9/20/2022
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The Spokesman-Review
CITY COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR OF ILLEGAL CAMPING ORDINANCE
Judge denies West Hills residents’ attempt to block homeless housing
KREM
KXLY
The Center Square
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The Spokesman-Review
CITY COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR OF ILLEGAL CAMPING ORDINANCE
By Colin Tiernan
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
The Spokane City Council on Monday voted to ban camping along the Spokane River and Latah Creek, under and near downtown railroad viaducts and within three blocks of homeless shelters, regardless of whether shelter space is available.
All seven City Council members voted in favor of the illegal camping ordinance.
Spokane has had an illegal camping law on the books since 2018 that treats camping on all public property as a criminal misdemeanor.
A 2018 ruling by the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit made the law unenforceable, however. In Martin v. Boise, the 9th Circuit ruled that cities can’t prohibit camping on public property unless they provide individuals with adequate shelter space.
Spokane City Council members have stressed that they believe the new camping ban is enforceable and should hold up in court if the city faces any legal challenges. The new law only bans camping in specific areas, not throughout all city property. The Boise decision prevents cities from crafting blanket camping prohibitions, but it allows for camping restrictions.
The opening of a new homeless shelter on Trent Avenue may also help protect the city from legal challenges. That facility will add 150 or more beds to Spokane’s shelter capacity, giving the city a greater ability to offer homeless individuals a place to stay.
In addition to being enforceable, City Council members have said they believe the ordinance is necessary in order to protect the environment, the homeless and the general public.
City Councilwoman Lori Kinnear has stressed that camping along the banks of the Spokane River and Latah Creek has significantly damaged riparian areas and increased the amount of trash and waste polluting the water. She’s also noted that camping under viaducts creates a pedestrian hazard, and individuals camping near homeless shelters often prey on those staying inside.
City Councilwoman Karen Stratton said she constantly receives phone calls from constituents who live near the Spokane River.
“They live in fear in summers, from people that camp down at the river’s edge,” she said. “I’m not judging. I’m not saying those are bad people, but I’m saying the homeowners are frightened every year.”
The City Council’s two conservative members said they wish the ordinance was more strict, while acknowledging it was better than nothing.
“I’m not willing to let perfect be the enemy of the good,” City Councilman Michael Cathcart said.
Cathcart added that he believes the ordinance is the humane path forward.
“There is nothing compassionate about letting people remain on the street,” he said. “Anyone who says otherwise, I don’t know, I guess our value systems are very different.”
Public reaction to the new law has been mixed, with some describing it as cruel and unusual punishment and others saying it didn’t go far enough.
Emilie Cameron, president and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, said camping is hurting the city’s core and making people afraid to be downtown.
“Employees are telling their employers they’re scared to come back to work,” Cameron said. “Customers are staying away, choosing to visit and spend in other communities. And residents no longer feel safe in their own neighborhood.”
Homeless advocate Dave Bilsland, who has resisted different iterations of Spokane’s illegal camping laws over the years, called the ordinance inhumane. He said he believes the city shouldn’t be passing the new law while it’s in the middle of a housing shortage.
“You’re going to hassle people for being homeless when they have no choice?” Bilsland asked. “Until you get the housing, this ordinance should be dead in the water.”
City Council President Breean Beggs said he’s known from the beginning that no one would like the illegal camping law. He has said the legislation is a compromise that attempts to address legitimate public safety concerns while also being compassionate to the homeless.
Police officers will direct people who violate the illegal camping law to community court, which handles low-level crimes and connects people to housing, addiction and mental health treatment resources. Offenders have to complete community service and meet with providers to have their charges dropped.
City Councilman Zack Zappone said he has some concerns about the new law, but believes the city had to take action.
“I’m deeply concerned that this will be seen as just pushing people around and that it’s not getting people to the services they need to get back on their feet,” he said. “We’re also taking the right steps to get people services, to get people shelter.”
The new law will go into effect 30 days after Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward signs it. Beggs said the proposal was crafted in consultation with Woodward. Last week, she called the ordinance “a good start.” Colin Tiernan can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or at colint@spokesman. com.
A tent is seen near the Spokane River on Friday below Riverton Avenue.
JESSE TINSLEY/ THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
Judge denies West Hills residents’ attempt to block homeless housing
By Colin Tiernan
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
A Spokane County Superior Court judge last week denied a neighborhood group’s request to block homeless housing projects from coming to the West Hills area.
Spokane for Safe Neighborhoods, which registered with the state several weeks ago as a nonprofit, sued Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, the Empire Health Foundation and Spokane earlier this month.
Their lawsuit sought to prevent the defendants from creating housing for the homeless in the West Hills area.
The most notable homeless housing plan mentioned in the lawsuit is Catholic Charities’ Quality Inn project, which would turn the Sunset Boulevard hotel into emergency supportive housing for 100 to 120 adults. Catholic Charities on Sept. 12 finalized its purchase of the hotel.
Spokane for Safe Neighborhoods also highlighted Empire Health’s proposal to establish 75 tiny, home-like shelter units that could house 125 people. Empire Health officials, however, say they are not actively pursuing a shelter village now.
Both the Quality Inn and tiny home proposals have been part of Spokane’s effort to move residents at Camp Hope – the homeless encampment off of Interstate 90 – into permanent housing. The Washington Department of Commerce has made more than $24 million available to the city to find housing for residents of Camp Hope, which sits on land owned by the state Department of Transportation.
Representatives for Catholic Charities and the city of Spokane declined to comment on Plese’s ruling. Dunn and Black attorney Michael Brandenberg, representing Spokane for Safe Neighborhoods, could not immediately be reached for comment.
In its lawsuit, Spokane for Safe Neighborhoods argued that the defendants were failing to analyze the potential adverse impacts of homeless housing proposals.
The lawsuit stated that neighborhood residents would be “adversely affected, damaged, and prejudiced,” by an increase in nearby homeless housing availability and that an increase in homeless individuals in the area would “implicate and raise concerns regarding loss of public safety, loss of residential housing development opportunities, and lost tax revenues.”
Spokane for Safe Neighborhoods also said in its lawsuit that without additional environmental review the Quality Inn project would “cause increased likelihood of imminent unlawful use, damage, and pollution to the Finch Arboretum.”
Catholic Charities has previously called Spokane for Safe Neighborhoods’ lawsuit “frivolous” and “completely without merit.”
In its response to the lawsuit, the organization rebuffed the neighborhood group’s argument that the Quality Inn project would be detrimental to the area.
“The Plaintiff’s allegation of imminent harm is based upon nothing more than the conclusory assertion that homeless people are undesirable neighbors,” Catholic Charities wrote in its response. “The Court should not countenance prejudice masquerading as evidence.”
Colin Tiernan can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or at colint@ spokesman. com.
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KREM
The ordinance lowers the threshold from an AQI (Air Quality Index) of 250 to 150, allowing the city to open safe air shelters.
SPOKANE, Wash. — During Monday's legislative meeting, Spokane City Councilvoted in favor of an emergency ordinance to lower the city's threshold for activating safe air centers during unhealthy air quality days.
The ordinance passed unanimously.
Sponsored by councilmember Zack Zappone, the ordinance lowers the threshold from an AQI (Air Quality Index) of 250, which is classified as "very unhealthy," to an AQI of 150, which is considered "unhealthy."
Ultimately, this ordinance allows the city to open safe air centers, getting Spokane residents out of the smoke faster.
This development comes after much of Washington state was blanketed in wildfire smoke with AQIs reaching very unhealthy levels.
For future events involving smoke and other factors affecting air quality, residents can consult the following AQI chart:
AQI (Air Quality Index) Levels:
Good - 0-50
Moderate - 51-100
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - 101-150
Unhealthy - 151-200
Very Unhealthy- 201-300
Hazardous - 301-500
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KXLY
Posted: September 19, 2022 6:25 PM Updated: September 19, 2022 6:35 PM byJordan Smith
SPOKANE, Wash. — A new approach to homelessness is now sweeping the west coast, and it’s bringing promising results.
Tiny homes.
It’s an idea that’s made its way to Washington and is proving to be an effective approach to getting homeless individuals back on their feet.
“At Pallet, we envision a world where no one goes unsheltered,” said Lisa Edge, a communications manager with Pallet.
Pallet is a public benefit corporation that is combatting homelessness through tiny, or ‘pallet’ homes.
“Inside there’s a bed there’s shelving, and there’s storage for your personal possessions,” Edge said.
The home also comes with heating and air conditioning, as well as a door that locks; a highly sought-after commodity that brings a sense of security to residents who live there.
Another feature: Pallet allows residents to bring their pets with them inside the home, a perk most traditional shelters don’t allow.
Pallet has established nearly 100 active villages across the country, including in cities such as Seattle and Vancouver.
The village in Vancouver was created back in December of 2021. Since then, it’s served 46 people.
14 have been able to transition into more stable housing, and another 32 have accessed healthcare. One resident was even able to obtain a high school diploma while living there.
Residents of Camp Hope told 4 News Now that they won’t go to shelters nearby because they were told they would qualify for a tiny home if they remained at the encampment; and they would miss out on that opportunity if they left.
According to the city and department of commerce, however, there are no immediate plans to bring a tiny home community to Spokane.
But if one, or several villages were to come to the Lilac City, here are the logistics behind it:
The smallest home Pallet makes is 64 square feet. It costs $7,500.
For each resident of the 650+ people living at Camp Hope to obtain a tiny home, it would cost in the ballpark of $4.8 million.
For all 1,800 homeless living in Spokane County, the cost would triple to $13.5 million. Both costs would fluctuate depending on if there were more than one person per household.
Pallet says they manufacture 50 homes per week from their Everett-based factory, meaning it would take roughly 13 weeks before everyone at Camp Hope was accounted for.
36 weeks for the entire homeless community.
The largest village Pallet has built consists of 177 homes, located in Chico, California.
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The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Spokane County is putting the finishing touches on a plan to help young adults who have aged out of the foster care system, domestic violence survivors, displaced veterans and other vulnerable populations get into stable housing situations.
The county is seeking $2.5 million in federal dollars to enact the plan. Prior to submitting its proposal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, officials are seeking approval from residents.
The final version will be posted later this week at spokanecounty.org on the Community Services, Community Housing & Development page. Comments can be posted until 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17.
A public hearing will also take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
If the county moves ahead with the plan, it will be submitted to HUD’s Region 10 office in Seattle for consideration.
“Our hope is that we get the plan to HUD in October so, if it is approved right away, we can get moving as soon as possible to help people before winter," said Jeff McMorris, community engagement and policy advisor for the county.
He said HUD has $5 billion in American Rescue Plan dollars to distribute nationally to government entities for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. He said these funds are separate from the $101 million in ARP stimulus revenue the county received last year and are to be used to fill gaps in housing services.
HOME funds can be used not only to provide housing – including purchase and development of non-congregate shelters – but support services that include rental assistance, he said.
HUD has announced that 651 state and local jurisdictions that qualified for the annual HOME Program allocation in 2021 are eligible for the new grants. Government entities receiving the funding are allowed to retain up to 15% for administrative and planning costs. In addition, 5% can be allocated to help Community Housing Development Organizations, nonprofit groups and homeless providers cover operating costs.