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Local Business Donates $300,000 To City Of Vancouver To Build New Homeless Center

April 18, 2018

A commercial real estate developer in Vancouver, WA., has donated $300,000 to the city for a new homeless facility.

Homeless camp in Vancouver, WA / Photo Credit: Natalie Behring

The City of Vancouver announced the donation from The CE John Company, Inc. on Tuesday as they begin space planning work for the new day center.

"This project grabbed our chairman Jim John's attention and we, as a Board of Directors, prompted by Jim's urging, felt it was time for a local business to step up to the plate and begin to combat the ever-increasing homelessness epidemic affecting our community," said Mark Osborne, managing partner of CE John Company.

The new center will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will serve an average of 74 people per day, KATU News reports.

The facility will provide the homeless with restrooms, showers and laundry, storage for personal belongings, mail, phone charging stations and clothing, plus mental health counseling, case management, job search assistance, transportation assistance, limited food service, and more.

The city expects construction will be completed this summer.