Vancouver Comprehensive plan update
Vancouver, WA / ONGOING
OVERVIEW
Seva Workshop is leading an Equity Analysis for the City of Vancouver’s Comprehensive Plan update. Our approach uses GIS and census data to document economic and racial inequities in land use, housing, transportation, economic development, as well as access to quality schools, parks, and services.
The final Equity Analysis includes a context and conditions analysis that identifies communities who have been historically underserved and which communities are most vulnerable to displacement and policy changes. These communities should be prioritized in future planning to address past and ongoing inequities.
A group of paid volunteers representing the affected communities will use the Equity Analysis to refine elements of Vancouver’s updated 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
PLANNING FOR A GROWING CITY
Vancouver is a growing city of an estimated 188,331 individuals (2021) in Clark County of Southwest Washington. Growth has been especially rapid in the latter half of the last decade when the population increased by 11%, compared to the first half when it grew by 5%. The proportion of residents who are people of color (POC) has also grown: In 2021, just over 30% of the population was POC compared to 23% a decade earlier. Seva’s Equity Analysis will help ensure that the 2045 Comprehensive Plan takes an equitable approach to accommodating this growth through the Plan’s long-term vision as well as specific policy direction for managing the city’s built and natural environment.
Extreme rates (over 50%) of early childhood poverty are found in a few neighborhoods within city boundaries, including Bagley Downs and Meadow Homes and southeast.
Children under 5 in poverty, by tract
Source: American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2017-2021
Over 15% of resident households are living below the federal poverty line.
Household income
Source: American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2017-2021
The median income in Vancouver varies greatly according to the race of the householder.
Household income, by race and Hispanic/Latine origin of householder compared to overall median
Source: American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2017-2021
Note: A value of 0 indicates the median value for that group equals the median value of all of Vancouver
Nearly half (46%) of Vancouver’s renting households are cost burdened, with 20% severely cost burdened.
Owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing cost burden
Source: CHAS (Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy) dataset based on the American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2015-2019
Housing cost burden by race
Source: CHAS (Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy) dataset based on the American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2015-2019
Asian residents are disproportionately likely to live in detached single family housing. Black, Hispanic and Latine, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and those of two or more races are more likely to live in multifamily housing.
Housing units by race, 2011 to 2021
Source: American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2017-2021
The likelihood of using public transportation to go to work decreases as income inreases.
Indexed means of transportation to work for workers aged 16 and over, by earnings in the last 12 months
Source: American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2017-2021
Note: A value of 0 indicates the share of that group using that means of transportation is equal to their share in the overall population.
The likelihood of using public transportation to go to work is higher among people of color.
Indexed means of transportation to work for workers aged 16 and over, by race and ethnicity in the last 12 months
Source: American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2017-2021
Note: A value of 0 indicates the share of that group using that means of transportation is equal to their share in the overall population.