than sleeping in a group dormitory setting (“congregate shelter”). Examples include converted motels or apartment-style shelters, where each individual or family stays in their own room or unit. The advantages of non-congregate shelters are greater privacy, dignity, and often better health outcomes (important during COVID-19, for example, to allow distancing). In Clark County, Bertha’s Place and Bertha’s Too are non-congregate shelters, as is the Oak Bridge Youth Shelter (small home-like setting), in contrast to congregate shelters like Share House or the church winter shelters where many people sleep in one space. Non-congregate shelters are especially beneficial for families, couples, and those with higher vulnerability who need a quieter, safer personal space. They function more like interim housing with support services, and can be a stepping stone to permanent housing.

Peer-Support Model: An approach to shelter operations that emphasizes hiring staff who have lived experience of homelessness or recovery, to support shelter residents. The idea is that peer mentors/staff can build quicker trust and rapport with guests, having walked in their shoes[8]. Outsiders Inn in Vancouver is a key organization that centers peer support – many of its employees and volunteers have themselves experienced homelessness, addiction recovery, or mental health challenges. At shelters like St. Paul’s and the Safe Stay communities, this peer-support model means staff use a trauma-informed, empathetic approach, helping residents navigate services and encouraging self-directed recovery[8]. It also fosters a sense of community and understanding in the shelter. The peer model is grounded in the belief that people are more likely to engage and feel hopeful when they see examples of others who have overcome homelessness. It’s an integral part of “nothing about us without us” philosophy in local homelessness programs.

[1] [2] [3] [5] [6] [25] [46] Share Shelter Programs - Share Vancouver - Making Our Community Home

https://sharevancouver.org/programs/share-shelter-system/

[4] Family shelter Share Orchards Inn prepares to reopen

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/jun/03/family-shelter-share-orchards-inn-prepares-to-reopen/

[7] [8] [14] Shelter Services — Outsiders Inn

https://www.outsidersinn.org/shelter-programs

[9] [44] Severe weather alert for Clark County homeless shelters - Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1674572456149281/posts/4090400344566468/

[10] City of Vancouver develops plan to address homelessness impacts -The City of Vancouver, WA

https://www.cityofvancouver.us/city-of-vancouver-develops-plan-to-address-homelessness-impacts/

[11] New homeless shelter opening in Vancouver - The Columbian

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/nov/20/new-homeless-shelter-opening-in-vancouver/

[12] Find Help - Janus Youth Programs

https://janusyouth.org/find-help/

[13] [PDF] January 25, 2024 Clark County, WA Housing Inventory Chart (HIC)

https://www.councilforthehomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PDF-Winter-2024-Clark-County-Housing-Inventory-Full-report.pdf

[15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] Safe Stay Communities -The City of Vancouver, WA

https://www.cityofvancouver.us/city-managers-office/homeless/safe-stay-communities/

[22] Homeless men get shelter from the cold - The Columbian

https://www.columbian.com/news/2013/jan/13/shelter-from-the-cold-winter-hospitality-overflow/

[23] [24] [PDF] W.H.O. St. Paul Volunteer Opportunities - St Paul Vancouver

https://stpaulvancouver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WHO-St-Paul-2024-brochure.pdf

[26] [45] Ministries - Immanuel Lutheran Church

https://immanuelvancouver.org/ministries/

[27] Flood damage means Vancouver church won't be able to house the ...

https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/oct/08/flood-damage-means-vancouver-church-wont-be-able-to-house-the-homeless-this-winter/

[28] [29] [30] [31] Severe weather shelters to merge in Washougal - Camas-Washougal Post-Record

https://www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2024/nov/21/severe-weather-shelters-to-merge-in-washougal/

[32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [39] [40] City preparing to open emergency winter and severe weather shelters -The City of Vancouver, WA

https://www.cityofvancouver.us/city-preparing-to-open-emergency-winter-and-severe-weather-shelters/

[37] [38] Arts hub building shelter -The City of Vancouver, WA

https://www.cityofvancouver.us/city-managers-office/homeless/wintershelter/arts-hub-building-shelter/

[41] Working Together to Save Lives - Council for the Homeless

https://www.councilforthehomeless.org/emergency-shelter/working-together-to-save-lives/

[42] [43] Clark County partners collaborate to expand winter shelter - ClarkCountyToday.com

https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-partners-collaborate-to-expand-winter-shelter/