Spokane Municipal Code

Title 18 Human Rights

Chapter 18.05 HOME Starts Here Initiative

Section 18.05.070 Findings, Purpose, and Intent

1. The City of Spokane finds that population growth and the demand to live in the city of Spokane, along with decades of underbuilding and restrictive land use and zoning practices, have led to a housing affordability crisis.

2. The City of Spokane also finds that underlying historical injustices deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an unprecedented number of individuals facing behavioral health crises, economic insecurity, and barriers to housing and employment. Housing stability is fundamental to ensuring economic security and community safety.

3. The City of Spokane recognizes that each person at risk of homelessness or suffering from homelessness requires a targeted and comprehensive response that ultimately leads to an exit from the homeless crisis response system to housing stability.

4. The City of Spokane, through its limited powers enumerated in the Washington State Constitution and Washington state law, executes a comprehensive cross-sector/cross-agency, data-driven, and evidence-based regional approach to achieve housing stability, reduce and prevent homelessness, and ensure public health and safety:

5. The City of Spokane finds that achieving the following key goals will improve housing stability and economic security, prevent residents from becoming homeless, and reduce the number of individuals currently suffering from homelessness:

1. 1. Reducing the number of Spokane residents who are housing cost-burdened or severely cost-burdened;

1. 2. Growing the median household income to increase financial stability for all residents, especially ALICE households and those below the federal poverty line;

1. 3. Adding new housing units to the city’s housing supply at all income levels, with an expansion of affordable housing options for the community’s growing senior population and residents with disabilities;

1. 4. Expanding the city’s homeownership rate, with a specific emphasis on increasing homeownership rates for people of color who have disproportionately been denied access to home mortgage financing and other homeownership opportunities; and

1. 5. Increasing the percentage of the city’s population with health insurance to improve access to healthcare, including behavioral health and substance use treatment services.

 

Date Passed: Monday, June 16, 2025

Effective Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025

ORD C36691 Section 3