Andy Silver, executive director of Council for the Homeless, spoke about why 2018 Grand Blvd. should become an “access point” for services, which he said would decrease homelessness — not increase homelessness and problems in the neighborhood. He said the ZIP code that it’s located in, 98661, already has the second-highest concentration of homelessness after 98660.

Many people testifying at Tuesday’s hearing oppose the proposed day center.

Richard Baranzano, who owns Fourth Plain Plaza shopping center, said the entire hearing was prejudiced because the city is already setting aside money to purchase the site. He added that the city’s findings disregard single-family homes near the building, as well as GATE, a program for young adults with development disabilities that’s located nearby.

“This is not even compatible with what they’re proposing,” Baranzano said.

Others who testified said they dislike the uncertainty regarding how the rest of the building could be used in the future. And, they say, that when the day center closes each day people aren’t going to walk miles away from the facility just to come back the next day; they will camp in the neighborhood.

Differing opinions

Amy Reynolds, deputy director of Share, said there are typically 10 to 12 people using the current day center at any given time. If there’s poor weather, around five will wait in front of the building before it opens at 7 a.m. About seven people leave when the facility closes at 5 p.m.

Bridgette Fahnbulleh, president of the NAACP of Vancouver, lives near the proposed day center. She supports the effort and location, and disagrees with people who think the surrounding neighborhood has done enough to help the homeless and shouldn’t be home to the day center.