Spokane Mayor Declares Emergency to Accelerate Homelessness Relief Amid SNAP Funding Cut

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown declared a state of emergency to accelerate aid amid the federal government shutdown that threatens to cut SNAP benefits for one in five Spokane County residents. The emergency declaration allows the city to bypass usual contracting processes to quickly fund 50 additional shelter beds, eviction prevention efforts, and mobile medication-assisted treatment, all part of the H.O.M.E. Starts Here Initiative aimed at expanding homelessness response. The city anticipates increased demand for safe spaces due to the new "Safe and Accessible Spaces" ordinance, which enforces stricter anti-camping rules but has drawn criticism for not providing alternative shelter options. Mayor Brown emphasized the dire choice many face between food and rent if SNAP benefits lapse, calling the situation a "different kind of quiet hurricane." City officials and council members stressed the need for flexibility to respond rapidly and continue connecting people to services and housing. The emergency declaration underlines the city's coordinated approach to homelessness and urges federal restoration of SNAP assistance to prevent further hardship.