This article originally appeared in The Columbian on June 24, 2026.
Financial coaching is often overlooked when discussing homeless services. But at Vancouver’s Safe Stay communities, residents are learning critical skills that will help them transition to permanent housing.
Financial literacy in the United States remains critically low, with nearly half of American adults lacking knowledge of basic concepts such as budgeting and saving. Yet, every month at some of Vancouver’s Safe Stay communities, bankers from Washington Trust Bank of Vancouver try to reverse that trend — sitting down with residents to discuss all things finance, from banking access to budgeting on fixed incomes.
The discussions aim to equip the residents — who are exiting homelessness and taking steps toward permanent housing — with the skills to sustain long-term stability and take control of their finances.
“Without a physical address, they can’t have a bank account, and without a bank account, some of these residents don’t have access to benefits or back pay. It can be a vicious cycle.”
Dani reyes
Senior Branch Manager
Read the full article in the in The Columbian.