While many details remain to be sorted out, the city of Vancouver has demonstrated diligence regarding its Safe Park operation. As reported by The Columbian’s Alexis Weisend, city officials have removed Thrive2Survive, a Vancouver-based nonprofit, as operator of the facility. Safe Park, located at the Evergreen Transit Center, allows unhoused people to legally live in their vehicles. Safe Park is a valuable tool in efforts to combat homelessness. The number of people living in vehicles parked along roadsides throughout the city demonstrates the need for a managed facility, which can provide access to social services and help people transition into stable housing. But effectiveness depends on oversight from city officials in charge of taxpayer dollars. In 2023, Thrive2Survive was hired to manage Safe Park, signing a $809,474 contract for five years of service. On Jan. 24, city officials terminated the contract and hired Live Love Outreach, a Vancouver-based nonprofit that operates the Hope Village Safe Stay community.

That has led to a back-and-forth of accusations. The city says that Thrive2Survive’s on-site employees were ignoring suspected drug use and drug deals at the facility, and that the organization has overbilled Vancouver by $72,000. Thrive2Survive representatives accused the city of wrongfully terminating the contract and asked for payment of $413,000 in damages while denying the accusations. “Thrive2Survive has always operated with integrity and compassion, and we firmly believe that the decision does not reflect the tremendous impact our work had at the Road2Home Safe Park in 2024,” organization founder Charles Hanset Jr. told The Columbian. He added: “We remain proud of our team’s dedication and the positive changes we made in the lives of many, and we hope to continue offering such transformative support in the future.” Attorneys for the city wrote to Thrive2Survive leaders: “Your letter states that the site was successfully operated for over a year (from Dec. 1, 2023). This is untrue.” They also claimed that Thrive2Survive employees told city staff that the site was “an abomination” and that “nothing gets done” when they report an issue. The attorneys claimed that the organization sought to prevent workers from engaging with city employees. In the middle of all this are accusations that Thrive2Survive employees removed items from the site, with both sides claiming ownership.

The truth behind the allegations remains to be sorted out. But claims of discrepancies in billing amounts and unusual reimbursements should be easy to clear up. According to city officials, an audit found duplicated payrolls and “numerous errors” on one invoice. In a letter to the city, Thrive2Survive says it is willing to settle out of court, proposing that the city issue a public statement in support of the organization and refrain from making negative comments. But the contract with the city said it may be terminated “for convenience at any time for any reason deemed appropriate.” For Vancouver residents, the most important takeaway is that officials are paying attention to what is happening at Safe Park. Attorneys wrote to Thrive2Survive’s lawyers: “The goal of terminating the Thrive2Survive contract for convenience was to avoid calling unnecessary attention to the substantive issues arising under your client’s leadership of the site while ensuring public health and safety were addressed.” Such diligence indicates that taxpayer money is being appropriately safeguarded.