[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6212664,"mediaKeyId","3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7","parentId",3683629,"title","Spokane expands navigation center, scattered shelters and street medicine to link housing and treatment","audioSeconds",327,"startMs",1865000,"endMs",2192000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7&start=1865&end=2192","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7/thumbnail_1865000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212664/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-expands-navigation-center-scattered-shelters-and-street-medicine-to-link-housing-and-treatment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212664-ae690442de6b117669fd024a059c85a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189197&Signature=XctZLfF8OBhJjkHSqypeJ8Ax6Z7GJOQclCy68HMLenE5fppyW3QnJc-mAj~ZSz6j-R4rWUU0m-rgNG4maa3V2EfVBo87tokJRP3TygszqgV0zmNSucBkgLZrSPG2V0RUI8-NbQnpcgp5BUdHdiezN7W3emKamWao69xYwkcLejuVMcoRumo2VIvEiiUz50ohWUkV9qfYpVEXRhXbjcfx8B08XRbxoQsHWfVcf--mMOnzFYsdL5xgP7niX9t~nJuxhlNDmoJvVaC7o123Vx7LnzrzsCTZVCAkwR9KVqvHubHZ~IAhUbRot~YjcRNBSjAP8EcKKqyJAXLhfSMWz~i8Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-06-05T19:41:42Z","article","Dawn Kinder, director of housing-related services at the session, described a housing navigation center and a network of scattered-site shelters created with a $4 million state grant after the city closed a large congregate shelter. The navigation center acts as a hub that connects people to street medicine, housing case-management and coordinated entry.

“Each of those sites sleeps about 20 to 30 people,” Kinder said. She said the system currently includes seven scattered-site shelters plus the navigation center, which offers higher-intensity wraparound services. One scattered site is dedicated to recovery and is operated by Compassionate Addiction Treatment (CAT); CAT provides intensive outpatient services and housing and employment case management for residents of that recovery site.

Kinder said the city also used a $1 million state investment to expand street-medicine services run by Providence and CHAS, a federally qualified health center, to include evenings and weekends. The teams make weekly visits to shelters and encampments, provide primary care on-site and connect people to longer-term care, reducing unnecessary emergency-department visits.

Maggie Yates said the city expects to receive half of the street-medicine funds again in the upcoming state fiscal year to maintain expanded hours and that the city is exploring mobile methadone delivery, additional faith-based partnerships for scattered sites and an outdoor navigation site outside the downtown core.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gabriels Challenge \"A Community Mapping Discussion\" June 3rd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City housing officials described a navigation center, seven scattered-site shelters funded with a $4 million state grant, recovery-focused sheltering operated by Compassionate Addiction Treatment and expanded street-medicine hours funded with $1 million.","taxTitle","Spokane, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2644,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212669,"Spokane Police emphasize engagement-first CORE program, federal prosecution for supply disruption",343,1384000,1727000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7&start=1384&end=1727","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7/thumbnail_1384000.jpg","/articles/6212669/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Police-emphasize-engagement-first-CORE-program-federal-prosecution-for-supply-disruption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212669-38c72308705e514b9741b033a95ad30f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189197&Signature=kXv-56Taz5vvHACnjLjPrA7TdUomWUM-xWMxkwncrYEA0ed2oV~wy~lScg1AgYu2tyzPvw2RRukuvDLkyGu5g3c3sbdZzBwDRsJIx7PViKHr46eBRRF0jYYb33klXnH11CznF4MUB~qsPyUSfQlpaCThm1FBmaDCI2YVcGH4bFl-Wkx4Uaod3txxXd2asVWT0Mm~J90KqidYKe6HC7I7Obem0MDRczsPaB0Ues6ZLVClxHGdx6KL4XW03KZ-8-ULxInDSCD1ByKLAgo6NEDLY6tp8oPT1b2ADO6WXmhO4HCUR~Is2NsHlR2F7ZN6U4GgFdZhi4wXSBY3iw-gdHEznQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A spokesperson for the Spokane Police Department described the Crisis Outreach, Response and Engagement (CORE) program as an engagement-first strategy that pairs officers with outreach partners to reduce crime related to substance use and connect people to services.

The spokesperson said CORE emphasizes data-driven deployment, expanded downtown bike and foot patrols and regular coordination with street-medicine clinicians and community providers. “We want to engage with people who are struggling… and that’s where we have really partnered with different entities in the city of Spokane to engage folks,” the speaker said.

Police representatives said the CORE approach contributed to declines in trespassing, drug offenses and property crimes in targeted areas after program rollout in October 2024, attributing the decreases to relationship building and referrals to treatment and housing. They also said enforcement remains part of the response when investigators identify people who bring fentanyl and other drugs into the community.

The city also funded a special assistant U.S. attorney to focus on supply-side prosecution, which city leaders said complements local diversion and treatment efforts. The police representative urged community cooperation in reporting suspected dealers and said federal prosecution will be used against people “victimizing our community.”

","A Spokane Police representative described the CORE outreach strategy focused on engagement, data-driven deployment and partnerships with treatment providers, and said the city partnered with a special assistant U.S. attorney to target suppliers.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212674,"Spokane Fire expands social-work CARES team and behavioral response to reduce 911 use",410,910000,1320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7&start=910&end=1320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7/thumbnail_910000.jpg","/articles/6212674/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Fire-expands-social-work-CARES-team-and-behavioral-response-to-reduce-911-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212674-0f688820c9b3c13a2faf1b0900f28ec8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189198&Signature=e5zbxtQmEqSVeU7-ABB3UCyzre8zyalnn-P6AhygBuKmg~hLM9Pzk7VyxsATw89cJfnRzC~d2AjKh8~VRt-vZ32j9LbxJcZK6hy5TkFRJIuezygd6BL8IKsbhN0BZTmvOg0uLd7hE2CBvnbI6yENk1aFlHli1Bqxk~Xs2EqWUMFhlV8zgdQfsS4ciKmhlKiIWD7NKzvH4rPwVi0tcwmj0jdoM9W3lFJRKy4nKlYtlFnduU8vjaERhYYXE2klndo4kNarjhZiWXyEnyqoTMdXRoOU5nOGW8qiXbll1bRLDwcUULfsgKl-7zWjfel~F~Pomz5IaRJm8b6BCls5U3794Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Oberg of the Spokane Fire Department said the department expanded its CARES nonemergent social-work team using opioid-settlement dollars and staffing changes, increasing licensed social workers from one to four to follow people for weeks or months after referral.

“Prior to a referral from CARES, we track 911 usage for that particular individual six months before and six months after the referral — and we see a 72 percent decrease in 911 usage,” Chief Oberg said, citing internal tracking of repeat callers.

Oberg described CARES as a follow-up and navigation team that receives referrals from field crews and connects individuals to services, housing and treatment. The department also runs a Behavioral Response Unit (BRU) staffed by a Spokane firefighter-paramedic and a Frontier Behavioral Health clinician. The BRU responds to 911 calls for psychiatric, alcohol- or substance-related incidents and may proactively listen to calls to identify cases where their team can make a difference.

Oberg said the BRU’s goals are to divert people from emergency departments and connect them to appropriate resources, including buprenorphine (Suboxone) initiation when clinically appropriate. She emphasized Narcan (naloxone) remains essential to reverse overdoses but is not a long-term solution: “Narcan saves lives... but it’s not the solution,” she said. Buprenorphine can “stop or slow the withdrawal” without producing a high and is used to stabilize patients and reduce immediate return to use.

The fire chief said the expanded CARES and BRU teams can now reach encampments, initiate medication-assisted treatment and provide follow-up where previously capacity was constrained. She described the units as part of an outreach-first approach intended to reduce unnecessary emergency-room visits and improve health outcomes for people with substance-use disorder.

","Spokane Fire Department said an expanded non-emergency social-work team and a co-responder behavioral unit have reduced repeat 911 calls and are starting people on buprenorphine in the field as part of a treatment-focused strategy.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6212679,"Spokane mayor outlines multi-department plan, directs opioid-settlement spending",635,270000,905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7&start=270&end=905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3683629-5a95aaaac5c977ca2752290c68c43df7/thumbnail_270000.jpg","/articles/6212679/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-mayor-outlines-multi-department-plan-directs-opioid-settlement-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212679-c6d84748d4cc0bb306992091ee43ab24/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189197&Signature=EZr2XMfgkNQsNVLuC4gsnqC6eOkaew9TDgWQIEXNCTf0cMjlcv-Ub3orWpOakEX5ZJUTvtAtqE3dknep~YVmiYxbPb~smLrQbPJcwOCd1qm2jNNvFMslpCkvue3Et4l2MfJQju83uSVlhPb2Z1rrsksShEXkrzJsQHItdoAcjaDeQmp1z3vPI09XOQp-vzOBpCPMXIhtm4oPbvAz145N3cu1OVWegCkWNlOruFI3UDzv1uuFBlqTeMxMCSV-6a~4x69YmvqbbsTLsixeFsMMb9iIsZoQ4-07RMhsv1Ic3A3~m18uo3CssVCJvjiqIemX~UmyDfr7dl188ojNLVwLIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Lisa Brown said the City of Spokane will pursue a citywide, multi-agency approach to reduce deaths and connect people to treatment in response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis. Brown spoke at a public mapping session hosted in City Hall Chambers and said the city will combine emergency actions, pilot programs and targeted spending from the national opioid settlement to expand services.

Brown framed the effort as “all of the above,” saying the city will involve “every department” — including police, fire, housing, legal and public works — and focus on best practices, collaboration, pilot testing and evaluation. “We want to try it on a small scale. And then evaluate. If it’s working, scale it up,” Brown said.

The mayor said the city expects to receive $13,300,000 from an opioid manufacturers-and-distributors settlement spread over 17 years and that early actions used available funds under an emergency declaration to move money quickly. Deputy City Administrator Maggie Yates said the city has already spent or committed early tranches to expand existing programs and fund new interventions the council has approved under that declaration.

Yates listed the first investments: $500,000 to expand the Spokane Fire Department’s CARES social-work team, $500,000 to relaunch a “high utilizer” initiative with Consistent Care, and $125,000 to place a provider with the city’s homeless outreach team. She said the city is proposing further investments, including a data analyst position to track outcomes, funds to develop culturally responsive treatment locally and co-investments with Spokane County to expand sobering beds at STARS.

Brown and Yates said expanding a regional crisis stabilization center and creating an outdoor navigation site are priority next steps. Brown said the navigation site should be accessible by transit, located outside the downtown core, fenced and staffed by service providers to serve people who do not fit existing scattered-site shelters. Yates added the city and county recently approved an interlocal agreement to increase sobering capacity and that further county approval and activation are expected in the summer.

Officials stressed the limits of any single approach and emphasized coordination with nonprofit and federal partners. Brown said the city also partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to fund a special assistant U.S. attorney focused on prosecuting drug supply cases. “It’s gotta be about supply and disrupting the drug market as well as addressing demand and treatment,” she said.

Officials also warned that some proposals depend on state and federal budgets and are therefore uncertain. Yates said state funding is relatively secure for current programs but federal housing- and homelessness-related funding remains uncertain.

Looking ahead, Brown said the city will continue piloting ideas, seeking partnerships with faith communities and other local providers, evaluating results and adjusting investments based on what works.

","Mayor Lisa Brown told a community forum the city is using a mix of emergency orders, pilot programs and opioid-settlement dollars to expand crisis services, treatment access and coordinated regional response to fentanyl and opioid overdose.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Spokane expands navigation center, scattered shelters and street medicine to link housing and treatment

Spokane Police emphasize engagement-first CORE program, federal prosecution for supply disruption

Spokane Fire expands social-work CARES team and behavioral response to reduce 911 use

Spokane mayor outlines multi-department plan, directs opioid-settlement spending