(The Center Square) – Spokane’s elected officials are set to vote on an ordinance tonight that could help homeless individuals find jobs; however, some businesses are concerned it will exacerbate existing issues.
The city council heard its first reading of Councilmember Lili Navarrete’s ordinance that would add “housing status” to a list of protected classes last month; now, it’s up for a final reading and potential vote unless the majority defers it for another week.
Navarrete engaged with the community over the legislation, which sparked a wealth of concerns she attempted to dispel last week in emails with the Downtown Spokane Partnership. She said it basically prohibits employers from discriminating against a homeless applicant.
“I do want to make it clear right off the bat that this ordinance has absolutely no effect on the enforcement of prop 1 , sit/lie, drug use crimes, or illegal camping,” Navarrete emailed in a thread of roughly 250 people. “If it did, it wouldn’t have gotten past our city’s legal department.”