Two Spokane-area nonprofits have set their sights on developing shelters in the city.

Volunteers of America Eastern Washington & Northern Idaho is in the early planning stage for a new young-adult shelter in a building at 3104 E. Augusta, near the Spokane Community College, says Bridget Cannon, senior vice president of youth services. 

The site is preliminary, and no details have been finalized on the project, Cannon notes.

The plan is to open a 44-bed young adults’ shelter to fill a services gap in the Spokane area, she says. Currently, the nonprofit has two temporary locations for young adults, including 12 beds in the new Hope House, at 1301 W. Third, and 15 beds at Women’s Hearth, at 920 W. Second.

“In Spokane, we have forever had a large gap in safe shelter for young adults,” Cannon contends. 

The goal is to establish a 24/7 shelter with support services, she says, adding that ideally, the location would be near the Spokane Community College.

The nonprofit is aiming for a late summer or early fall opening, she says.

A budget hasn’t been established, since a location hasn’t been confirmed for the new shelter, she says. 

Funding for the project is coming from a grant from the Washington state Department of Commerce, Cannon adds, which awarded a $2.7 million grant to Spokane County, city of Spokane, and city of Spokane Valley to develop a youth shelter.  

Operations-wise, the building will have a budget between $900,000 to $1 million, she adds.

Architecture All Forms, of Spokane, is designing the renovations, while Baker Construction & Development Inc. has been selected to put together a project estimate.

About two miles west, at 55 W. Mission, Salvation Army Spokane is planning a $1.5 million renovation to an existing facility to develop The Way Out Shelter, which will provide 60 beds.

Currently, the building is being used as a COVID-19 shelter, says Maj. Ken Perine, of Salvation Army Spokane.

The improvements include adding 60 single bedrooms to the 14,400-square-foot space, along with a few offices and single-use bathrooms, he says. Additionally, the building will be brought up to code, he notes.

The bedrooms will be located on the second floor, while the ground floor will be used for flex space that could eventually add another 40 to 50 beds as needed, he says.

MMEC Architecture & Interiors LLC, of Spokane, is designing that renovation. A contractor hasn’t been selected.

The goal is to start work by July 1 and complete the project by Oct. 1, Perine says.