Clark County group pushes for camping ban

VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) -- As homeless camp tents line Vancouver's streets, Amy Harris of Clark County Matters is pushing for a countywide camping ban from the waterfront and beyond.

Clark County Matters found that 84% of 500 residents surveyed are worried about rising homeless camps, drug issues and crime in Vancouver.

"I'm not gonna accept that people camping on the streets is a compassionate way," Harris told KOIN 6 News. "If we can all come together and say we are not OK with this being acceptable here, that is the most important thing."

Vancouver already has some camping restrictions -- no camping near Safe Stay communities, certain waterways or on recently closed public land.

Jean Lacrosse of Open House Ministries said they have seen more camping in front of their building.

"Our hearts just break when we look at our community and what's happening right next door to us," Lacrosse said.

Open House Ministries shelters more than 100 people each night and offers resources for families to rebuild their lives. But Lacrosse is worried that a camping ban alone won't solve the problem,.

"We really try to look at things at an individual level, and hopefully that our community can come together and find our best solutions for those folks instead of just pushing them out of the community," she said.

The faith-based non-profit is about to open a new affordable housing complex, and the Vancouver City Council is working to fund a $16 million shelter by the end of the year.

These steps could get more people off the streets and back into safety.

"We're happy to promote anything that gets us to the point of camping not being here, so if that's more shelters, if that's Prop 4 -- which will increase police -- those are positives," Harris said. "That is moving us in the right direction."

In 2023 the City of Vancouver declared a homelessness emergency and has since intensified efforts to tackle the crisis.

KOIN 6 News reached out to the Vancouver mayor and every city council member for a response to the call for a camping ban. At this time they have not responded.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.