Spokane council approves Heart Fund contracts, expands shelter capacity and advances eviction-diversion reading

Council member Paul Dillon (District 2) said the Spokane City Council approved several contract authorizations to expand services aimed at housing stability and to strengthen the city’s cold-weather shelter response.

Dillon said the council passed contracts to use the Heart Fund for behavioral-health services and for eviction-prevention programs that provide rental assistance and help cover utility costs for residents at risk of nonpayment. "So we passed, several contract authorizations," he said, adding that the funds will support rental assistance and utility-cost help.

The council also authorized surge-capacity beds intended to support the city’s response during cold weather and approved scatter-site bed contracts, measures Dillon described as critical for the immediate shelter system. "[They are] critical during our response for cold weather," he said. Dillon thanked local homeless-service providers for their work during what he called "this immense time of need."

Dillon said the council held a first reading on a pathways-to-eviction-diversion ordinance designed to more formally channel eviction-prevention funds to services that keep people in their homes. He described the first reading as a step to "really help solidify a lot of our eviction prevention funds" and to provide ongoing rental and utility assistance.

The council summary did not include vote tallies, detailed contract amounts, vendor names, implementation timelines or departmental assignees. Dillon presented the items as approved or advanced in the session; the record provided here does not specify who moved or seconded motions or any roll-call results.

The most immediate next steps reported were implementation of the authorized contracts and continued work on the eviction-diversion measure; Dillon closed by thanking viewers and local providers for their roles in the effort.