Rental assistance funding increased for Spokane city residents

For the second time in as many weeks, the Spokane City Council approved new funding dedicated to rental assistance on Monday.

The city accepted a nearly $1 million increase in Housing and Essential Needs funding from the state Department of Commerce on Monday, bringing the total money dedicated to the rental assistance program to about $3 million.

Last week, the city appropriated $500,000 of HUD funding for rental assistance and tapped the Spokane Workforce Council for overseeing the program.

The Housing and Essential Needs rental assistance is targeted at the homeless and at-risk households with a qualifying disability.

The new burst in funding will allow for an increase in the number of people who qualify for the assistance; the city contracts with Goodwill to oversee the program on its behalf.

Of the extra $944,144 granted to the city, $878,054 will be dedicated to rental assistance while the city retains $66,090 for administrative costs.

Representatives of landlords and tenants have pleaded with local, state, and federal officials in recent weeks to pour more resources into rental assistance, warning of a mounting number of renters who have fallen behind.

There is currently a moratorium on evictions statewide, ordered by Gov. Jay Inslee in March and later expanded, that is set to expire on Aug. 1. Inslee said last week he is considering another extension, but has yet to announce one.

Should Inslee not extend his order, Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs has said the council could take action to protect Spokane residents from eviction.