More than 162 unhoused individuals died in 2021. In 2020 alone, ninety-one individuals who were unhoused died. Currently, only a fraction of the necessary beds needed to provide shelter to our unhoused community is available. In winter 2021, over a hundred unhoused people were forced to move from their camp in front of Spokane City Hall as snow fell. Several people moved from City Hall to its current location on Washington Department of Transportation land known as Camp Hope. The camp at its peak hosted 600+ people.
City of Spokane Mayor Woodward's administration, the Spokane Board of County Commissioners, the Spokane Police Department, and the Sheriff's Office have all been opposed to Camp Hope going as far as fines, issuing threats of removal, fear-mongering, refusing access to water and electricity on the land.
The people who live at Camp Hope are successfully accessing resources that improve their personal circumstances and material conditions – not just for a night, but long term. Allowing Camp Hope to reach an organic closure is best both for the unhoused people living there, and the greater Spokane Community. The City of Spokane should be working to help those who are experiencing homelessness instead of punishing them.
State officials outlined steps the city would need to take in order for the camp to be removed, as well as identifying responsible jurisdictions.
1. The offering of shelter and services to people living there (local jurisdiction & service/outreach providers; funding offered by Commerce)
2. Secure storage of their belongings (local jurisdiction & service/outreach providers)
3. Safety and security for people on-site and work crews (local law enforcement & WSP)
4. Restoration and cleanup of the property (WSDOT)
We additionally ask that the City of Spokane follow Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund's suggestions for adequate shelters:
1. Establish a housing plan that includes a significantly increased volume of affordable housing for both those transitioning out of homelessness and a preventative measure to ensure more residents don't become homeless. Research successful cities (ie. Houston) and countries (ie. Finland) that have reduced houseless populations in their own communities with these approaches and employ the proven strategies.
2. Instead of a warehouse for 250 people, open several smaller locations that can focus on the needs of various groups - single women, couples, families, LGBTQ+, etc.
3. Ensure that baseline hygiene needs are available in quantities that sufficiently match the number of guests at each facility. Outdoor shower trailers and porta potties should not be considered an appropriate solution for long-term use.
4. Ensure advance planning with service providers to understand their needs and the capacity available to be on-site for a new shelter.
5. Ensure on-site laundry facilities adequate to serve the full capacity of guests.
6. Provide on-site meal service and access to additional water and food resources. An on-site kitchen for meal prep is ideal.
Lastly, we ask that you stop issuing nuisance citations and stop the sweeps.