Spokane: New Specialized Shelter for Women Opening This Week
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~ Spokane, WA - A new specialized shelter for women experiencing homelessness is set to open this week at Knox Presbyterian Church. This partnership between Knox Presbyterian, Jewels Helping Hands, Empire Health Foundation, and the City of Spokane aims to address the pressing need for shelter capacity for women in the community.

The Knox shelter is part of the City's pilot navigation center-specialized shelter model, which includes a total of eight sites. Each site operates on a referral-only basis and can accommodate a maximum of 20 to 30 individuals. These shelters are designed to serve specific populations, from families to those with medical needs or seeking substance use treatment. This approach promotes community cohesion and stability as individuals work towards finding permanent housing.

The Knox site was previously used as a temporary shelter for three months before being transformed into a specialized shelter for women. "We are excited for this shelter to open and serve women experiencing homelessness in our community," said Barbra Bowman, Program Director of the Spokane Community Homelessness Initiative at Empire Health Foundation. "This site and this new shelter model are built on community collaboration, and we're so thankful for all the work being done to serve our unhoused neighbors."

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The reopening of Knox Presbyterian as a specialized shelter is a result of successful collaboration between various organizations and entities. "The only way we are going to see instrumental change is through partnership," stated Mayor Lisa Brown. "This new site is a great example of what can happen when faith communities, service providers, health experts, and the City come together."

Julie Garcia, Founder and Executive Director of Jewels Helping Hands, also expressed her enthusiasm for the new shelter: "The reopening of Knox Presbyterian establishes a vital women's shelter that addresses the unique challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness." She added that this collaboration embodies the success of the specialized model of care which focuses on meeting individual needs and providing tailored support.

With its focus on collaboration and meeting specific needs, the Knox shelter is expected to make a significant impact in the lives of women experiencing homelessness in Spokane. As Mayor Brown stated, "This new site will provide stability to women in our community and connect them with the resources they need for success."

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