SPOKANE, WA – The Spokane City Council on Monday approved Mayor Lisa Brown’s declaration of a city-wide emergency to address the loss of food stamp benefits and enforce a new ban on people living on the streets.
Brown issued her proclamation on Oct. 29, weeks into the federal government shutdown that curtailed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and days after the council bolstered Spokane’s ban on camping. The proclamation aims to ensure there are enough shelter beds and resources as enforcement of the ban increases.
It also allows the mayor to skip the city’s typical contracting process and sign on with nonprofit providers to expand homelessness services while bypassing council approval for the funding. The proclamation includes an estimated $4.2 million cost for protecting residents from being evicted…