Julie Happy, 509.625.7773
Monday, April 15, 2019 at 2:19 p.m.
Area agency providers, elected officials, and the community, all came together today to officially open The Spokane Resource Center, A HUD EnVision Center. The Spokane Resource Center will open its doors beginning, Tuesday, April 16, to provide a collaborative approach with wrap around services for those needing help with housing, cultural resources, finance, legal, pre-employment, legal aid/justice, health, and basic needs services. The resource center focuses on addressing clients’ needs in a smooth and coordinated fashion. Area providers have come together to provide a wide range of necessary services with the intent of keeping those in need housed by helping find needed resources.
The EnVision Centers demonstration is premised on the notion that financial support alone is insufficient to solve the problem of poverty. Intentional and collective efforts across a diverse set of organizations are needed to implement a holistic approach to foster long-lasting self-sufficiency. EnVision Centers will provide communities with a centralized hub for support in the following four pillars: (1) Economic Empowerment, (2) Educational Advancement, (3) Health and Wellness, and (4) Character and Leadership.
“This is a great opportunity for those who are one paycheck or life crisis away from experiencing homelessness to find the necessary resources they need in one location, delivered by results-driven partnerships,” said Mayor David Condon. “The Resource Center has services that can help sustain and educate an individual as they work through a difficult time such as a divorce or a loss of employment, keeping them healthy, safe, and in their home until they are able to get back on their feet.”
This personalized service connects individuals who visit the center with staff members and assist them with their intake process, identifying their most critical needs. These needs will be addressed in a collaborative way with provider teams working together to find the best services for each individual person.
“The Spokane Resource Center is an investment in America’s most important resource—our people,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “The Center will offer helpful resources to local residents and promote self-sufficiency among HUD-assisted households. Everyone can achieve their American dream – we just need to create conditions in which people can actualize their potential, and that’s what today’s opening is all about.”
Last year in February, the City chartered a project to establish the Spokane Resource Center Demonstration Site. The EnVision Center designation was granted by the department of Housing and Urban Development in spring 2018 after the City, the Spokane Workforce Council, and the Spokane Housing Authority jointly submitted a letter applying for the designation.
“Over 15 providers have come together to establish the Spokane Resource Center and pilot the concept over the next 18 to 24 months,” said Community Housing and Human Services Director, Kelly Keenan.
The Spokane Resource Center is located at 130 S. Arthur Street in Spokane.
