Council for the Homeless

Council for the Homeless is on a mission to end Veteran homelessness in Clark County. 

At Council for the Homeless, our mission is simple and urgent: to prevent and end homelessness in Clark County. Through Give More 24!, we are raising $50,000 to bring more of our Veterans all the way home. With your support, together, we can solve Veteran homelessness. 

Meet Kristin

When Kristin, an US Airforce Veteran, her fiancé, Donnie, a US Military Veteran, and their daughter, Melinda, arrived in Vancouver from Albuquerque, New Mexico in April 2024, it was more than just a move. It was a homecoming.   

“I just wanted to come home,” Kristin said. 

Their plan was to stay with Kristin’s sister temporarily, but due to her housing voucher restrictions, that wasn’t possible long-term. Unable to find steady employment right away, Kristin and Donnie had to move their family into a tent near Orchards Park, choosing the spot so Melinda would have a place to play during the day. 

“We never wanted [Melinda] on the streets,” Kristin said. “But we didn’t have another choice.” 

Living outside made it difficult to access basic needs like food, and even harder to find help. Everything started to shift after Kristin visited the Council for the Homeless office and connected with staff in person. She completed a housing assessment and was added to the Clark County Veteran By-Name List (VBNL). The VBNL is a coordinated effort led by CFTH among local service providers working to end Veteran homelessness. The collaboration is where resources are shared to wrap around a household to end their homelessness for good.   

By being included on the VBNL, Kristin became eligible for tailored housing resources and support. Kristin met with a VA case worker and was referred to a local family shelter. In October, the family moved into this temporary housing, and by December, they were approved for rental assistance and moved into their own apartment in Vancouver just in time for Kristin’s birthday and the holidays. 

Kristin is now enrolled in baking school with dreams of owning her own bakery. Donnie is continuing to seek work, and the family is hopeful they’ll move to Battle Ground (where Kristin grew up) into a home with a fireplace so Melinda can hang stockings this Christmas. 

Kristin’s story is one of resilience, hope, and a testament to what is possible when community systems work together. Support from donors like you fuels these collaborations making it possible to provide the housing assistance, resources, and wrap around housing services that help Veterans and their families rebuild their lives. Kristin's journey reminds us that Veteran homelessness is not inevitable. It is solvable.

Why your gift matters

Your gift to Council for the Homeless ensures people like Kristin, Donnie, and Melinda receive the necessary resources to make home possible. Through the generosity of our donors and community partners, together, we find solutions to preventing and ending homelessness. 

The story of your impact is so much greater when you consider:

- Children who experience homelessness are more likely to stay in a cycle of homelessness as an adult.

- The longer someone experiences homelessness, the more complicated their situation becomes.

- Homelessness is expensive. Costs add up when you cannot store food, cook, meet basic hygiene needs, and do laundry in your own home.

Your compassionate gift will help Veterans in our community overcome homelessness. By joining Council for the Homeless, you'll make a life changing difference for those who have served and are now working toward a safe, stable place to call home.