Relocation follows owner's sale amid legal dispute
Thrive International, a nonprofit that has provided short-term housing and resettlement assistance to immigrant and refugee families in downtown Spokane for more than four years, will move out of its current facility at the end of October after the building's owner put the property up for sale. The organization says the sale — and the owner's financial pressures — required tenants to leave and coincides with an ongoing legal dispute over unpaid rent and insurance.
Mark Finney, Thrive's executive director, confirmed the relocation and said the change affects roughly 30 families currently transitioning toward permanent housing. Those households are now working to secure stable placements before the October deadline.
"We've been leasing the building on a long-term lease. However, the owners got into some financial circumstances that meant that they have to sell the building, and that sale has necessitated our having to move out,"
The owner of the property, identified as Fortify Holdings, is involved in litigation with Thrive over back rent and insurance payments, according to the organization. Thrive said it is pausing new admissions to the program while staff focus on relocating current residents and finding alternatives.
Pressure on housing amid communitywide shortages
Community advocates and service providers warn the move comes at a critical time. Spokane continues to contend with limited affordable housing stock, and recent wildfire impacts have further tightened availability by destroying rental units in the region. Thrive leaders told WE NEWS that the need for transitional housing remains high as newly arriving families, many with limited English proficiency and few local ties, require immediate support to access permanent housing, employment and services.
- Timeframe: Thrive will vacate the downtown facility by the end of October.
- Households affected: About 30 families are currently in Thrive-run housing and seeking permanent placements.
- Legal context: A dispute with Fortify Holdings over unpaid rent and insurance is ongoing.
Options and broader organizational plans
Thrive operates an additional site in Tacoma, and Finney said a limited number of Spokane families might be able to move there if that option becomes necessary. However, the travel and disruption such a move would cause would be substantial for families already working to establish roots in Spokane.
Thrive also said its broader mission and programs will continue even as staff search for a new Spokane location. The organization did not announce a specific timeline or address for a replacement facility, and leaders emphasized the difficulty of securing appropriate, affordable buildings in the current market.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current lease | Long-term lease; owner sold building |
| Families affected | Approximately 30 |
| Move-out deadline | End of October |
Local implications and responses
Service providers say the loss of this downtown location could create gaps in the local safety net for newly arrived families. Transitional housing programs typically provide not only shelter but also case management, language access, connections to employment and help navigating systems such as Social Security, health care and public benefits.
Advocates worry that closing the Spokane facility will increase pressure on other nonprofit shelters and housing programs already operating at or near capacity. Without a clear replacement site, families facing imminent move-out are more likely to experience housing instability or displacement from the city.
Thrive's pause on new placements is intended to limit additional caseload while staff prioritize the existing residents' moves. The organization has not provided specific details about where families will be relocated within Spokane or what support will be available from city agencies or partner nonprofits.
For now, Thrive leaders say they remain committed to serving the community and are seeking solutions to reestablish a local footprint as soon as possible.
