Jeff Humphrey, Media Manager, 509.625.6308
Friday, May 6, 2022 at 2:35 p.m.
A Spokane man wants to share how the region’s new bridge housing program allowed him to exit homelessness.
“It feels good to finally have a place I can call home. Never be homeless again, and just be independent the rest of my life,” said Kris Brewer, from his new digs at the Ridpath Club Apartments.
Spokane’s mayor recently invited Brewer to the State of the City Address where Brewer was honored for his hard work escaping homelessness.
“You’ve got to put in the effort. You’ve got to put in the work. You’ve got to put in the energy, just to get to where you want to go,” emphasized Brewer.
Brewer credits the help he received at the Way Out Center for removing the barriers that had trapped Brewer in a life on Spokane’s streets for almost three years.
“I heard about the Way Out Center from one of the staff members here. They told me they had openings. I applied, I got in,” recalled Brewer.
Brewer found the Salvation Army staff had created an atmosphere at the The Way Out Center that was very different from other shelters.
“It’s clean, it’s stable, it’s safe. You can leave your stuff and not worry about it being stolen. You don’t have to carry around your backpack, and all your belonging on your shoulders, like it’s a ball and chain. You can actually go out and get a job and do what you need to do to succeed,” Brewer said of The Way Out Center.
Brewer says The Way Out Center brought all of the resources he needed together, under one roof.
“Basically, within seven days, get everybody on the same page, so that we know where you’re trying to go, how to succeed, how we can help you to succeed, so that, you’re not ever in a homeless shelter again,” explained Brewer.
Brewer has compiled a short list of what he thinks the Spokane region should be doing to help other people escape homelessness.
“So, respect, sleep, shelter, being able to shower. Show compassion. Show compassion to the to the homeless people. Hopefully, if they get treated right, they will treat our city right. They won’t litter, they won’t trash where they stay at. In fact, they may seek lower barrier shelters,” Brewer predicted.
However, Brewer also thinks people experiencing homeless need to assume the responsibility of finding their own path to a better life.
“And that’s another thing, you need a plan. Come up with a plan. Put in the hard work and you’ll get so many results, you know, you’ll get where I’m at and, maybe even better. Just work on going through the programs. Doing what you have to do to get off the streets,” Brewer advised.
