City of Spokane
Community Update
March 29, 2022

#InlandStrong
Walking with Woodward
Mayor Nadine Woodward awards the Neal Foseen Trophy to Lieutenant Colonel Dawn Heldebrand and the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency.
Give Your Way with Spokane Gives
This April marks the ninth annual Spokane Gives month!

Spokane Gives is a city-wide campaign spanning the month of April in partnership with Spokane County United Way. It is dedicated to promoting giving by expanding on the philanthropic efforts already in our region and connecting volunteers to non-profit organizations with service projects.

Spokane Gives offers a wide variety of projects and giving opportunities so that everyone can find ways to contribute tailored to their schedules, abilities, and interests. We invite the Spokane community to Give Your Way, whether it is volunteering your time, your talents, or financial support to an organization in need.

It all starts by visiting VolunteerSpokane.org, where you can browse volunteer opportunities!
Your City at Work
City Recognizes Businesses for Excellent Wastewater Management
The City of Spokane is recognizing four organizations that have excelled in the management of wastewater generated as part of their processes. The following organizations achieved 100 percent compliance with requirements in their industrial wastewater discharge permits for 2021:

  • ALSCO, Inc.
  • Fairchild Air Force Base
  • Goodrich Corporation
  • International Aerospace Coatings

For more information visit our website.
Shaping Spokane Housing
Duplexes are one way to increase housing in our community. As a continuation of the Housing Action Plan, the City is proposing resident code amendments that would allow duplexes to be built in single family residential areas and other appropriate locations. Learn more at ShapingSpokaneHousing.org.
Teen Chat and Text Line
The new Teen Chat and Text Line at 844-814-TEEN (8336) is a free confidential safe place service available to any teen or young adult in Spokane, Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties. It is open Monday through Friday for texts and calls from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for those who are experiencing family and relationship issues, behavioral health needs and/or substance abuse issues. Youth will be connected to a certified peer support specialist who has lived experience as well as access to other professional providers and resources.
Council Recap
Spokane City Council Member Betsy Wilkerson recaps the Monday, March 28, Spokane City Council meeting.
Construction Zone
It’s construction season! Two major projects started this week.

Hatch Road Bridge Deck Replacement
  • Hatch Bridge is closed.
  • The U.S. 195 northbound right travel lane may be closed intermittently for equipment access.

 Thor/Freya Corridor Reconstruction
  • The eastbound I-90 Thor/Freya exit ramp is closed. Motorists are encouraged to exit at Altamont.
  • Thor Street is closed from Sprague to 5th Avenue. Two-way traffic is detoured to Freya Street.
Sign of The Times
“Neighbors Drive 25,” a joint pedestrian and traffic education program between the City; Spokane C.O.P.S.; community volunteers; and the Pedestrian, Traffic, and Transportation Committee, kicked off Thursday morning. You can pick up a sign at a COPS Shop location.
Local COVID-19 Data
For the most recent and local data on cases and outcomes, visit SRHD.org. Track State of Washington information with these interactive dashboards for updates.
Indoor Mask Mandate Lifted
The indoor mask mandate has been lifted. However, there are still places in our community where masks will be required. These places include:
  • public transportation
  • airports
  • healthcare settings
  • correctional facilities
  • private businesses

For additional details click here.
All Washington Residents Age 5+ Eligible for Vaccine
All Washingtonians age 5 and up are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The Governor and the state Department of Health (DOH) have also prioritized equity issues to ensure vaccine access to populations disproportionately affected by the virus, including communities of color and low-income communities.

The CDC now recommends that everyone ages 12+ receive a COVID-19 booster shot. Get more information on the CDC’s website.
Local Vaccination Distribution Information
Three COVID-19 vaccines have been approved, and are widely accessible throughout the state. Information on the vaccine and its distribution in Washington is found on the DOH website. Learn more details on the SRHD website.

State COVID-19 Information Hotline
1-800-525-0127 (press #)

Text the word “Coronavirus” to 211211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates and resources for families, businesses, students and more.
CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People
Currently authorized vaccines in the United States are highly effective at protecting vaccinated people against symptomatic and severe COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published updated interim recommendations for people who have been fully vaccinated. Until more is known and vaccination coverage increases, some prevention measures will continue to be necessary for all people, regardless of vaccination status.
Get Vaccinated!
Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you
COVID-19 Testing Sites
Drive-up and walk-up COVID-19 testing sites are open to the community. These testing sites offer free testing and are open to anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Spokane Falls Community College
3410 W. Whistalks Way, Spokane, WA 99224
Hours: Mon – Sun, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Appointments are recommended but not required.

Mead Union Stadium
12509 N. Market St., Mead, WA 99021
(testing trailer is in the parking lot)
Hours: Sat & Sun, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Appointments are recommended but not required.
Ashley HomeStore Outlet Parking Lot
13414 E. Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
Hours: Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Appointments are recommended but not required.

CHAS Health Denny Murphy Clinic
1001 W. Second Ave., Spokane, WA 99201
Hours: Tue – Fri, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Hours: Sat, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Appointments are recommended but not required.
Need Access to Food?
Contact SNAP at (509) 319-3050 or SRTC@snapwa.org

Need Mental Health Help?
Contact 24/7: Frontier Crisis Line (877) 266-1818
Contact or Walk-In: Inland Northwest Behavioral Health (509) 992-1888

CHAS Health: (509) 444-8200

Excelsior Wellness Center: (509) 559-3100
Help for children, adults and families is available via telehealth.

Veterans Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255

Need Resources? 
Call Washington 211 at 2-1-1 or (877) 211-9274 to speak to a local agent
Text your Zip Code to 898211 or email ew211@incontactmail.com
Apply for Basic Food assistance over the phone!
Access to resources online at: wa211.org
Sign up for their Newsletter!


Lutheran Community Services: (509) 747-8224
Intensive Behavioral Health, Victim Advocacy and Foster Care, are available.
Resident Assistance
The impacts of COVID have created hardships for people in many ways. The City continues to connect residents with available and eligible resources.
Utility Assistance
There are Resident Assistance programs for emergency help to pay for City utility bills, which include charges for water, wastewater, stormwater and garbage collection. Interest-free payment plans are also available for residential and commercial customers.
Rent Assistance
The City’s Emergency Rent Assistance Program has helped landlords and tenants avoid evictions due to hardships caused by the pandemic. Nearly all of the $27 million funding has been distributed and allocated. Online application portals administered by LiveStories and Family Promise of Spokane are currently paused for new applications. For complete information and current application information visit the City’s Resident Assistance page.
On-Site Health & Wellness Services at the RCSC
Our partners at CHAS Health are onsite every Tuesday and Thursday to assist community members with applying for state health insurance, sliding fee scale registrations, and general appointment confirmations throughout the local CHAS Health system. All RCSC staff are available to connect customers to substance use disorder assessments and can directly refer everyone to additional services provided by Partners with Families and Children. Learn more about the access to healthcare offered at the RCSC here.
Walk-in customers are welcome, no appointment necessary. To learn more about the Resource Center of Spokane County’s vital services, resources, and support, please visit their website.
Spring Dreams: Doomsday Hill Challenge
Bloomies can train on the infamous Doomsday Hill in preparation for Bloomsday by participating in the Doomsday Challenge April 1-30. Register online or at the West Central Community Center. The $15 registration fee covers the cost of the shirt and any proceeds will be used for programs at the WCCC. Participants who email doomsdaychallenge@westcentralcc.org the number of trips they’ve taken up the hill in April will be entered to win a $100 Tomato Street gift card. It’s all downhill from here!
On the Bright Side
The North Suspension Bridge in Riverfront Park will re-open tomorrow, March 30, after being closed for nearly three years. In addition to the bridge, Snxw Meneɂ (sin-HOO-men-huh), formerly known as Canada Island, and the pathways around the Upper Falls condominiums will also re-open.

Photo by: James Richman Photography
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We are here to help! Simply dial 311 or if outside City limits: 509.755.CITY(2489).