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The nonprofit that provides new housing and other services to those living in a homeless encampment near Interstate 90 now has the approval it needs to continue providing legal aid to those who sitting there.
But the document doesn’t make it any clearer if, and when, the residents will have to move out, as the city said Tuesday it wants the permit issued by the end of the month, not summer is coming.
Brian Coddington, the city’s communications director, emailed a new city announcement Tuesday that outlines the deadline of Nov. 30. The city’s proposal for temporary construction in use it this summer as a heating center to evaluate if it can support the snow and use it this winter. A notice posted by Jewels Helping Hands at the camp site on state property listed an expiration date of June 1, 2023, and was released when a fire inspector came out to investigate. last week, said Julie Garcia, Executive Director of the nonprofit.
“That’s what’s posted,” Garcia said. “This is our reward.”
A request for a special event permit was submitted on site to the Spokane Fire Department, which inspected the shelter Thursday. City Fire Marshal Lance Dahl inspected the structure, which has served as an office for residents seeking identification cards and other services, after being established this summer as a warming center for those living in the tent on the building, owned by the Washington Department. of The Waka Waka.
A receipt from the city shows the Empire Health Foundation paid a $210 fee to obtain the permit, which allows the tent to be erected under certain conditions. Empire Health works under a federal contract to provide information and services to those living on campus. Copies of the permit provided by Garcia and the one provided by Coddington list the tent’s maximum occupancy at 115 people and at least two exits.
Coddington’s updated notification, on Tuesday, included additional requirements.
“The Fire Department requires an engineer’s report of the tent for proper erection and snow load requirements to extend the permit by November 30,” the notice reads.
Coddington said the city is issuing the permit to Jewels Helping Hands with additional requirements and an earlier expiration date.
The city and county have diverged in separate legal proceedings in an attempt to get rid of the camp, which they say is necessary to protect public health. Jewels Helping Hands, the group Disability Rights Washington and several campus residents filed a federal lawsuit last week trying to stop city and county officials from “cleaning up” the campus. Different dates have been given for when that work will be done, with the city citing a Nov. 15 deadline and Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich saying he wants to get rid of the camp eventually. of this month, with an emergency announcement to move residents in this winter. .
The city in September warned Jewels that the group will be fined every day if the tent, erected without permission, is removed. The agreement ends those fines, but Garcia said the non-business has received referrals totaling more than $9,000. A court date is set for Nov. 18 to serve the fines, Garcia said.
Garcia said camp workers are checking every 15 minutes for fires inside the property’s fence, and he has purchased four more fire extinguishers for the camp and installed three more. carbon monoxide detector for the tent, in addition to the two that were there that day.
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