SPOKANE, Wash. – Mayor Lisa Brown announced additional funding for inclement weather sheltering.
In a press release, the Mayor’s office stated that Brown has allocated a one-time increase of $800,000 to the existing $250,000 set aside by the Spokane City Council for this purpose. The funds come from the City of Spokane’s 1590 HEART Fund, which is financed by a sales and use tax designated for affordable and supportive housing.
On Sept. 23, the Spokane City Council said they passed Special Budget Ordinance 36572, allocating $11.8 million to the Community, Housing, and Human Services Department (CHHS) for affordable housing projects. CHHS recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for affordable housing services using the eligible 1590 HEART funds and the City’s HOME ARP funds. The RFP received eight eligible proposals, all fully funded, leaving $800,000 unallocated.
“I previously acknowledged the challenges caused by the inadequate funding set aside for inclement weather sheltering. My team has worked hard to address these gaps and put forward solutions that will provide more effective and reliable shelter when it is needed most,” Mayor Lisa Brown said.
After consulting with Council members, stakeholders, and housing providers, the Brown Administration plans to use these funds to add inclement weather beds at five sites across Spokane. These contracts will start on Nov. 1 and will last until Dec. 31, 2025.
With this funding, the City said they will provide 133 surge beds for 143 nights at The Way Out Shelter, Hope House, House of Charity, Revive, and the Salvation Army’s Family Emergency Shelter.
“Longterm, the local housing dollars are an investment in building the new affordable units we need in Spokane. Short term, we need to do everything we can to prevent people from dying this winter,” said Daniel Roberts of the West Central Abbey and member of the Spokane Alliance team that supported City leaders in creating the 1590 HEART Fund. “I’m glad to see that the City is taking steps to make sure we have more robust inclement weather plans this year. We look forward to being part of the ongoing conversation to make sure that our local housing dollars go as far as possible.”
