(The Center Square) – The City of Spokane announced on Wednesday that it’s moving a sobering center out of downtown and plans to prop up Mayor Lisa Brown’s scattered site shelter model this fall.
The announcement comes days after rumors floated that Brown was considering a location in Medical Lake for another homeless shelter. She brushed off the drama and clarified her position, prompting the administration to announce the next step in Brown’s stance on addressing homelessness.
Using pandemic relief funding, Spokane plans to move Compassionate Addiction Treatment’s 16-bed sobering center and behavioral health services out of the Division Street corridor.
The move could mitigate the number of homeless individuals near the heart of downtown while splitting the distance between CAT and the Trent Shelter, Spokane’s largest congregate shelter.
“I’m thankful to the Mayor’s Office and CAT for working collaboratively on this transition and offering real solutions to the challenges we face,” Councilmember Paul Dillon wrote in a news release. “This new location will provide meaningful support to individuals seeking stability and recovery as they take their next steps toward independence.”