Erin Hut, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Monday, October 14, 2024 at 9:49 a.m.
In preparation for the winter season, the City of Spokane is detailing its plan to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable residents during inclement weather.
The Community, Housing and Human Services (CHHS) Department is provided $250,000 annually to address all weather events requiring sheltering, including cold, heat and smoke.
In order to be compliant with the both the SMC and to operate within the budget, the Brown Administration has proposed a new, long-term, approach to inclement weather sheltering. Funding required for standing up new shelter centers for emergent weather is not viable as the costs of facilities and newly dedicated staff and operations are expensive.
The Brown Administration is instead expanding capacity in existing programs to be cost-effective, draw upon local partner expertise, and prioritize partnerships with providers that can:
CHHS presented this plan to the City Council, as well as the Homeless Coalition, Continuum of Care and CHHS Board in September. A Request for Information (RFI) was issued by both the City of Spokane and Spokane County, with feedback provided in early October. Respondents to the City’s RFI identified 357 surge beds across six sites. This is in addition to 1,000 existing shelter beds, 30 Navigation Center beds, and 100 scattered site beds.
Following the RFI, a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued. Minor contracts to respondents are being issued over the next two weeks with those taking effect November 1. These contracts will be in place through December 2025.
The Brown Administration believes additional funding is required to increase capacity and meet the needs of those living unsheltered during extreme weather, and will be proposing an increase in the 2025-2026 biennial budget.
“True preparedness means planning ahead for the safety and dignity of our unsheltered neighbors, not scrambling to react to weather crises that we know come every year. By taking a holistic approach to the inclement weather plan, we are building a sustainable system and coordinating with various service providers to be ready to go when the cold, heat and smoke arrive,” Mayor Lisa Brown said.
“On behalf of Catholic Charities, we would like to extend our support and recognition of the City of Spokane’s commitment to providing vital inclement weather beds for the 2024/2025 season,” said Sharon Stadelman, Chief Crisis & Shelter Officer for Catholic Charities. “We recognize the need for such services far exceeds available funding and resources, and are grateful to see the city prioritizing these efforts. Providing long-term solutions for our community's most vulnerable members during inclement weather is critical, and we hope that future allocations can expand to meet the growing needs of those who rely on these essential services to survive. We remain eager to collaborate and support these efforts.
