(The Center Square) – Spokane’s elected officials approved nearly $4 million in funding on Monday to prop up emergency shelters and other services for the city’s homeless population.
The city council approved 12 funding requests for roughly $3.9 million across eight providers. While it originated from federal relief initially intended for emergency shelters, the state reappropriated the funds, shifting some guidelines to allow for more uses.
Most of the money is still for emergency shelters, with smaller sums allocated for permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, street outreach and transitional housing projects. However, according to Monday’s agenda, the goal was to utilize the funds for a new scattered site model.
“The [Request for Proposals] highlighted this funding as an opportunity to fund shelters that were smaller and aligned with the community push to rethink congregate shelter[s],” according to the agenda. “At the same time, we recognize that congregate shelters have a critical role in supporting some of the most vulnerable populations in Spokane.”