Inclement Weather in Washington

The City of Spokane’s Community, Housing and Human Services (CHHS) Department has announced the 2026 Inclement Weather Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for emergency shelter surge capacity. The funding is intended to support programs that provide life-saving services during extreme weather conditions, including severe cold, heat, smoke, and storms. The total funding allocated for this NOFA is approximately $1,000,000 and is sourced from the City of Spokane’s General Funds. Applicants are expected to align spending with the Washington State Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG) guidelines. Eligible costs include administration, operations, and supplies related to emergency shelter surge capacity. The primary goal of this funding opportunity is to support cost-effective strategies that provide a minimum of 10 beds per location during inclement weather events. Activation criteria for shelter services are based on specific weather thresholds including wind chill below 32°F, heat index above 95°F for at least two consecutive days, air quality index reaching 201 or higher, or other severe weather conditions as determined by the Mayor or designee. During extreme heat, overnight shelter beds will be activated only if nighttime temperatures remain above 95°F; otherwise, only daytime services are funded. The funding model follows a flat-rate fee-for-service structure ranging between $55 to $75 per bed per night. One-time startup costs for items such as mattresses or bedding may also be funded separately. The city prioritizes programs that serve households with minor children—at least 30% of the total allocation will go to this group. Organizations must have existing infrastructure and overnight staffing; the City does not intend to fund new shelter builds through this opportunity. Eligible applicants include government entities within Spokane, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, private for-profit businesses, and faith-based groups. Providers serving homeless or formerly homeless individuals and families are encouraged to apply, even if they do not operate traditional emergency shelters. Programs must demonstrate experience with emergency shelter operations and the ability to manage data in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Facilities must maintain valid licenses, insurance, and registration, and meet federal requirements including an active Universal Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov. The submission deadline for applications is July 31, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Applications must be submitted via email to chhsrfp@spokanecity.org. An FAQ will be posted on July 16, and any questions must be submitted by July 11. Applications will be scored based on economic efficiency (50 points), experience in shelter services (30 points), and data management capacity (20 points). Contracts are scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, and run through December 31, 2026. Based on prior data, Spokane anticipates approximately 143 weather-related activations annually. Applicants must answer a series of questions detailing their fee structure, number of available beds, estimated startup costs, experience providing shelter services, population focus, seasonal limitations, partnerships, and data management practices. Incomplete applications will not be forwarded for review. CHHS will provide one-on-one technical assistance upon request, but no group workshops are scheduled. For questions or support, applicants can contact the department via email at chhsrfp@spokanecity.org.

Submit complete application by July 31; one-on-one technical help available via email.