Council unanimously approves use of reserves for half
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 625.6740
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 1:41 p.m.
The City of Spokane has committed an additional $510,000 to resume an important component of the 24/7 homeless shelter system pilot that was disrupted last month.
Nearly half of the money to provide 24/7 shelter space for men and additional space for women through the end of the year will come from a special budget ordinance unanimously approved by the City Council that moves $250,000 from previously unappropriated reserves. The remainder will come from other General Fund sources, mostly using money for the recent sale of property that will be redirected from other planned uses.
“This 24/7 housing model is crucial for us as a city to solve our homelessness challenge, along with housing first strategies,” City Council President Ben Stuckart said. “We can do more.”
The city has contributed $602,694 to the 24/7 shelter system pilot to date this year and $173,626 during the last two months of 2016. The 2018 budget will propose nearly $1.1 million in total funding for the 24/7 shelter system, which includes a one-time, $173,000 contribution from Providence Health Care.
“The city is investing in safe, temporary housing that connects people to services, including permanent supportive housing options, through a coordinated entry system,” Mayor David Condon said. “We are taking lessons learned from the pilot phase to improve how we do this.”
The city is finalizing contract details with the House of Charity to provide shelter services for men and women as part of the complete 24/7 system. Under the agreement, the city would pay $510,000 for the service.
Currently, Family Promise operates a 24/7 shelter for families. Hope House and Women’s Hearth provide overnight and day services for women, respectively, and Crosswalk provides 24/7 services for teens. The city is a little more than halfway through an aggressive push to house 100 homeless youths in 100 days. So far, the initiative has found housing for 46 youths.
House of Charity provided 24/7 shelter services for men and women as part of the pilot program, but discontinued it in May. Re-establishing that program is expected to be done in steps beginning with sheltering women on July 1. Full implementation is expected by mid-July.
The city will issue a request for proposals next year for a five-year contract to operate the 24/7 shelter system beginning in 2019.
“The City of Spokane is stepping up.” said Council Member Lori Kinnear. “This gives us time to come up with long-term solutions in coordination with our other community partners.”
