Trending...
- Tacoma: Applications Now Being Accepted for three Positions on the Urban Design Board
- Premier Expands Presence with New Bellevue Flexible Workspace Location
- Spokane: City Service Adjustments During Fire Response
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
- Built to Last: Why BSI Is Among the Nation's Fastest-Growing Companies, and One of Its Best Places to Work
- Bent Danholm's The Architecture of Demand Reaches No. 2 in Amazon Real Estate Sales
- Contracting Resources Group Named to Inc. 5000 for the Ninth Time
- ImagineX Named to 2026 Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies
- ASSIST Software Becomes One of the First European Companies Certified to ISO/IEC 42001
"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
- The World's No.1 Superstar® Enters the Occult with New Track and Cinematic Visual "Under Your Spell"
- PricZone Launches Online Shopping Platform Offering Electronics, Gaming, and More
- Heritage at South Brunswick Introduces New Ferndale Floorplan: The Largest Single-Family Home Design in the Community
- Lineus Medical Elevates Leadership to Accelerate Growth After Breakthrough Clinical Results
- Gateway Center Arena Announces Duane Curry as General Manger
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
- Tacoma: Homicide Investigation – 2100 block of N 30th St
- The City's Most Elegant Open-Air Dinner Party Returns September 12, 2026
- Spokane: Incorrect Info Regarding Downgraded Evacuation Status on Popular App
- FDA Clears Major Regulatory Hurdle as Preservative-Free Ketamine Program Moves Within Reach of Commercialization: NRx Pharmaceuticals: (NAS DAQ: NRXP)
- Autonomous Robotics Platform Expansion as Public Market Debut is Very Close: MBody AI Corp. (N A S D A Q: MBAI)
- Tacoma Voters Approve Connect Tacoma: Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy (Proposition 1)
- Loud! OOH calls for prize draw advertising standards as £1.3bn category moves outdoors
- Black Ribbon Productions Launches With Fearless 2026 Horror Slate
- Spokane: Disaster Assistance Center will open Aug 6 at Shadle Park High School
- Actor Dominic Pace Returns to Television and Film
- Avenue Dental Care North Spokane Offers Free Emergency Care to Firefighters
- Opteamix welcomes Girish Ramachandra to its leadership team as Senior Vice President of Client Services
- Silicon Box Ships 500M Units at High Yield, Expands Production Capacity for Panel-Level Packaging
- Statement from Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen on Spokane Wildfires
- Why Baton Rouge's Humid Climate Can Contribute to Carpenter Ant Damage — J&J Exterminating Explains How to Protect Your Home
- RPR Promotes Emily Line to Chief Strategy Officer and Janine Sieja to Chief Product Officer
- Expanding Beyond Space as New Drone Market Opportunities Accelerate Growth: Ascent Solar Technologies (N A S D A Q: ASTI)
- Lauren Merrell, Dale Sorensen Real Estate, announces price improvement for an extraordinary island retreat
- Spokane: Construction Impacts for Freya Street Corridor
- Spokane: City Service Adjustments During Fire Response