Commerce is aware of the questions raised by nearby residents about converting the Quality Inn on Sunset Boulevard to transitional housing for people living unsheltered at Camp Hope. Commerce acted in good faith when responding to a plan, which included the Quality Inn, submitted and signed by Mayor Woodward and Council President Beggs. We rely on local jurisdictions to properly vet elements of their proposals before they are submitted.
Spokane’s homeless problem has been obvious for some time. A point in time count in 2020 found that 1559 people were without permanent housing. That number rose by 13% in 2022 to 1757.
In June of 2021, the Way Out shelter closed. It had 102 low barrier beds for people experiencing homelessness, which the city never fully replaced. In December of 2021, nearly 100 people experiencing homelessness set up tents at city hall to protest the city’s lack of shelter beds. This protest was the beginning of what we now know as Camp Hope. Once the tent protestors were removed from city hall, they eventually moved to the WSDOT property near I90.
On May 24th, Commerce made Mayor Woodward and Council President Beggs aware of available funding from the Legislature to help relocate Camp Hope residents to safer, supportive housing. With these resources in mind, we urged them to meet and discuss their plan to help the unsheltered people of Camp Hope. Although our official Request for Proposal was issued in mid-June, and came with a 30 day deadline, our efforts to solicit a plan from the city had been going on for months.
Commerce will continue to work with the city of Spokane, Catholic Charities and Empire Health Foundation to find alternative living solutions for the hundreds of unsheltered people at Camp Hope. The project is part of a statewide effort, funded by a historic investment by the Legislature, to move people living in unsafe conditions on state rights of way to more appropriate housing.
West Hills neighborhood members have a legitimate point that their neighborhood should not have a disproportionate share of facilities serving people formerly homeless. Commerce would be responsive to additional housing solutions in other parts of the county proposed by local governments in Spokane county. It is notable that Spokane County has declined to participate in this process.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up