Facing Homelessness - Vancouver WA

01/14/2025

Thank you Roz and Facing Homelessness for coming and sharing some love with the pets at the 415-West Safe Stay Community! 😍

groomingLOVE:

It’s easy to feel unsure when meeting a group of new people. That was especially true for me when coming to visit a tiny home village in Vancouver WA, a place that is home to folks all formerly living homeless.

As I was buzzed in through the entry gate, those feelings of worry were overpowered by warm welcomes from the shelter’s staff. Standing in the center of the ring of tiny homes an even more welcoming energy from the residents is felt as they start their day. Folks nodding my way, offering smiles, and coming over to chat. All of my worries disappeared!

I might as well tell you, I’m a serious dog-lover! The visit to 415 - West Safe Stay was in part to learn how the nonprofit Outsiders Inn runs the village, but also to meet the owners of the pets that lived there. I was curious how they were all doing.

Turns out, they are doing really well! It became obvious that the community's pet owners spend more on their fur babies than they do on themselves. Their selflessness is a reflection of the bond these owners and pets have and how significant they are to one another.

Bev and her dog Precious, Derrick and his dog Classy, and Tracy with her dog Jacks all took time to visit. I think the dogs loved it the most, with so many hugs and belly scratches! Due to the fact that Bev’s daughter was about to go into labor, she gladly agreed to be the first to talk with me.

Bev, a self-proclaimed “dog lover” herself, has been living at the village for nearly one year. When Bev was previously unhoused she was anxious for her dog’s safety, which meant her late dog had spent a great deal of time with a friend. She recalls how difficult the separation anxiety was for her and for her dog during this time. Bev adopted Precious, her "God sent" chihuahua, shortly after her late dog passed of old age. Bev, grateful that Precious can live with her, mentioned that Precious's long-haired coat needs to be groomed, especially as baths are not possible at the Shelter. Hmmm, that got me thinking.

Derrick, who gets around in a wheelchair, sits with his nearly 9 year old long haired dachshund Classy and tells us about his dream of opening a non profit to help homeless pets. Derrick and the other owners make it clear how important these “therapy pets” are in their lives. He shares a wish that all the pets might have a pet-care day together sometime. Hmmm, that too got me thinking.

Tracy and her chihuahua Jacks snuggle up as we get to know each other. Tracy also used to live with her cat Roam who tragically was hit by a car the Tuesday prior. Jacks, in his bear-eared coat, and Tracy miss Roam dearly, Tracy explains that Jacks keeps looking for him. Tracy shares that the three dogs are all buds. Hmmm, now I have an idea!

What if the Facing Homelessness community raised funds so all of the pet owners at 415 - West Safe Stay could have a bonding experience and an opportunity for their fur babies to get some extra self care? We would love to provide services beyond basic needs for about (10) pets for a day of grooming, coat trimming, nail trimming, and gland treatment.

If you are a dogLOVER too, please consider donating. All funds will go to purchase care for the pets at this Tiny Home Village!!! No funds will go to Facing Homelessness, as is always the case for this personal story asks.

https://givebutter.com/7GrD3x

If you would like to learn more about the nonprofit that beautifully runs this and other shelters, please listen to our You Know Me Now podcast EP027 - The Outsiders Inn by clicking the link below or wherever you find your podcast!

https://www.youknowmenow.com/youknowmenowpod/take-a-deep-breath-jekj9

Outsiders Inn Neighborhood | Roz

A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please consider a $5 monthly recurring donation on our givebutter account - https://givebutter.com/jfdABb
A heartfelt THANK YOU!

09/16/2024

Thank you for the amazing outpouring of love and support from my face book family, the staff and guest past and present and my my loved ones.
I am 58 years old I began starting my life over around 10 years ago completely missed out on most of the previous decade and before that i was kind of a wreck still. So it was anyone's guess what i would do after drug court and oxford the odds where not in my favor. I knew what i wanted to do and i believed some of it had to do with the hundreds and hundreds of conversations i had with the sky, the earth, the birds all things i considered to be of God. I learnt love of All people, I learnt to be the least among us, I learnt that dirty protected me, I learnt how to live off of all sorts of trash, I learnt that that the only way to make things better at first was to change perception. The rest is OutsidersInn history. Today i get to learn what a dragon fruit looks and taste and how to cut it. I work on what my mind body and spirit feel like and what i could do about (literally just now learning, doing still optional). I get to participate and and educate myself about politics and have healthy feelings and perspectives. I have a home, car, yard, family, friends, and communities that i am so proud to be a part of and to have in my life. I spent the majority of my life believing all that I was taught "that i had no worth". Then spent more time proving to others that I did "have worth". Now after 4 years of really working with all the communities so closely on so many issues. I finally at 58 years old know my worth and me and all of my insides can finally start to work on healing (whatever that looks like). maybe like receiving gifts with dignity and grace. Thanks team OI and Captain Kim and my Best Friend and love of my life Ren. I love you all, I love God, I love family, and Ren love ya..... see you all out there.

04/02/2024

Outsiders Inn has been working hard for 4 years bringing hope to the homeless community through our shelters, safe stays, mail and and outreach programs. We are a team of real people who have been shaped by our own experiences of homelessness. Each person has a story of survival and hope that fills their heart with a passion to do this work everyday. We will continue to work alongside and empower others to do the hard work it takes to navigate these systems to survive. We are Team Outsiders Inn. Help us celebrate our 4th anniversary today!

01/24/2024

There are many things to write about, but after this significant weather event, I feel the need to say something. We are in the middle of multiple crises at the same time for a problem we all know is beyond all our capabilities. Seeing people blaming churches or non profits for not doing, spending, giving, or caring enough especially without any real understanding of the scope or magnitude of the problem we are working in just undermines the real effort and work that is being done.

Blanket judgment and stereotyping others navigating challenges, essentially dehumanizing vulnerable residents of our community is a practice that cannot remain in the conversation.
We lead with our values; transparency (about ourselves and others), honesty (give it as well as hope for it back), integrity (even when no one is looking), and communication (clear is kind).

Our boundaries come from knowing ourselves, our capacities and each other and when it comes right down to it, Team OI was AMAZING this week

The OI team pulled together in some tough moments and came up with innovative solutions to problems we didn't have yesterday. Different situations ranged from pipes freezing, no hot water, leaking roofs and bathrooms or laundry rooms out of order. Some staff couldn't leave their shifts as some couldn't get in. Same with food and supplies, some made it in and others didn't or not right away. We didn't know till we needed it, but we were super excited to find out that one of our staff had always aspired to be on Alaska Ice Truckers - and they were able to come to the rescue of a few other folks stuck in the slick roads. Super grateful for all the in house drivers and actual Uber and Lyfts that we were able to rely upon helping us help everyone to be as safe as possible.

I'm writing this for the naysayers, for all of us with that little voice in our head. We pray there will never be a bigger crisis than the one that we go to work in 7 days a week 24 hours a day, but we all know that there are chances of it, and we all have been told to prepare ourselves to be ready for those situations. Emergency weather, earthquakes, or other unexpected situations, I guarantee that Outsiders Inn team members will be doing the work they do supporting and sheltering, and we would all fall in line at our locations and start doing the work like it's Tuesday afternoon. If you look into our eyes, each and everyone of us, you will see tired, kind, understanding, and yes, maybe a little glint in their eyes of “I am not going to take your s**t today”. We are part of the ones that are doing disaster relief work today, right now in our community’s backyard.

So we have a crisis with people on all sides of the fence. We have experienced people doing much needed work that centers around values that lead to boundaries. Even in the most dire of crises there will be boundaries, otherwise there will be lawlessness and chaos. There are limits to charity, there are limits to people's capacity, and there are limits to tolerating behaviors.
For those that don't respect boundaries, check your values, and for everyone else hear me:

WE ARE ENOUGH TODAY AND EVERYDAY THAT WE RISE FROM OUR ASHES TO PROCLAIM OUR PLACE THAT MAY HAVE FELT TAKEN FROM US. THROUGH GRATITUDE WE GIVE UNSELFISHLY BACK TO SUPPORT THOSE WHERE WE CAME FROM.

If you are a part of our club, say this out loud. If you're not, you can be. Have you ever felt like you weren't enough? That's all you need.

We are enough. You are enough. I am enough. Seriously, let that be our mantra as we work hard alongside each other through this cold wet winter season.

01/15/2023

Meet the Thayers,

Sabrina, James, and their pets Corkscrew and Eggnog (not pictured here). This sweet unassuming couple never thought that they would become homeless, just like the hundreds of people that are newly homeless right here in Clark County each year.
It all started for them like many couples who are on a fixed income and navigating health concerns in a rising rental market. It’s a harsh reality. As the rental rates kept climbing out of the range of their physical limits to their income, the Thayer’s were literally forced into the streets. They kept looking for rooms, roommates and other options to try to get things turned around. Then in spring 2020, much like everything in our world, it took a turn for the worse when the pandemic shut everything down including the Thayer's hope. They hunkered down between 2 buildings with their few items, blankets and 2 pets.

That’s where the city of Vancouver HART team met the couple sleeping on the street, learning that each one would take turns staying awake at night to keep each other safe. They soon met another outreach team and everyone continued to try to connect the Thayers with limited resources that would suit their special needs as a couple with pets. After some time, they finally heard about a new kind of shelter community that would allow couples and pets. They couldn't believe their ears! Would they all be able to stay together and not be separated? They didn’t want to get their hopes up too much. Could they trust all of this?

They worked with their Outreach worker to arrange connecting with next steps. When they were able to visit the community, they loved what they saw but weren't sure what was going to happen next. The Outpost Safe Stay team member who had showed them around and handled the Outreach paperwork smiled and said, “You can move in today if you want!” And with that good news, James shared, “All the weight and worry just went away that first night at the Outpost Safe Stay. We had walked all the way from our old spot to this new place with only a shred of hope. It's true that it was the first sense of safety we had in a long while. And now after living and working through things here at The Outpost and all the help we found here, this community has become like an extended family to us.”

Sabrina and James are definitely a story of success. They were able to stabilize at the Outpost and eventually move from our Safe Stay community shelter units into the new tiny homes at Fruit Valley Terrace, a Community Roots Collaborative project, and the whole Thayer family could not be happier. Sabrina admitted the silence and lack of noise was a little overwhelming at first, but now they love their quiet space. James was super happy as he finally got his recliner and all the other stuff out of storage.

Things James and Sabrina wanted folks to know: “Don't stereotype or judge! Not everyone who is homeless is struggling with addiction, a lot of us are just struggling! Family is important, maybe someone will see this and reach out and help a family member that's homeless. Nobody should be outside if they don't have to be, everybody has to do their part.”

The Thayer’s continue returning to The Outpost to hang out, support and encourage friends they made here, and to just continue to be connected with this community space and give back to others as they received. Sabrina jumped in with her big heart and organized the Outpost’s First Anniversary. Her creativity helped us celebrate with 'then and now' photos, balloons, cupcakes and smiles all around. You might have even seen the story in the newspaper!

This is the face of homelessness for a LOT of people in Clark County. No predetermined history of homelessness, no mental health worries, no addictions. Just regular folks getting priced out of housing as they navigate getting older and changes and having limited physical options for employment.

If anything is true, these folks absolutely under no circumstances should have been, nor needed to continue to be homeless. We are grateful they made it back inside. But let’s be honest, there are more people like the Thayer’s outside or soon to be outside with rents and prices of everything continuing to rise. Access to deeply affordable housing is needed for a lot of people - right now. Transitional shelter options for couples and persons with pets are also needed to compassionately prepare people to connect to housing.

We have much work to continue to do, together. Thank you for all of your support in these collaborative community efforts. It truly is making a difference.

~Adam & Ren
and the Outsiders Inn Team



We all can help unhoused neighbors re-connect to community together. Donations for a specific person or project or even a small recurring donation can help us continue to make these connections and support local Vancouver shelter projects and outreach. Facing Homelessness Vancouver WA is a program of Outsiders Inn. OutsidersInn.org is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and can provide receipts for tax purposes.

09/22/2022

02/25/2022

Meet Darren

A caring individual, committed to helping others. Darren works in the mail service department with Outsiders Inn and he loves his job. He believes in our mission and that we are having a positive impact in the Vancouver community. He is loyal to this organization because at one point he sought help from Outsiders Inn and the services were effective. Now he has the stability that he didn’t have when he was houseless.

Darren had been houseless on and off for years due to various reasons that were out of his control. Several years ago he was laid off from his caregiver job, then moved up to Vancouver. Soon after, medical complications arose which left Darren unable to work or pay rent. He slept in his car before he found Share House. He stayed at the shelter and even worked there for a time. This situation was so shocking and new to him. It was frightening at first. But soon he started making connections with others who stayed there. His fears subsided and he started making positive changes in his life.

About two years ago, Outsiders Inn was established as an organization. Darren sought out the resources provided and eventually found housing and a job in the mail service department. The mail service is an essential resource for those who are facing homelessness and have no other way to receive their mail.

Darren shared some words of wisdom for people who are seeking resources from organizations. “Make sure they know your voice”. When reaching out for assistance, Darren faced a lot of competition because so many other people were calling for help. But instead of giving up, he continued to call and make his voice heard. Now he is living comfortably with a job that he loves and a warm place to call home.

Here at Outsiders Inn, we are grateful for the dedication and enthusiasm that Darren puts into his work. He has become a valued member of our team and we are lucky to have him in our community.

We all can help unhoused neighbors re-connect to the community together. Donations for a specific person or project or even a small recurring donation can help us continue to make these connections and support local shelter projects and outreach. Facing Homelessness Vancouver WA is a program of Outsiders Inn. Outsiders Inn is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and can provide receipts for tax purposes.

02/24/2022

If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness join us and get connected with helpful resources in Clark County. Project Homeless Connect is happening tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 24th from 9am-3pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church (400 S. Andresen Rd., Vancouver, WA 98661).

02/23/2022

Meet Stacy,

An outgoing and extraordinary individual working with Outsiders Inn. As a shelter staff member, she assists directly with the guests. Providing a comfortable and safe environment for them.

She’s tough, approachable, trusting, and kind. She has built a fortunate life for herself, but it has not been an easy journey. Stacy has been in recovery from alcoholism for twenty-three years. She has struggled throughout that time to stay sober. She has learned that “Taking small steps is how people can change” and to “Set little goals, not big goals” are the keys to maintaining sobriety.

In her childhood, despite living in a Morman household, alcohol was already having a significant impact on her life. “Alcohol was the reason my dad didn’t come home at night. Alcohol was why my mom cried herself to sleep at night”. The tension of the house left a weight on her chest that was always there. She carried around all of the worries that come from loving someone who has an addiction. It was when she was fifteen, that she discovered how to make all of those uncomfortable feelings go away. She had her first drink and everything changed.

Throughout her life, she has struggled with the urge to drink. “The addict part of your brain never goes away”. But to make a better life for herself and for her kids, she needed to keep fighting.

Before Stacy came to work with Outsiders Inn, she was taking college courses. That is where she found inspiration to work with the homeless population. In one of her college courses, Stacy was doing research on homelessness for a project and a piece of information hit her hard. She found that many people with mental illnesses who end up in prison, their conditions would worsen because they weren’t getting the help that they needed. This fact affected her because Stacy’s sister had mental health challenges, which set her life down a rocky path.

Stacy chose to work with the homeless population because many of them have mental health needs that must be addressed, in order for them to piece their lives back together. In her work, she aims to inspire and motivate others to seek out help. Stacy knows that recovery is a process that cannot be done alone. Unfortunately, she has met many people whose family members and others want nothing to do with them. Without some stability and support, it is difficult for people with mental health challenges and/or addictions to rebuild their lives. She says, “These are the forgotten people”. So she is using her experience and positive energy to uplift these people who are living troubled lives.

We are grateful to have Stacy on our team. She has so much to give and we appreciate the empathy and drive that she puts into her work.

We all can help unhoused neighbors re-connect to the community together. Donations for a specific person or project or even a small recurring donation can help us continue to make these connections and support local shelter projects and outreach. Facing Homelessness Vancouver WA is a program of Outsiders Inn. Outsiders Inn is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and can provide receipts for tax purposes.