(The Center Square) – Following the deferral of multiple ordinances related to homelessness, the City of Spokane has announced a series of roundtable discussions to solicit community feedback starting next week.
The announcement followed a string of conversations and policy proposals geared toward mitigating the crisis. While there is some common ground among city council members, there’s still a divide over how to approach the issue of homelessness.
Rather than handle the ordinances individually, the majority of the council decided to defer the legislation to garner more feedback. The council will host its first roundtable discussion over the ordinances on Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Spokane’s Central Library near City Hall.
“As a City, our issues are complex so the solutions will be just as complex,” Council President Betsy Wilkerson wrote in a news release on Thursday. “Therefore, it is important to hear from the community to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to address homelessness.”
The housing crisis is often the center of the council’s conversations, with much of the community also chiming in. However, many are still frustrated with the apparent lack of enforcement regarding illegal camping, while others criticize attempts to criminalize a vulnerable population.
The council intends to comprehensively review its related policies through the roundtables before holding an open forum later. At that time, the officials will consider the feedback and suggestions to formulate a more informed approach.
Individuals and stakeholders can take a survey to participate in the preliminary steps. The council hopes it will help them better understand the differing perspectives of its businesses, service providers, faith-based organizations and those with lived experiences.
“The solution to homelessness requires input from stakeholders in the community, as well as from individuals who are currently or have experienced homelessness,” Councilmember Zack Zappone wrote in the release. “As the Council collaborates with the Administration, we aim to ensure that our approach is not just a temporary fix but a deep-rooted healing, reconstruction, and revitalization of our efforts to build a strong and resilient community.”
The first roundtable will take place on Sept. 10, but the city will host subsequent discussions every three weeks.