Erin Hut, Communications Director, ehut@spokanecity.org
Monday, April 20, 2026 at 12:05 p.m.
The City of Spokane Community and Economic Development Division will introduce a proposal at Monday’s Urban Experience Committee meeting to approve funding for affordable housing projects within the West Quadrant Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.
A TIF district is a key economic development tool designed to support public infrastructure and neighborhood revitalization. These districts work by directing extra property tax revenue generated from new developments, like Kendall Yards, toward public projects in bordering neighborhoods.
The proposed resolution would direct $1.2 million in West Quadrant TIF District funding to Habitat for Humanity to rehabilitate and update up to seven permanently affordable housing projects in the West Central neighborhood.
“We’ve seen firsthand how this partnership can transform lives and stabilize blocks in West Central. Working alongside the City of Spokane and the Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee, Habitat has helped turn distressed properties into permanently affordable homeownership opportunities that strengthen neighborhoods and support low-income families. We hope to continue this powerful work,” said Habitat for Humanity CEO Michelle Girardot.
“TIF funding is a creative and forward-thinking tool that allows us to reinvest in our neighborhoods. By directing these funds into permanently affordable housing, we will ensure the benefits of revitalization are shared, creating inclusive communities where people can afford to live for years to come,” Mayor Lisa Brown said.
TIF funding is traditionally used to finance public infrastructure like street, water, sewer, and park improvements. In 2020, the Washington State Legislature passed legislation adding “permanently affordable housing” to the list of uses for TIF districts. This law was championed by former City Council President Breean Beggs and state lawmakers from Spokane.
“As we know, the demand for affordable housing in Spokane is urgent,” said Council Member Kitty Klitzke. “We have an opportunity to approve $1.2 million from the West Quadrant TIF to support Habitat for Humanity in rehabilitating seven homes. Providing these rehabbed homes for seven families is a significant step toward addressing the affordable housing crisis for our residents. I am also proud that the West Central Neighborhood has been accommodating and supportive of programs like this, welcoming diverse housing options for a diverse range of households. I look forward to the Council's support for this proposal.”
The Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee for the West Quadrant TIF, which provides input to the City when it contemplates issuing TIF funds, unanimously supported the investment, forwarding the proposal to the City Council for consideration.
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