Outreach, Advocacy, Education and Planning - OAEP
The Council brings people of diverse backgrounds and experience from our community together in a variety of forums to exchange ideas, share goals and celebrate the work taking place in Clark County. From speaking engagements, sponsored events and forums to local participation in national outreach campaigns, the Council continuously engages the community to address the issues surrounding homelessness. The Council also publishes the "Coming Home" newsletter 3 times a year, providing members and donors with regular updates on our community’s response to the challenges of homelessness.

The Council directs the Coalition of Service Providers for the Homeless and the Homeless Task Force, a consortium of nonprofit agencies, businesses, community groups, and government agencies, and indviduals who are homeless or formerly homeless. The Coalition identifies critical gaps in service, prioritizes needs and plans for solutions to reduce homelessness. As an extension of the group’s work, the Council produces the annual HUD Continuum of Care grants, which have brought more than $10 million to Clark County programs since 1996. The Council also facilitates Clark County's Ten Year Plan to reduce homelessness by 50% by the year 2015, and our community's participation in Bridges to Housing, a partnership with three Oregon counties to serve families experiencing homelessness.

Emergency Shelter Clearinghouse - ESC
The Emergency Shelter Clearinghouse Hotline operates 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 7-days a week. Staffed by employees and trained volunteers, the Hotline is often a point of 'first contact' for people seeking referrals to housing and other services. Hotline operators "pre-screen" callers and first attempt to direct them to housing options or to other appropriate services before placing them in an emergency shelter. In 2008, the ESC Hotline handled 16,617 incoming calls from persons who were homeless and served 4,032 people, of which 1,427 were children. If you are a woman, couple or family requiring shelter, you may call the Hotline as early as 9:00 a.m. If you are a single man, you may call as early as 11:00 a.m.

Community Housing Program- CHP
The Community Housing Program assists and empowers Clark County’s service providers for the homeless. Affiliated with the Emergency Shelter Clearinghouse, the program offers access to a coordinated Supported Housing system for the most vulnerable segment of Clark County’s homeless population – those living on the street or in encampments, those with mental health (MH) and/or co-occurring substance abuse (SA) disorders, and individuals who are re-entering the community from correctional facilities and state hospitals. A centralized means of communication gives landlords and supportive service providers the capacity to partner and maximize each other’s resources.

Winter Hospitality Overflow - WHO
Created in 2001, the WHO program provides emergency overflow shelter space during the winter months, from November 1 through March 31. Shelter space is provided by St. Andrew Lutheran and St. Paul Lutheran churches in Vancouver. The shelters are open in the evenings for overnight guests and are staffed by volunteers, many of whom come from the local faith community. The addition of case management services provided by Share utilizes the opportunity to interact with guests' and match their needs with available services in the community. During the 2008-2009 winter season, 487 guests were hosted by the WHO. More than 40 local faith-based and community organizations participated, and over 1,500 individuals contributed more than 13,000 volunteer hours during the program's five months long season.

Community Voice Mail - CVM
This cost-effective program provides voice mail for homeless and low-income individuals and families, providing 24-hour access to phone messages from potential employers, landlords, social workers and family members. Community Voice Mail users also receive voice mail broadcasts from our local program coordinator advising of employment opportunities, housing options, and other helpful community information and events. With the introduction of a new web-based system in 2008, users with access to the internet email can receive email alerts advising them of waiting messages! Since it’s inception in 1996, more than 5,000 people/families have used CVM. In 2008, 842 people/families in crisis and transition used CVM to stay connected!

Data Collection - HMIS
Collecting good data is essential when designing effective strategies for ending homelessness. The Council's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) takes the lead in data collection through Service Point, a web-enabled system that links homeless programs and gathers long-term unduplicated information. The Council conducts an annual "Point In Time Count" to capture statistical and categorical information on the local homeless population to be used in the assessment and analysis of needs and services. The latest count was conducted in January, 2009, and those statistics are available for viewing by clicking the "Point In Time Count" hyperlink.