On the morning of Wednesday, February 17, Washington Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray joined officials of the Vancouver Housing Authority and its affiliates to celebrate the Lincoln Place opening.
Lincoln Place is a new development in west Vancouver that houses the homeless. It was developed to provide permanent, stable housing for those in the Vancouver community who have been homeless for the longest time, since they will need the most assistance.
The complex is patterned after the harm reduction/housing first model, which makes permanent housing its first priority. In addition, the model provides the support homeless people need to transition from living on the streets to a permanent situation.
The complex features 30 studio apartments, each comprising about 320 square feet, fully furnished with private baths and kitchenettes. The entire building is about 10,000 square feet, and complements the other structures in the neighborhood, which is partly industrial and partly residential. Three of the apartments will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the other 27 can be made adaptable to it. There are laundry facilities on each floor, and meeting rooms on the first floor.
The Housing First model is a holistic approach that provides the homeless with housing immediately, and then offers them the support they need to remain stable for the long term. Studies have shown that 80% of homeless people with the most difficult problems were still in their units a year after moving in under this program.
Housing officials might work with a printer to create Letterheads for the residents, to help them continue to normalize their living situation.Get a Free Quote for Letterheads
