Trending...
- Spokane: Construction Will Impact South Stevens Street - 108
- Kasinohai Audit: Most Slots Could Be Affected by Finland's Draft Gambling Rules
- Why More Phoenix Families Are Turning to Private Autopsy Services for Answers
Kirstin Davis, 509.481.7223
In response to below freezing temperatures and creating safe and healthy space for those experiencing homelessness the regional shelter system is adjusting operations to best meet current needs. Since last week, the regional shelter system activated hoteling as a temporary COVID strategy to use non-congregate sheltering when possible, per CDC guidance during the pandemic. Federal pandemic relief funding was used for that purpose and supplemented with some additional local dollars.
According to the current National Weather Service forecast low temperatures are expected to increase Sunday through Tuesday. The regional shelter system will end the hotel voucher program operated by SNAP for single adults effective today at check-out time. SNAP staff will be on site to assist in transitioning clients. The contract was extended earlier in the week and based on SNAP's staffing capacity and the change in forecasted weather, the contract was set to end today. Families will continue to be served as part of a separate continuing overflow program through Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington.
More on Washingtoner
"The flexibility to utilize hotels has been a unique solution based because of COVID response combined with extreme weather conditions," said Mayor Nadine Woodward. "These adjustments continue to illustrate the knowledge and excellent teamwork of available resources."
City staff is exploring ways to access additional federal funding options and will assess the need to provide additional space as temperatures are expected to drop back below 32 degrees in the next few days. Temporary flexing of existing shelter spaces and removal of barriers to entry within the regional system remains in place. Recent regional shelter system reports indicate available capacity, which includes low-barrier spaces are available for adult men and women. The number of single adults accessing hotel vouchers has steadily declined this week.
Continuous and collaborative communication within the system has increased awareness and demand for resources. Hundreds of additional spaces have been added over the last two weeks and space continue to fluctuate. There have been spaces open and available for use throughout the night. Regional fire and law enforcement agencies have responded daily to a few cases of exposure among the homeless population and no deaths have been attributed to exposure since the worst of the cold weather began February 9th.
More on Washingtoner
Federal funding designated to temporarily cover non-congregate space in accordance with CDC pandemic guidance has covered the cost of hundreds of hotel rooms over the past two weeks as extreme weather patterns have activated additional response required by section 18.05.020 of Spokane Municipal Code. Shelter providers have flexed their spaces to create additional low-barrier space for adults and assisted in transportation to hotels and other available shelter space.
Until this adjustment, federal COVID funds have covered most of the non-congregate hotel space. Additional dollars have come from other homeless funding sources, including the Give Real Change campaign that directs community donations to the orange parking meters and My Spokane 311 team to support homeless resource providers.
The regional partner shelter network is comprised of numerous contract and private providers. Funding for the system is provided by Spokane County, the City of Spokane Valley, and the City of Spokane through local, state, and federal dollars. The Spokane Regional Health District partners on street outreach efforts, wellness checks, and health guidance.
In response to below freezing temperatures and creating safe and healthy space for those experiencing homelessness the regional shelter system is adjusting operations to best meet current needs. Since last week, the regional shelter system activated hoteling as a temporary COVID strategy to use non-congregate sheltering when possible, per CDC guidance during the pandemic. Federal pandemic relief funding was used for that purpose and supplemented with some additional local dollars.
According to the current National Weather Service forecast low temperatures are expected to increase Sunday through Tuesday. The regional shelter system will end the hotel voucher program operated by SNAP for single adults effective today at check-out time. SNAP staff will be on site to assist in transitioning clients. The contract was extended earlier in the week and based on SNAP's staffing capacity and the change in forecasted weather, the contract was set to end today. Families will continue to be served as part of a separate continuing overflow program through Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington.
More on Washingtoner
- Spokane: Behavioral Health Unit Expansion
- Socialhose Launches TikTok Investigator, a Platform for Investigating TikTok Live
- David Pedrol named Managing Director in Indonesia
- AutomationIQ Launches to Bring Enterprise-Grade AI Automation to Local and Mid-Market Businesses
- City of Tacoma Continues Working on 'Roadmap to Recovery'
"The flexibility to utilize hotels has been a unique solution based because of COVID response combined with extreme weather conditions," said Mayor Nadine Woodward. "These adjustments continue to illustrate the knowledge and excellent teamwork of available resources."
City staff is exploring ways to access additional federal funding options and will assess the need to provide additional space as temperatures are expected to drop back below 32 degrees in the next few days. Temporary flexing of existing shelter spaces and removal of barriers to entry within the regional system remains in place. Recent regional shelter system reports indicate available capacity, which includes low-barrier spaces are available for adult men and women. The number of single adults accessing hotel vouchers has steadily declined this week.
Continuous and collaborative communication within the system has increased awareness and demand for resources. Hundreds of additional spaces have been added over the last two weeks and space continue to fluctuate. There have been spaces open and available for use throughout the night. Regional fire and law enforcement agencies have responded daily to a few cases of exposure among the homeless population and no deaths have been attributed to exposure since the worst of the cold weather began February 9th.
More on Washingtoner
- City of Tacoma Awarded $7.6 Million BUILD Grant for Environmental Analysis and Final Design Phase of Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge Replacement Project
- Spokane City Council Legislative Meetings Now Wednesday Evenings
- The Story Tree Literacy Project Seeks Publishers and Librarians to Help Children Become Polyglots
- Discard Junk Removal Named #1 Junk Removal Company in Sacramento Out of 189 Businesses Evaluated
- Spokane: Firefighters Prevent Extension During Fast-Moving House Fire
Federal funding designated to temporarily cover non-congregate space in accordance with CDC pandemic guidance has covered the cost of hundreds of hotel rooms over the past two weeks as extreme weather patterns have activated additional response required by section 18.05.020 of Spokane Municipal Code. Shelter providers have flexed their spaces to create additional low-barrier space for adults and assisted in transportation to hotels and other available shelter space.
Until this adjustment, federal COVID funds have covered most of the non-congregate hotel space. Additional dollars have come from other homeless funding sources, including the Give Real Change campaign that directs community donations to the orange parking meters and My Spokane 311 team to support homeless resource providers.
The regional partner shelter network is comprised of numerous contract and private providers. Funding for the system is provided by Spokane County, the City of Spokane Valley, and the City of Spokane through local, state, and federal dollars. The Spokane Regional Health District partners on street outreach efforts, wellness checks, and health guidance.
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- June Employment Report Reveals Hidden Weakness Beneath Lower Unemployment
- TBM Council Launches 2026 State of Technology Business Management (TBM) Survey
- Tacoma: Planning Commission Seeks Community Feedback on Draft Changes to Off-Street Parking Code
- Spokane: Construction Will Impact South Stevens Street
- Spokane: SPD Participate in High Visibility Enforcement During Hoopfest Weekend
- Kasinohai Audit: Most Slots Could Be Affected by Finland's Draft Gambling Rules
- Why More Phoenix Families Are Turning to Private Autopsy Services for Answers
- City of Tacoma Observes Independence Day
- Make America French Again Launches National Campaign
- AI Researcher Releases Punk Album "You Can't Kill The Signal" In Response To Mythos and Fable Ban
- RAS AP Consulting Expands AP Governance & Automation Practice and Named Finalist for Heidelberg Materials SAP Vendor & Customer Data Project
- Spokane: Domestic Disturbance Call Results in Serious Injury to Dog
- Spokane: Camp Sekani Update 7/1/26
- Spokane: Clocktower Chimes to Ring Once Again
- Tacoma: Regional Coalition to Unveil Draft Commencement Bay Restoration and Resilience Master Plan at Community Open House on July 15
- A Novelist and an Essayist Walk Into a Podcast and Reach the Same Conclusion
- 100+ Episodes In, Liftoff with Keith Newman Tells Founders to Stop Publishing More
- Vierra Communities Adds Operations of Two Skilled Nursing Facilities in the DC Metro Area
- Slotozilla Introduces a Centralized Resource for World Cup Bonus Offers
- Webinar Announcement: Built for Trust: Latitude's 0 to 1 Compliance Playbook for Modern Cross-Border Payments