(The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council unanimously approved a modified action plan aimed at assisting and reducing the number of homeless and unhoused persons in the community in a “fiscally responsible and sustainable” manner.
City services manager Gloria Mantz said Tuesday that staff, numerous stakeholders, and the council have been involved in the process since 2021.
The expansive, 57-page document “reflects our values as a city, our unique character,” said council member Laura Padden, who thanked all those who contributed to its development.
The action plan stresses collaboration with a number of agencies and organizations, including area school districts. Councilman Tim Hattenburg noted he recently spoke to a large group of local high school students who said “they were aware (of the plan) and thought it was great.”
The plan will be subject to change as the city moves forward in addressing its provisions, said councilman Arne Woodard, but it now enables Spokane Valley to pursue future funding.
Until this summer, Spokane Valley had been in partnership with Spokane County, the City of Spokane, and a “Continuum of Care” board in overseeing regional efforts to provide funding, outreach, services, and shelter under the state’s Homeless Housing Assistance Act.
But in July, council members approved a resolution to establish a local homeless housing program. That enables the city to solely receive its share of revenue from a surcharge fee on real estate transactions recorded with the county auditor’s office. In 2024, it’s estimated Spokane Valley will receive $640,000 from recording fees for HHAA services.
To qualify for HHAA monies, local governments must provide a five-year plan to the Washington Department of Commerce that outlines current conditions, strategies, and responsibilities. The department’s current five-year plan cycle continues through the end of next year, when updates will be required for 2025-29.
In October, council members approved use an existing-but-modified regional plan into next year while a newly formed local task force prepares Spokane Valley’s own five-year strategic plan.
By federal definition, an estimated 100 and 120 individuals in the community are considered “literally homeless” at any given time, said Mantz. She said the number goes higher when considering children without primary night-time residences. Spokane Valley schools estimate approximately 700 students could be considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act.
In its plan, the city says it will support community partners – including nonprofit groups and local churches — but it will not endeavor to own or manage any facilities or services.
In the near term, the document calls for addressing emergency shelter and hoteling services, a day drop-in center, transitional parking and camping locations to reduce illegal encampments, pet boarding and vehicle storage, and youth and family services. In October, the council earmarked $150,000 to fund the city’s homeless outreach team for six months and some local shelter beds for women and men.
Also this year, the council allocated nearly $4 million in federal American Rescue Plan monies to several organizations, including Reclaim Project, Family Promise of Spokane, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, and Habitat for Humanity/Spokane. Projects led by those groups include transitional housing for homeless men and families, planning and fundraising toward a new youth shelter/program called Crosswalk 2.0, and assistance to Habitat for Humanity for individuals and families who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage but can contribute “sweat equity” in various roles.
Future long-term strategies include employment support, rental or mortgage payment assistance, development of senior and assisted living housing, a housing crisis hotline, providing vouchers through the Spokane Housing Authority, and support of hotel/motel conversions into long-term tenant units.
The city said it is also committed to cleaning up homeless encampments and trash on city-owned properties, with citizens able to report any concerns through a web portal.
Along with many community residents, input on the plan was received from 15 stakeholders including local police, state parks, the City of Spokane’s homeless services staff and low-income housing consortium, Volunteers of America, Family Promise, Goodwill Industries, League of Women Voters, Family Promise, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners, and more.
