In brief: Learning skills to fight poverty

A new neighborhood leadership program is being organized this fall to help adults and youths become more effective in fighting poverty.

Participants will undergo twice monthly training sessions over a six-month period to learn leadership skills, including development of action plans to address poverty. The training will focus on Spokane’s low-income neighborhoods.

The Community Leadership Academy is being organized by Patrick Malone. An organizational meeting is set for Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church, 1428 W. Broadway. Classes are expected to start in October. Applications are due by Sept. 25. The fee for a team of three participants is $235.

Malone can be reached at 533-4706.

High-rise building focus of meeting

A developer has scheduled a community meeting for Monday at 6 p.m. at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St., to discuss a proposal to allow a high-rise building near the Spokane County Courthouse.

West Central Development LLC is seeking a zone change to increase the allowable height from 35 feet to 150 feet for a building that would include offices, limited retail and services and parking on a block bounded by Mallon Avenue on the north, Adams Street on the west, and Broadway Avenue on the south.

– Mike Prager

SPOKANE

Homeless will be counted

The Spokane Homeless Coalition today is planning to conduct a one-day count of people in Spokane who are living without a home, in part to provide a snapshot of the problem during the summer. It will be the first time that homeless people have been counted during the time of year when camping outdoors is more likely.

Count stations are to be set up today at various nonprofit locations throughout the county, and clients at those locations will be asked about their shelter accommodations.

The coalition also wants to include people staying with friends or family. To be included in the count, call the city’s human resources department at 625-6130.

An annual count is now required by the state along with a 10-year plan to cut homelessness by half. Last fall, local agencies received $650,000 in homelessness assistance.

In addition, Spokane’s Homeless Connect will hold a referral fair at Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to connect homeless persons with services. A count station will be at the park.

– Mike Prager