An undated picture of Hope Village in Longview, WA. The city will pause operations of the shelter starting Oct. 1, 2025.
Salvation Army Longview
The city of Longview took steps to pause operations of its homeless housing community this month while also tightening restrictions on public camping. The policy changes mark what the city describes as progress in its multi-year effort to reduce unsheltered homelessness.
Starting Oct. 1, operations at Longview’s Hope Village, a 50-unit pallet shelter, will be put on indefinite pause. The remaining 21 individuals living at the shelter are in the process of finding new housing with help from the Longview Police Department’s behavioral help unit.
Meanwhile, the Longview City Council passed Ordinance 3567 earlier this month. The rule makes camping on public property illegal 24 hours per day in the city. Camping on public property was previously allowed in some areas overnight.
In a statement, Longview spokesperson Angela Abel said the changes “represent progress” from a peak of unsheltered homelessness in Longview in recent years.
In 2019, numerous encampments were present in Longview, including in front of the city hall and R.A. Long Memorial Park. Hope Village was established as an alternative housing option in 2022.
But at least one city councilor expressed worry about the elimination of shelters combined with new restrictions on camping during a Sept. 11 city council meeting. Councilor Ruth Kendall voted against the new camping rule, arguing the additional restrictions and the closure of Hope Village should be “decoupled.”
“Where are the people going to go if they can’t camp on public property?” Kendall asked. “Is it going to push people onto private property and cause problems for private property owners?
“Is it going to push people to other cities that don’t have a camping ordinance like Vancouver or Portland?”
Kendall acknowledged there’s been a reduction in unsheltered homelessness in Longview, but cautioned that shelter needs could increase during the cold winter months.
“Things seem to be better right now, but we need to be cautious that they don’t go back to where they were,” she said.
Longview City Councilor Ruth Kendall, left, strolls through Hope Village in May 2023 with case worker Hollie Hillman. The new shelter has been a divisive topic and continues to get support.
Troy Brynelson / OPB
According to Cowlitz County’s point-in-time count, there were 337 people experiencing some form of homelessness in 2024.
Hope Village is operated by the Salvation Army. It has helped approximately 107 individuals transition into some form of housing since it began operating. There are a variety of other shelter options in the region, including Community House and Faithful Servants Transitional Housing, according to Longview Police Chief Robert Huhta.
Those still living at the pallet shelter community have all been offered some kind of housing referral, said Major Phil Smith, the pastor for the Salvation Army of Longview who has been overseeing Hope Village. He added that referrals don’t guarantee everyone will successfully transition to permanent housing.
“They have to be willing to accept the options being offered,” Smith said.
Hope Village costs Longview $1.5 million per year to operate. The city is forecasting a $4 million budget gap in both 2027 and 2028.
The current pause presents a chance to reassess how Longview is providing homeless services and what the community needs, according to Huhta. That could include reopening Hope Village in the future under different management from the Salvation Army.
“I’m trying to implement a plan that focuses on what’s best for Longview and the entire community,” Huhta said. “Including those experiencing homelessness.”
