This week, Spokane will provide an additional $45,000 for emergency warming space for women downtown, partly in response to a cold snap.
Temperatures were expected to dip as low as 7 degrees earlier in the week, according to the National Weather Service, with the rest of the week maintaining highs in the mid-30s and lows in the 20s.
"For the most part, we've seen capacity at House of Charity most every night for both men and women, and with this cold weather we've also seen spikes at the warming centers," says Tija Danzig, senior manager for the city's Community, Housing and Human Services Department.
The warming funds will go to City Gate, which normally operates a daytime drop-in center downtown, Tuesday through Friday, at 170 S. Madison St., complete with a food and clothing bank, daily meals and Sunday church service.
With the additional money from the city, City Gate will open up overnight space for up to 40 women for at least two months. The overnight space was expected to open as soon as the middle of this week and should free up room for men at other warming centers and emergency shelters.
Other overnight options include House of Charity (men and women), Hope House (women), Crosswalk (teens), YWCA domestic violence shelter, Open Doors (families), Union Gospel Mission and UGM shelter for women and children, Truth Ministries, and the Rising Strong and Cannon Street warming centers.
