Resident urges Spokane County commissioners to pursue housing-first solutions to homelessness

Becky Dickerhoof addressed the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners during the open public forum on June 17, urging action on homelessness and support for housing-first approaches.

"Access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is a fundamental human right," Dickerhoof said. She referenced material from the organization Invisible People and outlined economic and policy factors that she said have driven homelessness in the United States, including rising rents, cuts to mental health services, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and the 2007 recession. She also cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor that increased housing instability.

Dickerhoof described populations she said are affected, including families with children, unaccompanied youth, seniors, veterans, Black and Native Americans, and noted daily hardships people experiencing homelessness face: difficulties cooking or storing food, bathing, sleeping, keeping possessions, and accessing work or school. She also said criminalization of homelessness can increase barriers to stability.

"When people become homeless, they are uprooted from their homes and lose many of their possessions as well as connections to friends, neighbors, and communities," Dickerhoof said. She pointed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairsuse of a housing-first model in 2009 to reduce veteran homelessness as an example of a proven approach.

Her remarks were delivered during the public comment period; no specific county action or response was recorded in the meeting transcript during the open forum. Dickerhoof concluded by urging use of established solutions and thanking the board.