Spokane has ‘great bones’, former Boise Mayor says. Is it enough to reduce homelessness?

It’s something you hear people say often: Boise has a better handle on homelessness than Spokane.

The reasons are much more complicated – state law, funding, housing rates and other priorities all drastically change the outcome of what is seen on both cities’ streets.

Former Boise Democratic Mayor Dave Bieter, who served four four-year terms in the City of Trees, spent years working to address housing for the homeless . While he is at odds in how to approach the issue with Boise’s current mayor, his administration assisted in the openings of multiple housing units for homeless people and veterans during his terms.

When he came to Spokane, he was shocked at how many homeless people he saw on the streets.

“I was stunned by what I saw. It took me aback,” Bieter told The Spokesman-Review.