36 low-income tenants still in hotel

The day after their deadline for leaving the Otis Hotel, about 36 low-income residents remained in the downtown building slated for redevelopment, according to the Spokane Human Services Department.

Meanwhile, a handful of advocates for the homeless established a small campsite on the grassy median on Riverside Avenue in front of the Spokane Club to draw attention to the city’s affordable housing crisis, which has been aggravated by the evictions. The demonstration was led by Dave Bilsland, the advocate for the homeless who erected a similar campsite in the summer of 2004 to protest the city’s anti-camping ordinance.

“There’s no room at the inn,” Bilsland said. “You can’t even go to the shelters because they’re full.”

This summer, hundreds of low-income residents of three West First Street buildings were told to leave their homes when the buildings were purchased for renovation amid a downtown renaissance. By September, the New Madison and Commercial Building were vacated, but about 77 residents remained at the Otis. Many were people with behavioral health problems, and some were sex offenders for whom finding housing is difficult.

On Tuesday, Human Services Director Jerrie Allard told the city’s low-income housing task force that 41 of the Otis residents had found new homes, but 36 people remained.

Twelve Otis residents are moving within a week. Four others have a plan in place to leave. Five have been referred to Northeast Washington Housing Solutions for placement. Six, described as “very fragile,” will be taken care of by either the Spokane County Supportive Living Program or the state’s Adult Protective Services.

But there are apparently nine residents with whom no one has had contact in quite some time. They either were not home or did not answer their doors when the team of social workers assigned to help relocate them came knocking, according to team leader Ray Rieckers, of Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs.

For these nine, Rieckers said, there is “no prospect” of removal except for “whatever action RenCorp feels necessary.”

RenCorp, the investment group that purchased the Otis, has spent thousands to keep the old hotel open until its residents can find new homes. Now that winter approaches, RenCorp faces more expense in heating the building, said Chris Batten, principal owner of the group.

In July, the City Council appropriated $250,000 to help displaced residents find homes. Only $38,000 has been spent.

Batten told the task force he was willing to wait at least another month rather than seek a court order to dislodge the remaining tenants if the task force was willing to spend the $23,000-a-month cost of keeping the Otis open. But Allard said the money could not be allocated for that purpose.

“It’s time for these people to leave the Otis,” City Council President Joe Shogan, a member of the task force, told Batten. “You may just have to do what you think best.”