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

The City of Spokane has been awarded Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds by the U.S. Treasury. Spokane City Council has approved to award these funds to three agencies to support City of Spokane residents. On Tuesday, June 1 at 8 a.m., applications will be available for these programs through Family Promise of Spokane, The Carl Maxey Center, and LiveStories.

Households must meet all four of the initial screening criteria to be eligible for rental assistance:

• Someone in the household has qualified for unemployment or experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• You have current housing instability or risk of housing instability, which may include unpaid rental fees or anticipation of inability to pay future rent.
• Your household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income
• Your household resides within the City of Spokane boundaries

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.

Tenant applications for these programs through Family Promise of Spokane, The Carl Maxey Center and LiveStories is now open. Below is additional information for tenants from each of the partner agencies.

• City of Spokane Rental Assistance Program powered by LiveStories accommodates any household located within City boundaries. This emergency rental assistance program is intended for those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Funds are available for past due, current due, future rent and utilities.
• Family Promise of Spokane accommodates households with minor children and will provide financial assistance to families impacted by COVID-19 to prevent them from experiencing homelessness.
• The Carl Maxey Center has experienced an extremely high volume of applications and has paused the application process. Once current applications are reviewed and if additional funds become available, applications could reopen.
• City of Spokane Rental Assistance Program for Landlords application available for landlords to receive funds for resident rent assistance.

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

Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

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.

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.