Spokane adds scattered shelter beds in partnership with Family Promise

Andrew Baertlein NonStop Local Multimedia Journalist

Jan 28, 2025 Updated Mar 3, 2025

SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown announced Tuesday that Family Promise will receive funding for 15 additional beds to invest in the city's growing scattered-site shelter model.

The scattered site shelters have been part of the city's vision since Mayor Brown took office. She praises the model for a lower impact to the nearby areas, managing people in need on a case-by-case basis, and decentralizing homelessness out of a singular area.

"Emergency shelter is critical, but we know we need more," Mayor Brown said. "It's not a one-size-fits-all."

Brown's Administration estimates nonprofits and religious organizations provide roughly 950 shelter beds at any given time. The scattered site system has added an additional 155 total, according to Mayor Brown.

Family Promise, focused on helping families with young children stay out of homelessness, has used a similar model for five years. They have homes in Chief Garry and the U-District housing multiple families under one roof on an interim basis while a more permanent housing solution becomes available.

On average, families are in these temporary 'shelters' for a month, according to Family Promise CEO Joe Ader. None of the homes have received complaints from neighbors.

"That's what we want. Look at this model. See how it could work in different communities," Ader said. "It's about outcomes. How many people are we getting into housing versus how many are entering homelessness?"

The timing of these new shelter beds is needed, according to Ader. A series of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump call several federal grants into question including housing vouchers for refugees, according to Aber.

"A freeze on that support for refugee families that are already here," Aber said. "It doesn't lessen homelessness, it increases it."

The scattered model has already shown success at Family Promise. The organization moved 805 people out of homelessness in 2024; 449 of those were children.

Mayor Brown also confirmed the Compassionate Addiction Treatment (CAT) facility is permanently moved off Second Avenue and Division. The new site is at East Third Avenue and South Arthur.

"This is about coordination and partnership. The city is not funded to do this alone," Mayor Brown said.

https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-adds-scattered-shelter-beds-in-partnership-with-family-promise/article_5214aa5e-dddf-11ef-9626-532bb1d8d1ff.html

Thrivent and Family Promise work together to support families experiencing homelessness

Joe Ader, Lucy Pearson, AJ McGourin, Bruce Schmitt, and Joel Brown at the Thrivent golf event.

Spokane, Wash. (Dec. 18, 2024) — At Family Promise of Spokane, we know that when a community comes together, incredible things happen. Thrivent recently demonstrated the power of collective generosity by hosting a fundraiser and donation drive to support our mission of ending the cycle of homelessness for families in Spokane.   

The event, held at Golf Island Spokane on November 8, 2024, brought together some of Thrivent’s financial advisors based out of Spokane, clients, and community members for a day of fun and purpose. The results? An incredible $1,015 was raised, and 29 boxes of diapers and various hygiene products were collected—directly benefiting the families we serve at Family Promise.   

“Generosity is at the heart of what we do at Thrivent,” said Joel Brown, West Advisor Group Engagement Leader at Thrivent. “We’re passionate about creating opportunities for clients and communities to thrive. Working with Family Promise was a natural fit because our financial advisors and clients in the area have personal connections to the organization and its vital work in addressing homelessness in Spokane.”   

Thrivent’s commitment to supporting impactful organizations like Family Promise aligns closely with its values of empathy, gratitude, and community impact. For Family Promise, working with companies like Thrivent helps provide essential resources and highlights the importance of collaboration in tackling systemic challenges.  

“We’re grateful to Thrivent for their generosity and shared belief in creating a future where every family has a home,” said Joe Ader, Executive Director of Family Promise of Spokane. “The funds and supplies raised will make a big impact on families in our community. Along with Thrivent, we can continue to help even more families thrive.” 

Thrivent’s work with Family Promise of Spokane is part of a broader effort to invest in local and national organizations that align with its values and mission.  

As we look to the future, Family Promise is excited to continue working alongside Thrivent and other community partners to create lasting change. Together, we’re building a Spokane where every family can look forward to a brighter tomorrow.   

Learn more about Thrivent’s community impact at thrivent.com/how-we-give-back.   

Family Promise of Spokane Granted $2.5 Million from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Day 1 Families Fund

SPOKANE, Wash. – (November 20, 2024): Family Promise of Spokane, a nonprofit organization that works to equip families and communities to end the cycle of homelessness, today announced that it has received a $2.5 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This is the seventh year that the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded grants to organizations across the country that are leading the way to move the needle on family homelessness with the goal of ensuring that no child sleeps outside.

"Receiving this $2.5 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund is transformative for Family Promise of Spokane and, more importantly, for the families we serve,” said Joe Ader, CEO of Family Promise of Spokane. “This award empowers us to expand our innovative housing solutions, offering families a secure pathway back into stable homes. With these resources, we can deepen our impact and drive lasting change, helping break the cycle of homelessness for countless children and parents in Spokane.”

Family homelessness in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2022 to 2023, and families now represent more than 28 percent of the country’s homeless population, according to a 2024 report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. With its one-time Day 1 Families Fund grant, Family Promise of Spokane will work to reverse this national trend by serving families experiencing homelessness in Spokane County.

Family Promise of Spokane plans to use its funds to end homelessness in Spokane County by utilizing flexible funding to reach families where they are, enhance their processes to serve more families and create new models to match the growing need of families in the community.

A group of national advisors who are leading experts on family homelessness and its solutions, including the intersection of homelessness and housing policy, child welfare, racial equity and service provision, identified the organizations selected for funding. 

“Not only will this investment secure the future for families in our community, but it speaks to the possibility that, with the right investments, ending homelessness for families is possible. Let this be an invitation to everyone to believe and work towards this possibility,” said Emma Hughes, COO of Family Promise of Spokane.

Since 2018, the Day 1 Families Fund has awarded 248 grants totaling nearly $750 million to organizations serving families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The grants are uniquely flexible and enable organizations to support families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—to regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being.

This year, the Fund issued a total of $110.5 million in grants to 40 organizations, and for the first time, nonprofits in Kansas and New Jersey are among the awardees. The other organization receiving a grant in Washington is Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The full list of awardees is available at bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund.

About Family Promise of Spokane

Family Promise of Spokane envisions a future where no child experiences homelessness in Spokane County. Serving adults caring for children or pregnant, Family Promise helps families get housing and keep housing through robust programs that provide emergency shelter for families and work with families for two years after getting housing to stabilize their futures.

About the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund

Launched in 2018, the Bezos Day One Fund made a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in two areas: funding existing nonprofits that help families experiencing homelessness, and creating a network of new, nonprofit tier-one preschools in low-income communities. The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families experiencing homelessness—including those who are unsheltered or staying in shelters—regain safe, stable housing and achieve well-being. The vision statement comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child sleeps outside. For more information, visit www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.

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