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, made significant progress by clearing 96 encampments within their first 12 days of operation. These teams visited all sites related to active cases, finding that most locations did not have residents. Many individuals accepted connections to behavioral health and housing services, including access to a navigation center. Mayor Brown highlighted the outreach teams as vital to achieving sustainable change through improved coordination among service providers. Jonathan Mallahan, President of Catholic Charities Housing Ventures, expressed optimism about connecting vulnerable individuals to necessary services, reducing outdoor living conditions.

The outreach teams operate across all four precincts of the Spokane Police Department, including downtown. Early next week, Spokane 311 will launch a new reporting feature, allowing the public to report individuals in need and enabling near real-time dispatch of outreach teams. This initiative reflects a growing commitment to address homelessness and improve community support systems.