Spokane Building Official says Trent shelter is not authorized for more than 250 people

This contradicts listed bed availability of 275 and messaging from city administration that Trent can “flex” even higher to accommodate shelter needs

UPDATE: Since this story ran, Spokane issued an updated occupancy for Trent shelter that allows capacities for up to 375 people. This will allow for Salvation Army’s stated target of 350 beds, and also accomodate the nonprofit’s staffing needs. Building capacities are inclusive not just of the people utilizing the space, but also the staff of whatever organization runs it.

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For weeks, officials at the city of Spokane have told its citizens, the press and support providers looking to guide unhoused people to shelters that the Trent Resource and Assistance Center (TRAC, commonly called Trent shelter) had occupancy of 275, with the ability to “flex” to meet whatever needs arose as temperatures dropped this winter.

Communications Director Brian Coddington doubled down on that assertion as a snow storm flew in last week and temperatures dropped below the threshold that requires city officials to open extra warming shelters. A 2021 City ordinance states that in periods when temperatures drop below freezing and shelters reach 90% full or above, the city must open additional warming shelters. “The Salvation Army’s practice is not to turn anyone away,” Coddington wrote in an email to RANGE on Dec. 1.

Now, in an interview with RANGE, Dermott Murphy, Spokane’s Building Official and the person who signed off on the Trent shelter’s Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (embedded below), has told us that Trent has been permitted for 250 occupants and nothing more.

RANGE: From your perspective as a building official, though, [the Trent shelter] should not be “flexing” anywhere over the capacity of 250
Dermott Murphy: Correct

Trent has been advertising a guest capacity of 275 for weeks on the Shelter Me Spokane site — which lists all shelter capacity in the city as a way of helping unhoused people and service providers find available beds.

When we asked Murphy why officials like Coddington, communications manager Kirstin Davis, and city administrator Johnnie Perkins would say that Trent shelter was authorized to “flex” above 250, Murphy replied, “I was unaware of them flexing above it.”

We then asked Murphy what enforcement mechanisms, staffing or inspections the city has in place to ensure anyone, not just the Trent shelter, is abiding by the legal maximum occupancy as determined by Murphy, he said wasn’t sure. “I’m not aware of that,” Murphy replied, “ I wouldn't be able to answer to that.”

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