Help is Available

The impacts of the measures that have been instituted to help slow the spread of COVID-19 have created a hardships and the City continues to provide information and connect residents to available resources.

Rent Assistance

Rent and utility assistance is now available for eligible tenants and landlords, funded with U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance dollars allocated by Spokane County and administered by Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP). Translation services, eligibility guidelines, documentation requirements and instructions on how to apply can be found on the SNAP website.

Utility Assistance

To help residents, the City has suspended late fees and water shut-offs for non-payment of City utility bills. Avista has announced that it is suspending power utility shut-offs during this time as well. Residents can seek financial help with their energy bills and their City utility bills by calling SNAP at 456-SNAP.

Below is a list of additional resources:

• Washington State Department of Financial Institutions - guide for families who need financial assistance
• Washington State Employment Security Department - information regarding employment assistance
• Spokane Housing Authority - information regarding housing assistance
• The Fig Tree - resource guide for community support and necessities

CARES Act Funding Information

The City of Spokane received $9.9 million from the state of Washington to fund necessary responses to the impacts of COVID-19. City Council asked citizens in a community survey to weigh in on their priorities. You can review how the community has been supported through these emergency response efforts by visiting the CARES Act Funding page.