My Bio
Candidate Bio: Derek O. Thompson for Vancouver City Council
Campaign Slogan: When the Citizens Thrive, the City Thrives as Well.
For the past 13 years, Vancouver has been my cherished home. I’ve witnessed its transformation from a close-knit town into a vibrant city, and I am running for City Council to ensure our growth is guided by thoughtful, compassionate leadership that serves every resident. My belief is simple: when the citizens thrive, the city thrives as well.
My journey in Vancouver began as a cosmetologist, a profession that taught me the power of connection and encouragement. This led me to found HANDS of Favor in 2013, a non-profit dedicated to serving our most vulnerable. For seven years, we provided free haircuts and grooming services to the homeless and underserved, building partnerships with 24 organizations across four counties, including Open House Ministries and Project Homeless Connect. Through this work, I had the privilege of listening to countless stories and directly touching the lives of over 20,000 people. This experience gave me a deep, first-hand understanding of the challenges facing our community.
I am running for City Council because my practical experience and compassionate approach are what Vancouver needs now. My priorities are focused on the well-being of all our citizens:
- Ending Homelessness with Sustainable Solutions: I have seen firsthand that temporary fixes are not enough. I will champion evidence-based, compassionate solutions and advocate for responsible funding to help individuals reintegrate into our community.
- Strengthening Public Safety and Community Trust: Vancouver residents deserve to feel safe. I will be a strong advocate for a fully funded police force, while also supporting comprehensive mental health and addiction services to foster positive relationships and guide people back to productive lives.
- Addressing Our Mental Health Crisis: We have a burgeoning mental health problem that must be addressed and fixed. I will work with local health organizations and community partners to expand access to affordable mental healthcare, ensuring our residents have the support they need to thrive.
- Supporting Our Veterans: It is our duty to support the men and women who have served our country. I am committed to developing innovative solutions to ensure our veterans receive the assistance they need and deserve.
- Cultivating Educational Excellence: A strong city is built on a strong educational foundation. I will work collaboratively with our schools and parents to ensure safe and nurturing learning environments that produce responsible students.
- Fostering Responsible Growth: We must manage our city's growth with foresight and equity. I will work to invest in infrastructure, protect our green spaces, champion small businesses, and address the critical need for affordable and sustainable housing.
My time with HANDS of Favor taught me the power of collaboration and unwavering dedication. I am prepared to work diligently with my fellow council members, city staff, and, most importantly, the residents of Vancouver, to bring about tangible, positive change.
I humbly ask for your trust and your vote for Vancouver City Council. Together, we can build a safer, more compassionate, and more prosperous Vancouver for all.
My Key Issues
Quality of Life
Affordable/sustainable housing
Mental Health
We need compassionate competent remedies and care for this demographic.
Eradicate Homelessness
Individuals experiencing homelessness must take some responsibility for their own path forward. Assistance should be a two-way street, where we provide help, but individuals must be expected to actively participate in their own rehabilitation and reintegration.
Parents need to have a voice in the what and how our children are taught
Student safety and disciplinary issues are a problem that needs attention, as does the support for students with disabilities. Financial instability is a big issue.
Safe Streets
Addressing the safety needs of Vancouver, Washington, involves looking at several key aspects of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), including its funding, staffing, and training.
The Case Against Tolling. Prioritizing People Over Profit
My opposition to the proposed tolling of the new bridge is not a stance against progress, but a stand for the economic well-being of our community. While I fully recognize the urgent need for a new bridge to address our region's critical infrastructure challenges, traffic congestion, safety deficiencies, and seismic vulnerabilities, I cannot support a funding mechanism that places an undue burden on our working families. The Economic Realities of Our Commuters The economic realities facing many of our residents are stark. Many families in Vancouver are already struggling to make ends meet, balancing the high cost of housing, utilities. and groceries. Adding a significant toll potentially costing commuters hundreds, if not over $1000 annually, would create an insurmountable obstacle for those simply trying to earn a living. This is not a sustainable or equitable solution. It would effectively tax our most vulnerable residents just for the privilege of getting to work. A Call for Responsible Infrastructure Investment We must pursue a new bridge that is both safe and accessible. The current bridge is an outdated and dangerous relic, lacking the necessary safety features and resilience against natural disasters. We must replace it. However, the solution should not come at their expense of our Community's financial stability. The proposed tolling plan does not align with our values. It's a proposal that would prioritize a fiscal shortcut over the economic security of our citizens. I urge us to find a more responsible, equitable, and sustainable funding model that meets our infrastructure needs without deepening the financial struggles of our hard-working neighbors.
It's Time for a Positive Change
Derek Thompson, candidate for Position 2 “The crisis of homelessness demands a comprehensive, compassionate, and localized strategy that focuses on housing stability, resource coordination, and addressing the root causes,’’ Thompson stated. “My approach would be a shift from managing the crisis to preventing it and rapidly rehousing those in need. The core of this strategy must be a Housing First model. This evidence-based approach prioritizes moving individuals and families into permanent, stable housing without prerequisites like sobriety or employment. Once house support services are provided in the home to address tenancy underlying issues. We need to establish a dedicated and local rapid rehousing fund to cover immediate costs like security deposits, per-month rent, and short-term rental assistance. We need to inventory all city-owned properties and partner with local landlords and churches to increase the pool of available, affordable units. We must streamline the labyrinth of services that are currently available. The duplication of effort is totally inefficient. Coordination is the key. We must implement a coordinated entry system. And this single point of access ensures that every person experiencing homelessness is assessed for need and matched to the most appropriate housing and support resource, eliminating long waiting lists and redundant intake forms. And you can tell me I will create a mobile outreach team as comprised of mental health professionals, substance abuse counselors, and social workers. And their mandate is to build trust, provide on-the-spot aid, and facilitate the transition into housing and treatment. To genuinely solve this homeless problem, we must tackle the economic and systemic factors that push people out of their homes. We must expand eviction and utility assistance programs to intervene before a crisis occurs. Prevention is the most cost-effective solution, and we need to prioritize the development of permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless individuals. and this would combine subsidized housing with indefinite support services, offering long-term stability for those with complex needs. We need to partner with local vocational schools and businesses to offer job training and placement programs specifically targeting individuals with barriers to employment. In summary, a successful local response requires committed funding, radical coordination across service providers, and an unwavering focus on the dignity and stability provided by safe, permanent housing.’’
Send Me a Message
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!