Mayor Brown Allocates Additional Funds for Severe Weather Shelters
Erin Hutt, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 3:31 p.m.
Mayor Lisa Brown allocated a one-time additional $800,000 on top of the existing $250,000 set aside by the Spokane City Council for severe weather evacuations.
These funds come from the City of Spokane’s 1590 HEART Fund. Money collected from sales and use taxes must go toward affordable housing and supportive housing services.
The Spokane City Council passed Special Budget Ordinance 36572 on September 23, allocating $11.8 million to the Department of Community, Housing, and Human Services (CHHS) to be utilized for affordable housing capital and service projects. In the spring, CHHS issued a request for proposals (RFP) to competitively bid affordable housing services projects using 1590 HEART funds and eligible portions of the city’s HOME ARP funds. The RFP received eight qualified proposals, all of which were fully funded, leaving $800,000 unallocated.
After consultation with council members, stakeholders, and housing providers, the Brown administration will use these funds to begin small contracts to install additional weather floors in five locations across Spokane. It’s planned. These agreements become effective November 1, 2024 and continue through December 31, 2025.
The city will now be able to fund 133 emergency beds for 143 nights between Wayout Shelter, Hope House, House of Charity, Revive, and the Salvation Army Family Emergency Shelter.
“I have previously recognized the challenge of insufficient funding set aside for severe weather evacuations. My team is working to address these gaps and provide better access when needed most. We have worked hard to propose solutions that provide effective and reliable shelter,” said Mayor Lisa Brown.
“In the long term, local housing funds are an investment in building the new affordable units Spokane needs. In the short term, we are doing everything we can to prevent people from dying this winter.” We need to,” said Daniel Roberts, a member of West Central Abbey. “We are pleased to see the city taking steps to create a stronger severe weather plan this year,” said members of the Spokane Alliance team who assisted city leaders in establishing the 1590 HEART Fund. We look forward to joining the fund and are continuing our discussions to ensure that our local housing funding is used as much as possible.”
