New Street Outreach Team Close 96 Encampments in First 10 Days

Spokane's new street outreach teams, launched in collaboration with Catholic Charities, cleared 96 encampments in their first 12 days of operation. The teams visited all sites related to active cases, discovering that most were unoccupied. Many individuals accepted connections to housing and behavioral health services, including access to a navigation center. Mayor Brown emphasized the importance of these outreach efforts for creating sustainable change through improved coordination among service providers. Jonathan Mallahan, President of Catholic Charities Housing Ventures, expressed optimism about the outreach teams' early success in assisting vulnerable neighbors.

Spokane 311 will soon launch a reporting feature, enabling the public to report individuals needing help for near real-time outreach team dispatch. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to address homelessness and improve community support services. The outreach teams operate across all four Spokane Police Department precincts, including downtown areas.