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.
Proclamation: The City of Spokane’s rent assistance program is currently operational per Proclamation 21-09.
The rent assistance programs funded by the U.S. Treasury are experiencing very high demand. LiveStories, The Carl Maxey Center and Family Promise of Spokane were contracted to process applications based on the priorities indicated below.
Households must meet all four of the initial screening criteria to be eligible for rental and/or utility assistance:
Priority will be given to households with income at or below 50% Area Median Income or with one or more individuals who are unemployed and have been unemployed for 90 days before application date.
LiveStories accommodates all eligible City tenants. UPDATE: As of 1/21/22, LiveStories will not be accepting additional applications. Applications submitted prior to 1/21/22 will continue to be reviewed and processed.
Family Promise of Spokane accepts applications for eligible households with minor children. UPDATE: As of 1/21/22, Family Promise will not be accepting additional applications. Applications submitted prior to 1/21/22 will continue to be reviewed and processed.
The Carl Maxey Center accepts applications from eligible households within the African American community.
*ERA 1.0 funds fully exhausted
| Amount paid out: Rent: | $5,958,675.00 |
| Amount paid out: Utilities: | $275,715.00 |
| Number of Households who received assistance: | 992 |
| Average number of months assistance provided: | 7.0 |
| T-RAP 1.0 | T-RAP 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid out: Rent: | $7,064,940.00 | $1,870,154.00 |
| Amount paid out: Utilities: | $544,002.00 | $98,535.10 |
| Number of Households who received assistance: | 1140 | 339 |
| Average number of months assistance provided: | 7.5 | 6.6 |
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. Utility Billing can also provide repayment arrangements for our customers who apply and qualify.
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
Residents who are in need of financial assistance for paying City utilities can contact SNAP by calling 456-SNAP. Assistance can be applied to current and past-due charges up to $2,500 and applications are subject to review for basic program requirements.
U-Help Assistance
The City of Spokane's U-Help program provides low-income households with one-time emergency financial assistance to help pay for their City utility bills, which includes charges for water, wastewater, stormwater, and garbage collection. Applications are subject to review for basic program requirements and benefit amount is a one-time limit of $141 per year.
Below is a list of additional resources:
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is open to households that participate in an existing low-income or pandemic relief program offered by a broadband provider; Lifeline subscribers, including those that are on Medicaid or accept SNAP benefits; households with kids receiving free and reduced-price lunch or school breakfast; Pell grant recipients; and those who have lost jobs and seen their income reduced in the last year.
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.
To report non-compliance of Governors "Stay Home Stay Healthy" order, please email concerns to InlandBizCompliance@spokanecounty.org or call 509-477-2684.
Please provide the business name, address, if available, and your contact information in the event follow-up is needed. Your report will be directed to the appropriate law enforcement agency in Spokane County. More info.
