New Street Outreach Team Close 96 Encampments in First 10 Days

Spokane's new street outreach teams, launched with Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, closed 96 encampments in their first 12 days. The teams visited all active case sites, discovering that most lacked residents. Mayor Brown highlighted the initiative's early success, stressing the necessity for better coordination among service providers, social workers, and law enforcement. Jonathan Mallahan, President of Catholic Charities Housing Ventures, noted that fewer people now face the hardships of sleeping and eating outdoors. The outreach teams operate across all four precincts of the Spokane Police Department, which includes the downtown area.

Next week, Spokane 311 will introduce a new outreach reporting feature, allowing the public to report individuals in need via dial or online. This initiative aims to enhance the responsiveness of outreach teams in real-time. The collaboration represents a critical step toward addressing homelessness in the city.