SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Valley City Council approved a contract with Frontier Behavioral Health Tuesday.
The new agreement with Frontier will facilitate homeless outreach services after the city’s Interim Homeless and Housing Task Force determined the need for additional resources to assist unhoused people.
Members of the taskforce, which included City Services Administrator Gloria Mantz and Housing and Homeless Coordinator Eric Robison, testified in support of the contract during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
A bid for the contract offered by the Salvation Army was rejected by the Interim Task Force.
“Salvation Army does a lot of great things in the community…but in terms of street outreach and the needs we’re experiencing on the street on a daily basis Frontier is unique in that it brings a behavioral health unit,” Robison said.
Spokane Valley Police Department Homeless Outreach Deputy Josh Pratt, who served on the taskforce, said that Frontier remains in contact with formerly homeless people after they receive housing to make sure they can maintain their housing situation.
“Frontier follows-up for a year after they’re housed,” Pratt said.
The city council approved a Homeless Action Plan in late 2023 which directed the interim task force to offer funding recommendations for 2024. Every council member besides Councilmember Al Merkel voted for the contract, which passed with 6 affirmative votes.
