SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane's homeless population is at an all-time high. The growing problem can be seen across the city.
But incoming Mayor Lisa Brown says a lot of what the city has been doing to tackle homelessness isn't working, and she'll be approaching the homeless crisis differently than the previous administration.
Brown has been Spokane's mayor for less than two months and has big ideas for her first 100 days in office. She says her administration wants to see more transitional housing.
"I think it's more on the side of what can we do to incentivize and streamline the process for the private sector and for nonprofits, to build more or to convert existing facilities," Brown said. "But I also see my role personally as the mayor advocating for more funding."
Mayor Brown now wants a dedicated strategy within city departments to work together and focus of finding outside money to pay for homeless solutions in Spokane. She says there is funding the city hasn't utilized before.
"It's not easy to understand that, but we want to make sure that there are people dedicated to that within the city, helping to leverage city funds for grants," Brown said.
She says she's hopeful that this time next year, Spokane's homeless solutions will make the city noticeably different.
"We are more prepared for the cold weather when it comes and we have figured out some transitional places for people to be not outside, not on the street, not in a camp [but] in a transitional housing environment," Brown said. "And headed on their way to stability.
But she knows it's not just Spokane's homeless population that needs help. Many downtown Spokane businesses are getting increasingly frustrated with the crisis, and some are closing their doors.
Brown says she thinks those business owners shouldn't give up on downtown Spokane.
"Especially not this year, when we're celebrating the 50 year Expo '74 anniversary," she said. "My message is, I think if we work together, I think we can see improvements. It's going to be better for businesses and for neighborhoods."
The idea of working together has new meaning this year. For the first time in a long time, the mayor and majority of Spokane City Council seem to have similar ideas on how to move Spokane forward.
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