Nearly 30 percent of people who experienced homelessness in Clark County last year were children, according to a report by the Council for Homelessness. The 2025 data shows that 2,334 children under the age of 18 were unhoused out of a total population of 8,202 people experiencing homelessness in the county.

The report also found that the percentage of family households stabilized through rent assistance dropped by 5 percent last year as resources became increasingly limited. According to reporting by The Columbian, the primary driver of homelessness in the region remains the rising cost of housing and a lack of affordable options for families.

In Vancouver, the nonprofit Share operates two family shelters, each containing 14 rooms. These facilities include on-site laundry, communal kitchens, and play areas. Despite the growing need, these shelters have remained at or near capacity for years. Adrianna Kofoed, director of family shelters at Share, stated in an interview with OPB that the organization now receives between four and six calls a day from parents seeking help. Kofoed noted that this volume has roughly doubled during the year she has held her position.

Families seeking shelter often face significant wait times due to the limited number of available rooms. One resident, Gracie White, reported waiting three years for an opportunity to enter the Share Homestead shelter with her children. Kofoed noted that once a family is successfully housed, another is typically waiting to fill the vacancy immediately.

Service providers identify the high cost of move-in fees as a major barrier for local families. Requirements for security deposits and first month’s rent often total two-and-a-half to three times the monthly rent, which many households cannot afford even while working full-time. The Council for Homelessness report indicates that the lack of rental subsidies and second-chance housing for those with poor credit further restricts the ability of Clark County families to transition into stable living situations.