Spokane County authorized the use of $500,000 to secure additional offices, shower units, and beds at the Trent Resource and Assistance Center
(TRAC) to accommodate the needs of individuals to be transitioned from the homeless encampment on state property.
Two portable office trailers will be used to address privacy considerations for individual appointments and assessment needs associated with service
provision. These office trailers will provide lighted, heated shared office space for a variety of service providers – navigators, health care, mental health,
substance abuse, and veteran services – to meet with displaced individuals and connect them to vital services.
Four large storage containers and 600 individual storage containers are also being added to the navigation center to provide secure places to keep
individual belongings. This will include one bin that can be kept at the end of an individual’s bed. The cost of all storage containers both large and
individual have been covered by a generous $35,000 donation from Hello for Good.
“With the cold weather upon us, it is more crucial than ever that we get people out of the elements”, said Spokane County Commissioner Board Chair
Mary Kuney. “Spokane County provided office capacity, beds, and a new shower trailer to accommodate individuals as they transition from the camp to
the Trent Resource and Assistance Center.”
County funds will also be used to purchase metal-framed beds, durable mattresses, blankets, linens to go on the beds, and additional partitions to create
additional privacy between beds. Additionally, the County is purchasing an 8-stall mobile heated shower unit for use at the facility, similar to those used
in firefighting camps during wildfire events.
“Our message continues to be: Come to the Trent Resource and Assistance Center to get out of the weather while you are connected to housing and
other service,” Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward said. “Our focus has been to remove barriers for use of the navigation center as a critical path to
transitional and permanent housing.”
The Salvation Army runs day-to-day operations at the navigation center. The organization also operates Cannon Street, a night-by-night location for men
and women, and The Way Out Center, a service-intensive transition housing program, and is in the process of establishing a progression approach to
utilizing those resources to move individuals through the system of services. Revive manages navigation services at the Trent Resource and Assistance
Center.
Office trailers and the large storage containers are expected to arrive at the navigation center this week. A portion of the individual storage containers are
already in use with the remainder expected to arrive this week.
Beds will be received and built as shipments arrive over the next few weeks. Arrangements are also being made to accommodate more animals at the
navigation center.
Original source can be found here.
