Spokane Valley council approves $50,000 amendment to homeless outreach contract to cover housing and pet boarding

The Spokane Valley City Council voted to amend the city's homeless outreach contract with Frontier Behavioral Health by $50,000 to fund housing‑related one‑time payments and pet‑boarding support, city staff said on Nov. 25.

Gloria Mance, city services administrator, said Frontier's outreach teams co‑deploy with Spokane Valley police and, once fully staffed, contacted between 300 and 400 unduplicated individuals during the third and fourth quarters. "Within that one‑year period, they provided housing to 57 individuals and they also provided substance use disorder services to 28 individuals," Mance said. Staff told council Frontier had a $100,000 grant the previous year for rental and move‑in costs; the current cycle grant is $73,000, leaving an estimated shortfall of about $27,000.

Mance said a significant barrier for outreach clients is pet care: about 25 percent of individuals encountered have pets, and lack of boarding prevents some people from entering shelters or treatment. Staff identified a local partner willing to expand boarding from 14 days to 30 days and estimated an annual cost for extended boarding of about $20,000.

Councilmembers pressed staff for measurable objectives. Councilmember Merkel said he supported the program but wanted measurable outcomes written into the contract rather than reporting results only after the fact. City Manager John Homan and staff said they would provide post‑implementation metrics and that unused funds would be available for next year or reallocated as allowed.

Deputy Mayor Hatenberg moved the contract amendment; council approved the motion by voice vote. The motion record shows the amendment passed; the meeting transcript records the vote by voice rather than a roll‑call tally.