{"id":2342757,"date":"2024-09-18T10:12:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T14:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/questions-raised-around-legality-of-spokane-mayors-plan-to-save-homeless-shelter-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T10:15:01","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T14:15:01","slug":"questions-raised-around-legality-of-spokane-mayors-plan-to-save-homeless-shelter-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/questions-raised-around-legality-of-spokane-mayors-plan-to-save-homeless-shelter-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Questions raised around legality of Spokane mayor\u2019s plan to save homeless shelter &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fquestions-raised-around-legality-of-spokane-mayors-plan-to-save-homeless-shelter-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2342757&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In Spokane, a debate has arisen regarding the legality of \u2062using $1.2 \u200dmillion in pandemic \u2062relief\u2062 funding to support the Hope House women&#8217;s shelter without a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-hampshire-governor-signs-new-law-to-increase-the-use-of-renewable-gas\/\" title=\"New Hampshire Governor Signs New Law to Increase the Use of \u201cRenewable\u201d Gas\">competitive bidding process<\/a>. \u2064Mayor Lisa Brown proposed this plan to prevent \u200dthe shelter&#8217;s closure, citing funds \u200cfrom contract renegotiations. However, some city council members question whether this\u200c fund allocation complies with legal requirements, as\u2064 such funds \u200ctypically necessitate a Request for Proposals (RFP). Councilmember Michael Cathcart emphasized the \u200cimportance of\u200d a competitive process to ensure value for taxpayer money, particularly since Volunteers of America, which operates Hope House, had previously applied\u200d for funding through an RFP but later withdrew additional requests. Spokane officials \u200chave not\u2062 clarified which legal provisions allow this\u2063 non-competitive allocation. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ap-exploits-tragedy-to-twist-vances-words-for-propaganda\/\" title=\"AP Exploits Tragedy To Twist Vance&#039;s Words For Propaganda\">situation highlights concerns<\/a> about\u2062 financial\u2064 transparency and legal adherence in the management of homelessness \u200dservices in the city.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Questions raised around legality of Spokane mayor&rsquo;s plan to save homeless shelter<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1763055\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square)&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;As Spokane pushes to grant a congregate homeless shelter $1.2 million despite the apparent lack of a competitive process, some on the city council are questioning whether that&rsquo;s legal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Last month, Mayor Lisa Brown proposed using the money to prevent Hope House, a women&rsquo;s congregate shelter, from closing. According to a news release, the funding became&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/my.spokanecity.org\/news\/releases\/2024\/08\/12\/mayor-proposes-partnership-with-voa-to-sustain-operations-hope-house\/#:~:text=Mayor%20Brown%E2%80%99s%20proposal,assist%20Hope%20House.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">available<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;through contract renegotiations, resulting in savings and a surplus from the Trent Shelter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Spokane Communications Director Erin Hut told The Center Square that the&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_289e11ce-616b-11ef-a6bd-a78fff2515a8.html#:~:text=Brown%20wants%20to,emergency%20shelter%20services.%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$1.2 million<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;originates from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/loeffler-and-perdue-announce-support-for-2000-stimulus-checks\/\" title=\"Loeffler and Perdue Announce Support for 00 Stimulus Checks\">pandemic relief<\/a> funding. However, that funding usually is required to go through a competitive process, such as a Request for Proposals, which the city failed to do this time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Just looking for that kind of background information,&rdquo; Councilmember Michael Cathcart asked, &ldquo;[around] the lack of an RFP with regards to allocating $1.2 million to [Hope House].&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Council Policy Advisor Chris Wright asked Arielle Anderson, director of the Community, Housing, and Human Services Department, about the procurement process for the funding.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Non-competitive bids are allowed under certain conditions, but Wright said neither he nor the council was sure what provision the city is relying on to meet the funding&rsquo;s legal requirements.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My understanding is that these are cost savings from the decommissioning of[the&nbsp;[the&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_ae4beae4-121f-11ef-ba65-9b05e518dc07.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trent Shelter<\/a><\/strong>],&rdquo; Anderson said, &ldquo;in the original&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/my.spokanecity.org\/covid19\/arpa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>ARPA<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;RFPs that have gone out, that those monies were allocated towards homeless services.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Cathcart said the competitive process provides leverage for the city to know it&rsquo;s getting the best value for the best service, which he can&rsquo;t verify regarding Hope House due to the lack thereof; though, Volunteers of America, which operates Hope House, actually did apply through an RFP.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Spokane issued an RFP for&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_03a8ff8c-7089-11ef-bcd4-8fb515d6e727.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$3.9 million<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;in June, of which VOA received roughly $1.5 million across two projects. VOA initially requested an additional $1.3 million for Hope House but later withdrew the request, asking that the city direct any available funding toward its other shelters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A committee agenda from last month indicates that VOA withdrew the request before Aug. 19; three days later, Brown proposed using the $1.2 million to save Hope House.<\/p>\n<p>That $1.2 million for Hope House may still be required to go through a competitive process unless it meets some of the requirements that Wright alluded to in the meetings. The Center Square asked Hut which of those legal requirements the funding met but did not receive an answer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Still, Hut&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_b0212d88-721a-11ef-9141-47ec1149b0ec.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">previously<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;told The Center Square that the $1.2 million comes from the same pool of pandemic relief as the $1.8 million initially intended to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_edfaa76e-6fbe-11ef-885f-7f77ee2a2f14.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">relocate<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>the&nbsp;Compassionate Addiction Treatment facility &mdash; which Brown ultimately&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/my.spokanecity.org\/news\/statements\/2024\/09\/12\/mayor-brown-releases-statement-on-behavioral-health-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pulled<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;&mdash; which also did not go through an RFP.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>During the Monday meeting, Wright noted that the council asked the legal team to verify that the $1.2 million meets the appropriate requirements, though he didn&rsquo;t have an answer yet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Center Square attempted to call City Attorney Mike Piccolo several times to verify the legality of the $1.2 million Hope House contract amendment but was unable to reach him.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;$1.2 [million] isn&rsquo;t nothing; I mean, that&rsquo;s more than 10% of the current [$10.9 million]&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_02098010-7201-11ef-808a-cbf54fee84dd.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">deficit<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;that we&rsquo;re facing,&rdquo; Councilmember Jonathan Bingle told Anderson. &ldquo;$1.2 million, while this might be a noble cause, still might not be the best thing for us to do fiscally for the city.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The city council will vote on whether to amend VOA&rsquo;s Hope House contract to provide the $1.2 million during its upcoming meeting on Sept. 23.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1763055\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1763055\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Concerns have been raised regarding the legality of Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown&#8217;s proposal to allocate $1.2 million to a congregate homeless shelter without a competitive bidding process. The funding is intended to keep Hope House, a women&#8217;s shelter, from closing. According to city officials, this money became available through contract renegotiations that resulted in savings from the Trent Shelter and comes from pandemic relief funds. However, such funds typically require a competitive process like a Request for Proposals (RFP), which was not followed in this case.<\/p>\n<p>City Councilmember Michael Cathcart expressed his desire for clarification on why an RFP was not issued for the allocation of these funds. Chris Wright, Council Policy Advisor, also sought information about the procurement process related to this funding. While non-competitive bids can be permitted under certain circumstances, there is uncertainty among council members about which specific provisions apply here.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson explained that the funds are derived from cost savings associated with decommissioning the Trent Shelter and were originally designated for homeless services as per previous ARPA RFPs. Cathcart emphasized that following a competitive process ensures that the city receives optimal value and service quality\u2014something he cannot confirm regarding Hope House due to its lack of an RFP.<\/p>\n<p>Volunteers of America (VOA), which operates Hope House, had previously submitted an application through an RFP but later withdrew their request for additional funding after receiving approximately $1.5 million from another Spokane-issued RFP worth $3.9 million in June.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed $1.2 million may still need to undergo a competitive review unless it meets specific legal criteria mentioned by Wright during discussions; however, no clear answers have been provided on what those criteria are or whether they apply in this situation.<\/p>\n<p>Councilmember Jonathan Bingle highlighted concerns over fiscal responsibility given Spokane&#8217;s current budget deficit while discussing the potential amendment of VOA\u2019s contract at an upcoming meeting scheduled for September 23rd<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2342758,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160536170-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[41128,33741,32585],"class_list":["post-2342757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-homeless-shelter","tag-legality","tag-spokane"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160536170-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342757"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342757\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}