Spokane: Shelter Audit Points Toward Scattered Site Model
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~ Spokane's Homeless Shelter System to Transition to Smaller, Scattered Sites, According to Audit

An audit of Spokane's homeless shelter system has revealed the need for a shift from a large congregate shelter model to smaller, scattered sites. The audit was conducted as part of Mayor Lisa Brown's transition committees' efforts to better understand the city's shelters, capacity, and resources.

The audit included shelter tours, feedback from providers, community members, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness. It also involved surveys from community and neighborhood councils. Mayor Brown expressed the importance of this collaborative approach in shaping a cost-effective and relationship-based system to assist individuals towards housing.

One of the main reasons for transitioning to scattered sites is to alleviate concerns about having a single large shelter in one neighborhood and "warehousing individuals." Last winter, churches were utilized as small shelter sites during a cold snap as part of a pilot project. The success of this pilot has led the city to move forward with a request for proposals for scattered sites with 20-30 beds. The request will be issued soon.

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The Trent Resource and Assistance Center (TRAC), which currently serves as the city's main homeless shelter, will gradually be decommissioned by the end of September under a tentative timeline. However, it may still be used during hazardous weather events as the lease signed by the previous administration expires in 2025. To assist with this transition out of TRAC, the state Legislature has appropriated $4 million. An additional $1 million has been allocated for coordinating street medicine outreach.

Other recommendations from the audit include piloting a navigation center and selecting an operator to improve coordination and facilitate people towards proper services. This center would provide emergency shelter beds for a limited number of individuals and help them transition into more permanent housing within 30 days.

The city also plans on hiring an organization to navigate and coordinate site and housing type identification for individuals, transportation, and street outreach. The audit also highlighted the need to address system gaps such as medical detox and care, hospice care, jail-exiting housing, and long-term assisted-living beds after treatment. This will be done by leveraging partnerships with churches, community centers, counselors, street medicine teams, transportation services, and other organizations.

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To prevent daily disruptions for those served and neighborhoods, the 24/7 emergency shelter model will be prioritized. Additionally, a data dashboard will be developed to improve coordination of services.

A presentation detailing the full audit will be given during Monday's City Council Urban Experience Committee meeting at 1:15 p.m. The community shelter recommendations can also be found on the city's website.

Overall, the audit has provided valuable insights into Spokane's homeless shelter system and has laid out a plan for a more effective and compassionate approach towards addressing homelessness in the city.

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