In Our View: Fight against homelessness benefits all of us
The Columbian
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The closing of a Motel 6 as a homeless shelter in east Vancouver exemplifies an ongoing issue in Clark County. The battle against homelessness has been marked by good intentions resulting in stopgap measures, with the latest effort coming and going amid a coronavirus pandemic.
County officials this year rented the Motel 6 for use as a shelter, recognizing that homeless populations are particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. An original contract ran through June at a cost of about $600,000, paid for by a state Department of Commerce grant; after that, the Clark County Council approved the use of federal CARES Act funds to continue using the hotel as a shelter.