New Street Outreach Team Close 96 Encampments in First 10 Days

Spokane's new street outreach teams, launched in partnership with Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, cleared 96 encampments within 12 days of their operation. These teams engaged with all sites tied to active cases, with most locations found to be unoccupied. The majority of individuals at the sites accepted connections to behavioral health and housing services, including the navigation center, which aims to provide immediate support. Mayor Brown praised the initiative as an essential component of the city's strategy to address homelessness and emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration among various service providers. Jonathan Mallahan, President of Catholic Charities Housing Ventures, expressed optimism about the outreach teams' impact on reducing outdoor living conditions for vulnerable individuals.

The outreach teams are strategically located across all four precincts of the Spokane Police Department, including downtown. Next week, Spokane 311 will introduce a new feature for the public to report individuals in need of assistance, facilitating near real-time dispatch of the outreach teams. This coordinated approach is expected to enhance the city's response to homelessness and improve community support for those in need.