SPOKANE, Wash. – Mayor Lisa Brown issued an emergency declaration, which the City of Spokane said is meant to speed up implementation of the H.O.M.E. Starts Here Initiative before SNAP benefits expire.

The expiration of SNAP benefits , as well as the updated “Safe and Accessible Spaces” ordinance, mean the demand for safe places for people to go is expected to grow quickly, said the City.

Declaring a state of emergency allows the City to skip its normal contracting process, which allows it to move funds faster than it normally would.

The City said that during the emergency state it plans to fund 50 additional shelter beds, expedite eviction prevention contracts and fund mobile medication assisted treatment for police, the navigation center and street outreach teams.

According to Sp

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