12-Bed Facility in Vancouver Aims to Bridge Gap Between Jail and Home
A new transitional housing program staffed by peer mentors offers services to adults leaving Clark County Jail.
By Bianca Shevchenko ·
The Landing Pad, a 12-bed transitional housing facility, began operating in Vancouver this past August to support adults exiting Clark County Jail.
The voluntary program targets individuals with behavioral health needs. Its primary goal is to prevent these residents from entering homelessness immediately after release. Anna Lookingbill, the jail programs manager at Clark County Jail Services, confirmed the facility serves this specific population.
The site operates on a 24-hour schedule with staff from the Coastal Community Action Program. These peer mentors have lived experience with incarceration. They manage transportation from the jail to the Vancouver site. They also help new arrivals connect with permanent housing and substance use treatment.
Jennifer Sumait, the reentry program manager for the Coastal Community Action Program, discussed the program's operations. She and Lookingbill detailed how the mentors guide residents through the reentry process. The program relies on these mentors to bridge the gap between custody and independent living.
The facility opened in August. It is currently active. The next step in the program involves connecting residents to long-term services. The program remains voluntary for eligible inmates.
