During a recent city council meeting, members discussed two significant resolutions related to housing in Spokane. The first, Resolution 2024-80, supports the city’s 2024 fair housing plan, which aims to affirmatively further fair housing in compliance with federal requirements. Public comments highlighted concerns about the implications of federal funding tied to the Fair Housing Act. Resident Dennis Flynn criticized the plan, arguing that it leads to increased taxes without addressing local housing issues effectively. He expressed skepticism about the validity of the public surveys conducted, which reportedly gathered only 236 responses, suggesting they were not representative of the community's views.

The second resolution, 2024-81, involves the city council's approval of funding contracts for the Community, Housing, and Human Services (CHHS) department, totaling over $9 million from the Home Investment Partnership program and local sales tax revenue. This funding is intended to support various housing initiatives, although specific details on the contracts were not discussed during the meeting.

The council is set to vote on these resolutions, which reflect ongoing efforts to address housing challenges in Spokane amidst concerns about the effectiveness and implications of federal oversight and funding.