Former mayor of Houston, leader in addressing homelessness coming to Spokane

The woman who was instrumental in organizing Houston’s regional response to homelessness will share her insights with Spokanites on Tuesday.

Annise Parker, former three-term mayor, three-term city councilwoman and three-term city controller, will be the keynote speaker at Hello for Good’s fall symposium at The Davenport Grand Hotel, according to a news release from the business consortium.

Hello for Good, led by Washington Trust Bank, was founded in 2021 to address homelessness in the region. The consortium hosts a spring and fall symposium each year with keynote speakers who are experts in the field.

Tuesday’s event, which starts at 8am, is free to attend and breakfast will be provided. Those interested in participating can sign up online at the Hello for Good website.

The meeting will focus on Houston’s regional approach to homelessness, which is widely considered one of the most successful efforts to address the housing crisis in decades.

Chris Patterson, co-president of Hello for Good, said in a statement that he looks forward to welcoming Parker to Spokane and seeing how the lessons learned in Houston can be applied in the Inland Northwest.

“She will bring a wealth of insight to our attendees regarding the importance of a regional approach to addressing housing and homelessness,” Patterson said. “Her success in Houston reflects how officials can work across the aisle to effectively create systemic change that benefits the community they serve.”