Since the city of Vancouver opened a winter shelter next to an elementary school in mid-December, it’s been packed with an unexpectedly high proportion of families with young children, staff say. “When you go in there, their conversations are so cute. You know, kid conversations,” said Ren Autrey, deputy director of Outsiders Inn, the nonprofit that operates the shelter. “They’re just having a good time getting prepared for bed.” The shelter in Vancouver’s arts hub, the former library building at 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., is next door to Vancouver Innovation, Technology and Arts Elementary. Parents’ concerns have abated in the month the shelter has been open. Initially, parents said they were blindsided and feared shelter residents would wander onto campus or leave drug paraphernalia where children could find it. They demanded 24/7 security, but city staff said it was unnecessary for a shelter that operated only overnight.

“As far as any concerns that the VITA community members might have had, I’m not seeing any evidence of those concerns being represented as reality,” VITA kindergarten parent Katelyn Robley said. She and another mother have been organizing drives to collect clothing, food, bedding and hygiene supplies for the shelter. Autrey said the donations have been helpful. Many of the young children in the shelter have needed spare clothes and bedding. “I’m just glad to hear that the houseless community is being supported,” Robley said. VITA Principal Travis Bond wrote in an email that “the situation wasn’t ideal at the outset” because the plans for the shelter came with little notice from the city, but the overall response has been positive and supportive.

“These efforts underscore the strong values of empathy and care that define VITA, even in the face of difficult and unexpected circumstances,” Bond said. When asked if there had been any issues with the shelter, Bond said someone walked through the field next to the school during the day and another attempted to cross through the school’s parking lot during school hours. “However, these have all been resolved without issue once we’ve explained our rules and the importance of maintaining a safe space for our students,” Bond wrote in the email. “The individuals have all been understanding and cooperative, which we deeply appreciate.” An email sent to VITA parents, which was obtained by The Columbian, described a man walking across a field by the school’s campus and relieving himself.

The man who did so was not staying at the shelter, said Jamie Spinelli, the city’s homeless response manager. The city’s Homeless Assistance and Resources Team and the Vancouver Police Department responded to his camp near the school, which is no longer there. City staff say the school has not approached them about any issues with shelter residents on campus. People staying in the shelter arrive at 6:30 p.m. and leave by 7 a.m. before students arrive at school, Autrey said. The shelter has hosted around 63 people since its opening and consistently remained full. Community donations and lessons from arts hub staff keep the children entertained with crafts, yoga and toys, Autrey said.

“They’ve been grateful for the space and those items,” Autrey said. “I’m just really grateful that we’ve been able to work things through.” Alexis Weisend: 360-735-4536; alexis.weisend@columbian.com; twitter.com/weisend_alexis

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