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Affordable Housing Proposals Approved By City Council

Brian Walker, Communications Manager, 509.655.1387 & Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, 509.625.6226

Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 10:13 a.m.

The City’s Community Housing and Human Services Board received approval on Monday night from the City Council to provide $10 million in funding for 11 projects that would be leveraged by three different sources to help address the housing crisis for low- to moderate-income individuals in Spokane.

The funding will support the construction of new affordable housing units, rehabilitation of existing affordable housing units, and supportive services to maintain housing stability.

Increasing availability of housing of all types, regardless of income level, and addressing homelessness are among Mayor Nadine Woodward’s main administrative priorities.

“You cannot look at homelessness without addressing housing,” Woodward said.

The request for proposals, which was open from May 9 to June 10, combined funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the local Sales and Use Tax for Affordable and Supportive Housing, and the local and state Sales and Use Tax for Housing and Housing-Related Supportive Services. Of the total amount, $6 million is ARPA funds that provide governments resources to respond to the pandemic and its economic effects.

From that request, the CHHS Board recommended the following proposals, applicants, amounts and new units, if applicable:

  • Liberty Park Phase II Expansion, Proclaim Liberty, $4 million, 54 new units;
  • Permanently Affordable Homeownership, Habitat for Humanity, $1.8 million, 10 new units;
  • Canterbury Court Renovation Phase III Completion, St. John’s Properties, $1.2 million, rehabilitation of 54 existing units;
  • Thrive Center International Transitional Housing, Thrive International, $835,000, 123 new units;
  • St. John’s Two Senior Housing, St. John’s Two, $720,000, 40 new units;
  • Volunteers of America Permanent Supportive Housing, Volunteers of America, $621,000;
  • Multilingual Supportive Housing Services for Low-Income Tenants, Tenants Union of Washington State, $324,000;
  • Supportive Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Transitions, $151,562;
  • Increasing Emergency Shelter Capacity to Serve Homeless Youth and Families, Family Promise of Spokane, $150,000;
  • Housing Placement and Services for Domestic Violence Survivors, YWCA, $139,699; and
  • Social Services Coordination for Residents of Subsidized Housing, Liberty Park Community Development Center, $46,800.

Per the RFP, all award recipients must at least match the award amount to receive the funding.

“Today we are investing in affordable housing to meet a critical need that has been many years in the making,” Woodward said. “This funding will help individuals and families find a home and the stability it affords and will infuse dollars into our local economy at the same time.”

CHHS Housing Manager George Dahl said the City is pleased with the response on affordable housing project proposals for these funds.

“Everyone deserves safe and adequate housing, and these projects will subsequently go a long way toward reducing homelessness,” he said.

City Council President Breean Beggs added: "Two years ago, City Council authorized a new revenue stream for affordable housing in Spokane. Today the City is proudly announcing the substantial benefits of that decision in millions of dollars in affordable housing and hundreds of units that will be built in Spokane for those who need them most.”

Target populations for the funding include persons with behavioral health disabilities, veterans, senior citizens, homeless or at-risk of being homeless, persons with disabilities, and domestic violence survivors.

The recommendations were presented to the Council’s Finance and Administration Committee on July 18 and during the Council’s Briefing Session on July 25. They received final approval during the Council’s Legislative Meeting on Monday night.

For more information on Council agenda items, visit https://my.spokanecity.org/citycouncil/meetings/.