SPOKANE, WA – The first shelter in Spokane’s scattered site shelter model will open its doors on Monday, offering a vital service to individuals in need.
The Jewels Healing Hearts Medical Respite Facility, located inside Westminster United Church of Christ, will provide a safe space for patients discharged from the hospital but without a home to recover in.
Julie Garcia of Jewels Helping Hands highlighted the importance of the facility, saying, “A lot of people in our community die on the streets of Spokane from lack of healthcare. This is a space that could prevent some of those deaths and also could prevent those folks from becoming chronically homeless.”
The facility will be staffed by both Jewels Helping Hands and Providence Medical personnel and will include a medical exam room for patient care.
Spokane City Council Member Paul Dillon emphasized the significance of the facility: “This is healthcare being provided here. This is helping serve our vulnerable populations’ most basic needs.”
Garcia clarified that the medical respite is not a shelter. “This is not a shelter. You cannot self-refer to the space. You actually have to have been referred in by a medical professional,” she explained. The referral process ensures that only patients who require medical care are admitted.
The facility is part of Spokane’s broader efforts to address homelessness, with city leaders emphasizing open communication with the community. Dillon noted, “We’ve done great outreach… and we’ve gotten the word out in the community that this is happening.”
However, some community members expressed concerns, with one woman claiming the neighborhood council didn’t receive a good neighbor agreement until the week before the facility’s opening.
Garcia countered that the process has been transparent. “We’ve been really transparent about our policy and procedure,” she said, adding that the agreement is still under review by the neighborhood council.
To further ensure safety, Garcia mentioned that due to the facility’s proximity to a school, everyone staying there must undergo a background check.
Jewels Helping Hands continues to seek feedback from the community to ensure that the facility can serve both those with homes and those experiencing homelessness in a respectful, collaborative manner.
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