Spokane County voters’ overall view of the region held steady this fall, even as concerns about homelessness and public safety rose and financial anxiety eased, according to the latest results from The Pulse, a survey commissioned by Greater Spokane Incorporated.

The latest Community Pulse Index score, released today, is unchanged from the spring survey at 3.7 out of 10. The index has remained consistent since the survey first launched in October 2024, ranging from 3.5 to 3.8 during five polling periods, says Alisha Benson, CEO of GSI.

“We’re starting to be able to really look at trend-related pieces, not just back and forth,” says Benson. “Our voters are really consistent, and they’re continuing to paint a picture of consistency on their view of the issues and opportunities facing our region.”

Beneath that consistency, however, several concerns have increased since the spring survey. Homelessness remains the most frequently cited issue, increasing 6 percentage points to 44%. Crime, drugs, and public safety increased 5 points to 29%, while government and politics increased 6 points to 19%, says Kevin White, the senior director for Oakland, California-based EMC Research Inc., the company contracted to conduct the surveys.

Meanwhile, 67% of those surveyed say the region’s quality of life is getting worse, up 5 percentage points from spring, while 11% say quality of life is improving. Still, optimism about the region’s future remained unchanged, with 47% expressing optimism, White says.

Financial concerns among voters showed improvement. Seventy-three percent of respondents report concern about their personal financial situation, down from 81% in the spring survey, he says.

Voters also increasingly see local government as responsible for addressing regional challenges. Forty-nine percent say local government has the greatest impact on their quality of life, up 11 points from spring, while 36% point to state government, down 9 points.

Public safety also intersects with the region’s business climate. Eighty-three percent say helping local businesses address public-safety concerns would improve quality of life.

The survey also found voters evenly divided on whether growth and development have been positive for their area. Among those who say they have, economic growth, jobs, and business expansion were commonly cited benefits, while those who responded that growth and development haven't been positive pointed to development decisions, overcrowding, and infrastructure strain.

The survey of 600 registered Spokane County voters was conducted Sept. 8 to 13 and has a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.