If temperatures drop this winter or rise next summer, the city of Spokane will only have the money to pay for existing shelters to house an additional 100 homeless people for up to 38 nights.

Mayor Lisa Brown's administration announced Monday the city's plan to house homeless people during inclement weather. This includes arranging contracts with four local housing organizations and paying those organizations for beds during uncertain weather. According to a city press release, the contracts run through the end of next year. The plan maintains Brown's goal of closing the Trent Resource and Assistance Center, a shelter that opened under the administration of her predecessor, Mayor Nadine Woodward. Brown has criticized accommodation in Trent for being too expensive.

In a current estimated budget crisis of $10.9 million, this step is more cost-effective than opening a new animal shelter and finding new staff to arm it, the release said.

The city examined housing agencies through a survey that required shelters to have more than 10 beds, day and night services, transportation assistance and prior shelter experience. A total of 357 “surge beds,” or beds that could be made quickly available during a cold snap, were identified.

But the lump sum $250,000 the city worked with under the previous Woodward administration and is working again this year will fund 100 beds for 38 nights. That's all the city can afford.

“Frankly, it’s not enough,” said city spokeswoman Erin Hut.

Some city officials are hopeful that services can be increased starting in January through a new city budget approved by the end of the year.

The Spokane Legislature requires the city to provide warming shelters whenever temperatures fall below 32 degrees. In summer, cold rooms are required at temperatures above 35 degrees, the regulation states.

According to a summary document of the city's weather plan, Spokane will average $70 a night this year. Housing companies the city plans to pay for the rehabilitation beds include Family Promise of Spokane, The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and others.

“It has become very clear that we need more emergency resources,” said Councilman Paul Dillon. “Having $250,000, which has been the status quo in Spokane for years, is woefully inadequate. And frankly, inexcusable.”

This is largely why Brown is calling for an increase in the 2025-26 budget, although it is unclear how and how much the city will fund the increase. Hut said more information about the increase will be “in preparation” when Brown presents her final budget proposal to the City Council next month. Dillon announced Monday that he will advocate for the additional funding.

But the 100-bed limit doesn't mean the county or nonprofits can't house more homeless people. There are more than 1,100 beds nationwide, Hut said. The city-operated Trent Resource and Assistance Center on Trent Avenue, which has regularly served more than 300 people over the past two winters, is closing Oct. 31. There isn't enough money for that either.

Councilman Jonathan Bingle said Monday he would advocate for more funding for homeless resources if the city wasn't in a budget crisis.

“But I have voted against homeless funding for the last few months,” Bingle said. “If you distribute money when you have a hole, it makes no sense. We have to take care of the city’s business.”

Bingle added that he was not informed of the city's weather plan until he received the press release and therefore declined further comment.

Councilman Michael Cathcart said in a text message Monday he was still waiting on a plan for future funding. The city was presented with few options, he said. Cathcart added that the $250,000 allocation “could be sufficient” if the city plans well with cost-effectiveness in mind.

Dillon disagrees.

“We see a commonality in that we don’t want people to die and we don’t want people to live on the streets,” Dillon said. “We have to focus on this to find a solution.”