Spokane Municipal Code

Title 18 Human Rights

Chapter 18.05 Protections for Homeless People

Section 18.05.020 Activation Criteria

1. The activation criteria for inclement weather centers beyond existing homeless shelter capacity in the City of Spokane are as follows:

1. 1. Warming centers sufficient to meet the shelter needs of currently unsheltered homeless individuals and other vulnerable individuals seeking shelter in Spokane will be activated on each day during which the temperature is predicted by the National Weather Service to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and designated low-barrier shelter space was at ninety percent (90%) capacity or greater during the previous night. The warming centers will operate at a minimum during the hours that temperatures are lower than thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit. The City may, by contract with its center provider(s), raise the activation temperature for warming centers, but in no event will the activation temperature be lower than thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit.

1. 2. Cooling centers sufficient to meet the shelter needs of currently unsheltered homeless individuals and other vulnerable individuals seeking cooling shelter within the City will be activated when the temperature is predicted by the National Weather Service to be 95 (ninety-five) degrees Fahrenheit or higher for two (2) consecutive days or more. The cooling centers will be operated at a minimum during all hours when the temperature is 95 (ninety-five) degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The City may, by contract with its center provider(s) extend the hours of operation and/or lower the activation temperature for cooling centers. The City should seek out a network of cooling center locations throughout the City at schools, libraries, churches and community centers and encourage other municipal governments to join in providing a regional cooling center network.

1. 3. Safe air centers sufficient to meet the shelter needs of currently unsheltered homeless individuals and other vulnerable individuals seeking safe air shelter within the City will be activated for the entire day and evening on which the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency forecasts the current air quality index to reach 201 or higher.

1. 4. Emergency centers may also be activated by the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee on any day in which a civil emergency or extreme storm or weather condition exists or is predicted to occur and which, in the determination of the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee, poses a severe threat to the health or safety of vulnerable and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in the City of Spokane.

2. The Community Health and Human Services (“CHHS”) Department shall implement the appropriate policies and procedures, including without limitation making funding requests; recommendations regarding center providers; the designation of specific locations to be used as warming, cooling, and safe air centers; the arrangement of other appropriate measures to the City Council in order to carry out the specific provisions and intent of this section; and shall continuously maintain contracts and/or appropriate non-monetary agreements scalable to the need for emergency warming, cooling and safe air center provider services, with no lapse in coverage at any point in time throughout each year, regardless of whether the services are provided under contract, by interlocal agreement or by city staff.

3. No later than September 30 of each year, and annually thereafter, the City shall publish and disseminate the City’s plan for emergency warming, cooling and safe air centers for the coming year, which shall provide details of the name(s) and location(s) of center providers and similar resources, the capacity and scalability of all emergency centers, by type and population(s) focus (if any), activation criteria, cost, funding source(s), partnerships and the communications and publicity plan to ensure that people who are vulnerable or are experiencing homelessness will know where they can obtain these services.

Date Passed: Monday, September 19, 2022

Effective Date: Monday, September 19, 2022

ORD C36281 Section 1