Editor's Note: The above video is a report on the warming center meeting requirements necessary to open.
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Jewels Helping Hands fully opened its warming center on South Cannon Tuesday night.
City of Spokane Spokesperson Marlene Feist said Jewels Helping Hands was given the OK to fully open the shelter Tuesday afternoon after the city installed a door and completed an inspection.
The warming center has 98 beds for people in need of shelter.
The City of Spokane previously said it would take until the beginning of December to make repairs.
Jewels Helping Hands at that time said they could pay for a contractor to complete the work quicker than the city's contractors have taken. The city said it didn’t want the nonprofit to make the repairs because the project is city-funded.
Concerns surrounding nonprofit before warming center opening
The City of Spokane required Jewels Helping Hands to get theft insurance after it learned Jewels Helping Hands Treasurer Jason Green had previously served time in prison for embezzling $100,000 during his time with U.S. Foods.
The city then ordered the nonprofit to vacate the warming center on Nov. 8 after it received a "serious concern" about Jewels Helping Hands leader Julie Garcia. KREM learned that this concern related to a first-degree attempted theft issue during her time with in-home care provider Comfort Keepers. The charge was dropped in 2015 due to Garcia suffering from chronic medical issues, according to court documents.
The shelter was initially set to open in early November, but was then pushed back to Nov. 22. The shelter opened on Nov. 23.
Other shelters in Spokane
City of Spokane spokesperson Marlene Feist told KREM that the city is changing its shelter plan for the winter by focusing more on shelters operated by nonprofits and less on warming centers.
After last winter, the city evaluated operations and made corrections for future warming center and shelter, according to Davis.
The following is a full list of services available for those experiencing homelessness in Spokane:
Emergency Shelter:
- House of Charity – 32 W. Pacific Ave
- Hope House for Women – 111 W. 3rd Ave
- Crosswalk for Teens – 525 W. 2nd Ave
- YWCA Shelter for Domestic Violence (call 509-326-2255)
- Open Doors Family Shelter – 2002 E. Mission
- UGM Men’s Shelter – 1224 E. Trent
- UGM for Women & Children – 1515 E. Illinois Ave
Drop-In Day Centers:
- Women’s Hearth (for women) – 920 W. 2nd Ave
- City Gate – 170 S. Madison St.
- House of Charity – 32 W. Pacific Ave
- Cup of Cool Water (ages 24 & under) -1106 W. 2nd Ave
- Crosswalk for Teens – 525 W. 2nd Ave
- Open Doors for Families – 2002 E. Mission
The following video is a report on the weekend opening of the warming center.