Mayor Brown looks to expand access to cooling resources

Mayor Brown looks to expand access to cooling resources

Erin Hut, Communications Director, [email protected]

Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 6 p.m.

As heat grapples the Spokane region, Mayor Lisa Brown has introduced an ordinance to expand access to cooling and other in-home weatherization for low-income and vulnerable community members.

A study published in 2025 shows 84 percent of survey respondents in Spokane have in-home air conditioning, but 23 percent reported limitations to use, with the primary barrier being utility costs.

Mayor Brown's proposal, sponsored by Council President Wilkerson and Council Member Telis, would authorize the use of a portion of the City's HEART funds, which are currently set aside for tenant habitability and relocation services, to expand access to cooling, heating, and weatherization resources.

"Extreme heat can be life-threatening, but it is something we can prepare for together. By leveraging our HEART funds, we can ensure that the most vulnerable in our community have access to cooling resources to stay safe when temperatures climb," Mayor Lisa Brown said.

Simultaneously, the City is working alongside Avista Utilities and SNAP (Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners) to launch a public awareness campaign to educate residents about the dangers of extreme heat, while connecting them with the resources and information they need to stay safe.

This campaign will use a mix of digital outreach and community events to share heat safety information, increase awareness of available resources, and ensure residents know where to turn when temperatures rise.

"Avista wants to help people feel prepared and supported when temperatures rise - from understanding their energy use and ways to save, to learning about bill assistance programs and heat safety resources. We're grateful to the City of Spokane, SNAP and the many community partners helping make that possible. Each of us brings something different to this work, and together we can better connect people with the support they need to stay healthy and safe during extreme heat," said Latisha Hill, Avista vice president of community affairs and chief customer officer.

"Extreme heat can quickly become more than an inconvenience. It can become a health and safety concern. At SNAP, we believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and we know that many of our neighbors face difficult choices when temperatures rise. That's why we're committed to connecting people with resources like energy assistance, weatherization, and other supports that can make a real difference. We're proud to partner with the City of Spokane, Avista, and community organizations to help ensure our neighbors know where to turn when they need support," said Nicole Bishop, SNAP Philanthropy Manager.

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