Erin Hut, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Friday, January 5, 2024 at 4:22 p.m.
In light of the impending weather emergency, Mayor Lisa Brown has issued the following statement:
“Snow and frigid temperatures are in the forecast, which requires a swift response from my administration to ensure the safety of all people in our community.
“Today, I gathered an internal city team to begin evaluating the process of reporting shelter availability and triggering warming centers in emergency situations. My team has already identified flaws in the current system which will be evaluated and reformed.
“In the meantime, we are moving forward with a plan to respond to the upcoming weather emergency. We are discussing surge capacity with existing providers and are in discussions with people in the nonprofit and faith communities about their ability to contribute additional beds and services. I have also directed my team to explore the possibility of temporarily opening the Cannon Street Shelter during the upcoming cold snap.
“Fixing this system and exploring regional coordination are priorities of mine and will come in time, but for now, we must focus on protecting lives.”
