(The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council awarded Jewels Helping Hands a $1.7 million contract on Monday to operate Mayor Lisa Brown’s scattered-site homeless shelter model through March 2027.
JHH will replace the Waters Meet Foundation, formerly known as Empire Health Foundation, in October as the new operator of the city’s Housing Navigation Center. The project serves as a funnel for the rest of the scattered-site model, which Brown introduced to replace congregate shelters after taking office.
Unlike WMF, JHH will not have the authority to contract with providers to open shelters using city funds.
The navigation center essentially refers individuals to other emergency shelters and services after they complete the intake process. Compassionate Addiction Treatment, or CAT, will collaborate with JHH on the project, but the providers will no longer offer overnight shelter services at the center next month.
“Folks will be right back out on the street,” Councilmember Michael Cathcart said Monday, noting that referrals often take time. “There could be some additional beds at some of our neighborhood scattered site shelters, but that’s not guaranteed, and we haven’t even been presented that plan at this point.”
City officials often point to Houston, Texas – widely recognized for successfully reducing its homeless population – when discussing ways to mitigate homelessness, with some even visiting a similar initiative there in 2021. Cathcart said that Houston was constantly referring people to providers without clogging up the navigation center and reaffirmed his ongoing concerns in Spokane.
He voted against awarding the contract to JHH and CAT with Councilmember Jonathan Bingle. Both of them represent downtown and have taken issue with the prevalence of services in that area. JHH and CAT have overseen some of those, with local business owners also raising concerns over their impact.
JHH Executive Director Julie Garcia previously faced accusations of misusing pandemic relief funds to take her staff to Las Vegas. The council disputed those allegations in 2023, but Garcia’s husband, Jason Green, who acts as the nonprofit’s treasurer, has served time for embezzlement, according to KREM2.
While CAT has since relocated to District 2, Catholic Charities still operates several housing projects in the area, which have led to business owners suing or shutting down entirely. The council also awarded another $1.3 million contract to Catholic Charities on Monday for street outreach through March 2027.
Cathcart cited hope for the best, but said he can’t support policies that stray from his desired impact.
“Having more visible street outreach folks, this is something that we need to continue to strengthen,” Councilmember Paul Dillon said Monday in response to Cathcart, “and I think, really, present back to the community to show what are some of those entry and exit points from contact to housing referral.”
