SPOKANE, Wash. – City of Spokane contracted four homeless services providers to open additional emergency shelter beds and fund more mobile medication assisted treatment services.
The contracts were designated in from late October, which the City Council ratified with a 6-1 vote on November 10.
On November 26, the City announced the emergency funding would be used to fund a total of 50 shelter beds at sites scattered throughout the city operated by Revive Counseling Service, Jewels Helping Hands, the YWCA and Community, Advocacy and Treatment, known as CAT.
The City’s “Shelter Me Spokane” dashboard has contact information, addresses and bed availability for shelters in the Spokane area. The dashboard also shares whether the shelter is Low Barrier or not.
CAT was contracted to provide mobile medication assisted treatment services using the emergency funding as well, according to the City’s announcement.
The City said contracting out mobile medication assisted treatment services would free up police, the navigation center and street outreach teams to connect people to the services they need.
“As we head into colder weather, it is imperative that we do what we can to keep people safe and sheltered. This emergency declaration was critical in helping the City of Spokane expand emergency shelter capacity and provide needed assistance to those who may be on the brink of becoming homeless,” Mayor Brown said.
“I am deeply grateful to the faith communities and non-profits who are helping us make the most of our scarce resources,” Brown added.
“These additional dollars allow us to meet those urgent needs and remain part of Spokane’s coordinated crisis response for survivors at the highest risk,” said YWCA Director of Housing Jennifer Haynes-Harter. “We deeply appreciate the City’s leadership and collaboration in making sure our most vulnerable community members can reach safety when they need it most.”
The City’s announcement also said around the time of Brown’s emergency declaration, its Community, Housing and Human Services Department started the funding process for eviction prevention efforts.
The result was nearly $3 million in eviction prevention funding awarded to Career Path Services, the Carl Maxey Center, Catholic Charities, KCBA Housing Justice Project, Nuestras Raices, SNAP and Transitions.
