Clark County Homeless Couples Face Tough Shelter Choices

Limited options force many to stay on the streets together rather than separate

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:07pm

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A dreamy, out-of-focus scene of a homeless couple embracing on a city street, with soft, warm pools of light and color surrounding them, conveying the emotional struggle and resilience of their situation.For many homeless couples in Clark County, the choice between staying together or splitting up to access limited shelter options is a heartbreaking one.Vancouver Today

For many homeless couples in Clark County, Washington, the choice is stark - stay together on the streets or split up to access the limited shelter options, most of which are designed for single individuals or families with children. With few mixed-gender shelters available, couples without kids have struggled to find housing that allows them to remain together.

Why it matters

Homelessness is a growing crisis in the Pacific Northwest, and the lack of appropriate shelter options for homeless couples highlights the unique challenges they face compared to single individuals or families. This issue speaks to the need for more inclusive and flexible shelter policies to better support all those experiencing homelessness.

The details

Most shelters in the Clark County area only accept either men or women and children, leaving few options for homeless couples who want to stay together. The exceptions include Bertha's Place, Project Safe Haven, and the city of Vancouver's four Safe Stay shelters, which have modular units with two beds. The city's upcoming 120-bed Bridge Shelter is also expected to allow couples. However, these mixed-gender facilities are limited, forcing many couples to either split up to access housing or remain homeless together.

  • The city of Vancouver's 120-bed Bridge Shelter is expected to open this fall.
  • Historically, couples without children have had few shelter options in Clark County.

The players

Jamie Spinelli

The homeless response manager for the city of Vancouver.

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What they’re saying

“Couples must either split up to get into housing or stay together but remain homeless until space opens up in one of the few mixed-gender shelters.”

— Jamie Spinelli, Homeless Response Manager, City of Vancouver

What’s next

The city of Vancouver is expected to open its new 120-bed Bridge Shelter this fall, which will allow homeless couples to stay together, providing a much-needed additional option in the area.

The takeaway

The lack of appropriate shelter options for homeless couples in Clark County highlights the need for more inclusive and flexible policies to support all those experiencing homelessness, including those who wish to remain together. As the region grapples with rising homelessness, solutions that keep partners united could make a meaningful difference.