Homelessness in Washington — 2024 Annual Report, Report to the Legislature (January 2025)
Summary
This January 2025 report to the Legislature from the Washington State Department of Commerce Housing Division is the Homelessness in Washington 2024 annual report to meet requirements in RCW 43.185C. Its sections cover current conditions of homelessness, challenges to reducing homelessness, homeless system performance, State Plan accomplishments, and planning, reporting and auditing. The Point-In-Time table for 2024 lists 11,524 in emergency shelter, 3,243 in transitional housing and 16,215 unsheltered, for a total of 31,040. Those experiencing unsheltered homelessness accounted for 52.2% of the total homeless population.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“Homelessness in Washington — 2024 Annual Report, Report to the Legislature (January 2025).”
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Homelessness in Washington
2024 annual report to meet requirements in RCW 43.185C
January 2025
Report to the Legislature
HOUSING DIVISION Interim Director Diane Klontz
v3.5
For people with disabilities, this report is available in
Acknowledgments other formats upon request. To submit a request, please
call 7-1-1 and ask to be connected to 360-725-4000.
Washington State Department of Commerce
Corina Grigoras, Former Assistant Director,
Housing Division
Tedd Kelleher, Interim Assistant Director, Housing
Division
Kathy Kinard, Managing Director, Homelessness
Assistance Unit
Oliver Crain, Deputy Managing Director,
Homelessness Assistance Unit
Nick Mondau, Balance of State Continuum of Care,
Homelessness Assistance Unit
Dione Griffith, Community Engagement and Policy
Coordinator, Homelessness Assistance Unit
Kim Justice, Former Executive Director, Office of
Homeless Youth
Matt Davis, Systems Change Manager, Office of
Homeless Youth
Emily Burgess, Managing Director, Data and
Performance Unit
Makela Alem, Racial Equity Performance Specialist,
Data and Performance Unit
Jayme Khoo, Data Analytics Team Manager, Data
and Performance Unit
Graham Parrington, Senior Policy Analyst, Housing
Policy and Strategic Initiatives Unit
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON STATE 2024 2
Table of contents
Executive summary .........................................................................................................................................4
Assessing the current conditions of homelessness.........................................................................................7
Challenges to reducing homelessness ..........................................................................................................12
Homeless system performance.....................................................................................................................16
State Plan accomplishments .........................................................................................................................20
Planning, reporting, and auditing ..................................................................................................................29
Organizational outline ...................................................................................................................................31
Homeless housing project expenditure and data report .................................................................................34
State-funded homeless housing reports .......................................................................................................35
Point-In-Time Count .....................................................................................................................................36
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 3
Executive summary
Overview
This annual report complements the State of Washington Homeless Housing Crisis Response System
Strategic Plan 2019-2024. It fulfills reporting requirements outlined in several Homeless Housing and
Assistance Act chapters, including RCW 43.185C.010, 040, 045. 170, 340, and RCW 43.63A.305 and 311.
Key findings:
The most reliable data indicates that homelessness peaked in 2023 in Washington (12% above the
January 2020 level), and has at least stabilized, if not declined slightly, since then.1 However, changes in
eligibility for Medicaid and other programs make it difficult to ascertain the actual trend. The Snapshot of
Homelessness report estimated approximately 157,964 people were experiencing homelessness in
Washington in January 2024.2 This equates to about 2% of Washington's population.3
The number of people visibly experiencing homelessness increased after 2020. Since 2022, visible
homelessness has decreased in many communities by either moving people into housing after
extensive outreach, or by breaking up encampments and working to get encampment residents into
housing whenever possible.4
Youth and young adult homelessness declined 40% between 2016 and 2023, demonstrating that at-
scale deeper investments governed by leadership from a steering committee of people with lived
experience effectively reduces homelessness.
Rental housing prices have continued to increase, outpacing lower fixed incomes including federal
disability assistance, putting additional people at risk of homelessness. And COVID-related federally
funded rent assistance has expired, after which evictions increased.
Programmatic highlights:
Racial equity performance measures have been expanded to the state’s primary homeless grants to
local homeless crisis response systems: The Consolidated Homeless Grant and the System
Demonstration Grant.
Commerce published the updated 2024-29 State Homeless Strategic Plan in the fall of 2024, which will
serve as a guide for state and local efforts to address homelessness in the coming years.
1 Washington State Department of Commerce, "Snapshot of Homelessness in Washington State for January 2020," and "Snapshot of
Homelessness in Washington State for January 2023"
2 Washington State Department of Commerce, Snapshot of Homelessness reports
3 Washington State Office of Financial Management, April 1 official population estimates, (April 2024)
4 Washington State Department of Commerce, Rights-of-Way Safety Initiative, (2024)
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 4
Annual statutory reporting requirements
Table 1: Guide to annual reporting requirements in this report
Subsection Excerpted reporting requirements Location in report
RCW 43.185C.045: Homeless housing strategic plan—Annual report of the department and local governments.
Assessing the current conditions of
"An assessment of the current condition of homelessness in Washington state
homelessness, Homeless system
(1)(a) and the state's performance in meeting the goals in the state homeless housing
performance, State Plan
strategic plan;"
accomplishments
"A report on the results of the annual homeless point-in-time census conducted
(1)(b) Point-In-Time Count
statewide under RCW 43.185C.030;"
"The amount of federal, state, local, and private funds
spent on homelessness assistance, categorized by funding
source and the following major assistance types:
(i) Emergency shelter;
(ii) Homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing; Homeless housing project
(1)(c) (iii) Permanent housing; expenditure and data report ("the
(iv) Permanent supportive housing; GOLDEN")
(v) Transitional housing;
(vi) Services only; and
(vii) Any other activity in which more than five hundred
thousand dollars of category funds were expended;"
"A report on the expenditures, performance, and outcomes of state funds
distributed through the consolidated homeless grant program, including the grant State-funded homeless housing
(1)(d)
recipient, award amount expended, use of the funds, counties served, and reports
households served;"
"A report on state and local homelessness document recording fee expenditure
by county, including the total amount of fee spending, percentage of total Homeless housing project
(1)(e) spending from fees, number of people served by major assistance type, and expenditure and data report ("the
amount of expenditures for private rental housing payments required in RCW GOLDEN")
36.22.250;"
"(f) A report on the expenditures, performance, and outcomes of the essential
needs and housing support program meeting the requirements of RCW
(1)(f) and State-funded homeless housing
43.185C.220; and
(g) reports
(g) A report on the expenditures, performance, and outcomes of the independent
youth housing program meeting the requirements of RCW 43.63A.311;"
"…the department must produce and post information on the local government's
Homeless housing project
homelessness spending from all sources by project during the prior state fiscal
(3) expenditure and data report ("the
year in a format similar to the department's report under subsection (1)(c) of this
GOLDEN")
section."
"Any local government receiving state funds for homelessness assistance or
state or local homelessness document recording fees under RCW 36.22.250
(3) Planning, reporting, and auditing
must provide an annual report on the current condition of homelessness in its
jurisdiction…"
RCW 43.185C.170: Interagency council on homelessness—Duties—Reports.
"The interagency council on homelessness, as defined in RCW 43.185C.010 ...
Interagency Council on
(1) shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature annually by
Homelessness
December 31st on its activities."
RCW 43.185C.220: Essential needs and housing support program—Distribution of funds.
"In collaboration with the Department of Social and Health Services, submit a State-funded homeless housing
(7)(c)
report annually to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the legislature. A reports
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 5
preliminary report shall be submitted by December 31, 2011, and must include
(c)(i), (iii), and (v) of this subsection. Annual reports must be submitted beginning
December 1, 2012, and must include:
(i) A description of the actions the department has taken to achieve the
objectives of chapter 36, Laws of 2011 1st sp. sess.;
(ii) The amount of funds used by the department to administer the program;
(iii) Information on the housing status of essential needs and housing support
recipients served by housing support entities, and individuals who have requested
housing support but did not receive housing support;
(iv) Grantee expenditure data related to administration and services provided
under this section; and
(v) Efforts made to partner with other entities and leverage sources or public and
private funds;"
RCW 43.185C.340: Students experiencing homelessness—Grant program to link families with housing—Program goals—Grant
process—Requirements—Grantees report to the department.
"(a) Grantee organizations must compile and report information to the
department. The department shall report to the legislature the findings of the
grantee, the housing stability of the homeless families, and any related policy
recommendations.
(b) Grantees must track and report on the following measures including, but not
limited to:
(i) Length of time enrolled in the grant program; State-funded homeless housing
(8)
(ii) Housing destination at program exit; reports
(iii) Type of residence prior to enrollment in the grant program; and
(iv) Number of times homeless in the past three years.
(c) Grantees must also include in their reports a narrative description discussing
its partnership with school districts as set forth in the memorandum outlined in
subsection (4) of this section. Reports must also include the kinds of supports
grantees are providing students and families to support academic learning."
RCW 43.63A.311: Independent youth housing program—Subcontractor organization performance review and report.
"The independent youth housing program report must include, at a minimum, an
update on the following program performance measures, as well as any other
performance measures the department may establish, for enrolled youth in
consultation with the department of social and health services, to be measured
(2)(a) statewide and by county: State-funded homeless housing
through (f) (a) Increases in housing stability; reports
(b) Increases in economic self-sufficiency;
(c) Increases in independent living skills;
(d) Increases in education and job training attainment;
(e) Decreases in the use of all state-funded services over time;"
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 6
Assessing the current conditions of homelessness
According to the Snapshot of Homelessness reports, homelessness increased an estimated 9% statewide
from January 2019 to January 2024. From January 2023 to January 2024, the number of people experiencing
homelessness declined slightly (2%), from 160,735 to 157,964 across Washington. This this change may be
driven by changes in Medicaid eligibility, reducing the overall number of people accounted for in state data
systems.5
The stubborn persistence of the homelessness crisis results from the interplay of structural factors and
individual characteristics. Societal factors create environments that elevate homelessness risk (e.g., systemic
inequalities, geographic location, an insufficient social safety net, macroeconomic trends, and housing
affordability).6 Individual characteristics such as mental health, substance use disorders (SUD),
socioeconomic status, disability, employment, and family instability combine with these structural factors to
elevate a household's risk of homelessness. Where barriers to overcoming homelessness persist and worsen,
homelessness continues to increase.7 This section of the report describes the current conditions of these
structural factors and individual characteristics that underlie contemporary trends in homelessness.
Adult and family homelessness
Community-level indicators describe the incidence of homelessness
Housing affordability
Research has shown that the cost and availability of housing directly contributes to community-level incidence
of homelessness.8 In 2023, the University of Washington reported an average rent in Washington of $1,763
monthly,9 a 21.5% increase when compared to 2019. This follows a trend of increases of 50% between 2013
and 2021.10 One in 10 people in Washington have incomes below $15,060 and are therefore at risk for housing
instability based on their income to market rent ratio.11 A person working a minimum wage job would need to
work 83 hours per week to afford a 1-bedroom rental home at fair market rental costs.12 The National Low
Income Housing Coalition estimates that rental rates would need to be at most $911 per month for people
living at or below 30% of the area median income.13 This disparity causes many people to experience housing
instability and gives rise to homelessness.
Black, Native American, and People of Color disproportionately experience
homelessness
The history of racist and exclusionary policies by governments in Washington continue to manifest in the
incidence of homelessness among Black and Native American communities. These policies and practices
included redlining, economic and social displacement, gentrification, restrictive covenants, ongoing
discriminatory lending practices, and unfair housing practices. Though many of these have fallen out of
5 Washington State Department of Commerce, "Snapshot of Homelessness Report," (2024)
6 William D. Ruckelshaus Center, "Pathways to Housing Security," (2023),
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid.
9 University of Washington Runstad Department of Real Estate, "Washington State Apartment Market Report," (2023)
10 William D. Ruckelshaus Center, "Pathways to Housing Security," (2023)
11 University of Washington Runstad Department of Real estate, "Washington State Apartment Market Report," (2023)
12 Ibid.
13 National Low Income Housing Coalition, "Out of Reach Washington," (2024)
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 7
practice, their legacies continue to harm communities.14 As a result, Native American and Black communities
experience homelessness at rates disproportionate to their presence in Washington's population, and at much
higher rates than their White peers.15
Figure 1: Disparities in incidence of homelessness and access to services
80%
71.9%
70%
60% 55.2% 54.8%
50%
40%
30%
20% 16.2%
8.2% 7.1% 8.1%
10% 4.4%
2.0%
0%
White Black Native American
% of Washington population % of homeless population % of population accessing services
Many of Washington’s marginalized communities have similar incidences of homelessness, disproportionately
higher compared to their presence in the general population.16 The inequitable occurrence of homelessness
for People of Color and the history of over-policing of Communities of Color contributes to a cycle of
incarceration and homelessness.
Increasing criminalization of homelessness
In June 2024, the US Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson removed any requirement that local
jurisdictions provide an alternate place to live before citing or arresting unhoused individuals.17 Consequently,
local jurisdictions have continued to invest in law enforcement measures to address homelessness despite
the lack of evidence for their efficacy. A survey of mayors found that 59% say police enforce quality-of-life
arrests against homeless people, and 78% stated that the police shape the local response to homelessness.18
Local prohibitions can effectively criminalize sitting or lying, being present in specific geographic areas,
accessing public accommodations to meet basic needs such as toilets, and seeking rest, safety, or privacy
when using tents, tarps, or vehicles.
14 National Community Reinvestment Coalition, "HOLC 'REDLINING' Maps: The persistent structure of segregation and economic
inequality," (2024)
Berkeley Public Health, 50 years after being outlawed, redlining still drives neighborhood health inequities, (2024)
15 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, "Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless
Populations and Subpopulations," (2023)
16 Washington State Office of Financial Management, Washington state population by race, (2022);
Washington State University Division of Governmental Studies and Services, "Status of Fact Finding Year 3," (2023)
17 Supreme Court of the United States, "City of Grants Pass, Oregon v Johnson et al., Slip Opinion," (2024)
18 Hanna Love and Thea Sebastian, Brookings, "Safe places and safe sleeping: Cost effective and humane recommendations for local
leaders after Grants Pass," (2024)
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 8
Household characteristics contribute to a higher individual risk of
homelessness
Substance use and mental health disorders
Systemic factors contribute to a community's incidence of homelessness when they interact with individual
characteristics. People struggling with mental health or SUD are overrepresented among those experiencing
homelessness at a rate of 43% compared to 33% among the general population.19 Regardless of whether these
co-morbidities manifest during an episode of homelessness or represent a root cause behind a household's
loss of housing, their presence requires a holistic response that goes beyond simply providing access to
housing.20 Some of the most visible people experiencing homelessness are those who are concurrently
experiencing SUD or a severe mental crisis.
Employment
Housing affordability is a ratio between the price of housing and the income received by a household. If prices
and incomes rise, housing remains relatively affordable for a household. A job loss, family break-up, incapacity
or death all may represent both personal tragedy and income loss to a household. When combined with the
structural factors in a particular community and other household characteristics, this income loss can serve as
a precipitating event in destabilizing a household, possibly resulting in homelessness. Despite struggling to
find stable housing, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness estimates that 40%-60% of those
unhoused continue to work or seek employment.21
Tailored interventions show promise
Washington has made significant investments in temporary and permanent housing for people experiencing
homelessness. Permanent supportive housing (PSH) has shown successful outcomes for people who are
experiencing a behavioral health challenge, such as SUD or mental illness.22 In addition, the Encampment
Resolution Initiative is an example of a successful housing intervention. Since the inception of the initiative,
from July 2022 to February 2024, more than 1,000 people have moved from encampments into shelters or
housing.23 Of the 83% who were moved into housing, 72% are still stably housed.24 The program's success
illuminates a need for more housing solutions that demonstrate meaningful change.
Homeless rates remain too high in Washington
In summary, systemic barriers create conditions that cause an increase in rates of homelessness. When
combined with individual characteristics, the odds increase that people will end up living unhoused.
The elevated rates of homelessness result from several factors, including:
A continued decrease in housing affordability, especially for lower income households25
Historic racist and exclusionary policies and their legacies
19 United States Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA Announces National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
Results Detailing Mental Illness and Substance Use Levels in 2021, (2023);
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, "Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless
Populations and Subpopulations," (2023)
20 Washington State Department of Commerce, "2024-2029 State Homeless Housing Strategic Plan,"
21 United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Data and Trends, (2023)
22 Urban Institute, Denver Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond Initiative, (2024)
23 Washington State Department of Commerce, Rights-of-Way Safety Initiative
24 Ibid.
25 National Low Income Housing Coalition, Washington, (Accessed December 2024)
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 9
The rising criminalization of homelessness
An inadequate supply of housing assistance
The increasingly complex task of addressing the needs of a homeless population struggling with
substance use disorder, severe mental health disorders, and physical disabilities
Youth and young adult homelessness
Washington stands out as a national leader in addressing youth and young adult homelessness. Through
robust collaboration among state leaders, philanthropic organizations, community-based initiatives, advocacy
groups, and, most crucially, the young people themselves, Washington has emerged as a model of innovation
in tackling the complex challenges faced by unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing
homelessness.
In February 2024, the Office of Homeless Youth, in partnership with A Way Home Washington, released a
pivotal state-level report titled “Yes to Yes” Washington State: Unaccompanied Youth and Young Adult
Homelessness Landscape Scan. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the data, highlights the
progress achieved, and identifies remaining gaps in addressing homelessness among youth and young adults.
The report reveals a significant 40% reduction in youth and young adult homelessness from 2016 to 2023.
This remarkable progress aligns with several key initiatives, including the establishment of the Office of
Homeless Youth, the launch of the community-based Anchor Community Initiative, the creation of the
pioneering Homeless Student Stability Program, efforts to close geographic service gaps, and increased
investment in prevention strategies.
Despite these advances, more than 14,000 young people remain unstably housed or homeless. Youth of color
and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals are disproportionately affected. These young people, aged 12 to 24, face
homelessness or unstable housing situations without the support of a parent or guardian.
Contributing factors to their circumstances include family dysfunction, conflict, or rejection due to sexual
orientation or gender identity, which can lead to separation from family. Additionally, failures within foster care,
juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems increase the risk of homelessness. Structural issues such as
economic instability, underemployment, wages that fail to meet regional cost of living, generational poverty,
and institutional racism also play a significant role in creating the broader conditions that contribute to
homelessness and other adverse outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
Progress
Significant developments in preventing and ending youth and young adult homelessness since 2016 include:
A 40% reduction in youth and young adult homelessness between 2016 and 2023
Near-closure of geographic services gaps: Compared to 2016, when fewer than half of all Washington
counties had any housing or shelter, today, more than three-quarters have housing or shelter and all but
two counties have some form of housing support services
A culture shift to “Yes to Yes” championed by A Way Home Washington’s Anchor Community Initiative
in which a community and the system are well prepared to say “yes” when a young person says “yes, I
need support”
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 10
Five U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Youth Homelessness Demonstration
Program awards totaling $20 million
75% of young people permanently housed in 2020 remained housed after two years
Progress on prevention, with leadership from a steering committee that includes youth with lived
experience and a cross-system prevention workgroup; increased investments in diversion efforts and
flexible resources; and targeted grant programs to ensure young people exit public systems into safe
and stable housing
Gaps
Significant gaps remain that stand in the way of young people securing stable housing:
Lack of housing support for pregnant and parenting young people
Limited housing options and services for minors that can be accessed legally without parental consent
Lack of affordable, low-barrier housing especially for BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ young people and young
people with mental health issues and/or SUD
BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ young people experience homelessness and housing instability
disproportionately and need population-specific, culturally sensitive care
Higher mental health needs and shortage of mental health practitioners and resources, especially for
BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ young people and in rural communities
Unmet basic needs such as lack of access to transportation, food, and youth/young adult-specific
shelter and housing, especially in rural communities
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 11
Challenges to reducing homelessness
The previous section describing the current conditions of homelessness identified key community- and
household-level indicators that raise the risk of homelessness incidence. The following section expands on the
current economic, political, and societal barriers to reducing and eliminating homelessness by examining both
systemic factors and individual characteristics.
Increasing housing costs, lack of affordable housing and insufficient
wage gains
Housing prices have grown faster than incomes. Between 2020 and 2023, the median income in Washington
rose 17%.26 However, for that same period, average rents increased 19% statewide.27 At the same time, the
proportion of renter households considered "rent-burdened" increased from 45% of households to roughly
50%.28 While people facing homelessness can find work, they cannot find work that pays a housing wage in
Washington.29 As a result, they are paying a greater share of their income on housing.
Households with a federal disability benefit are particularly vulnerable to economic displacement. The National
Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that their affordable monthly rent would be $294, or 30% of their
Social Security Disability Insurance payment. A $294 monthly rent is $1,469 less than the current average rent
in Washington.30 Other populations on fixed incomes, particular people over 55 years of age, face the same
pressures. In 2010, 12% of Washington's residents were 65 or older, but by 2022 that increased to 17%.
Once a household enters an episode of homelessness, further structural barriers at the service provider level
can impact a person’s ability to reintegrate into the workforce and become re-housed. Many shelters require
check-in times, which often do not align with work schedules for individuals who are experiencing
homelessness. People end up having to choose between entering shelters or keeping their jobs.
Increases in evictions
These economic pressures lead to housing instability and the threat of eviction. In November 2023, the Office
of Civil and Legal Aid reported a 100% increase in the number of eviction filings.31 This comes after the
expiration of many COVID-19 related housing protections and assistance programs. The passage of Chapter
115, Laws of 2011 (2ESSB 5160) established a right to counsel for indigent tenants facing eviction. However,
OCLA notes that the surge in filings threatens the program's ability to provide services. Collinson and Reed
(2018) of New York University’s School of Law note, “Evictions cause large and persistent increases in the risk
of homelessness, elevate long-term residential instability, and increase emergency room use.”32 Often, housing
assistance eligibility guidelines require a household to wait until an eviction action is imminent before applying
for aid. The pressure of eviction and the tight window to receive assistance can destabilize a household and
result in homelessness. The resultant damage to the household's rental record creates barriers to re-housing.
26 Washington State Office of Financial Management, Median household income estimates, (2024)
27 University of Washington, Washington Center for Real Estate Research, "Washington State Market Report - Fall 2020," (2020);
University of Washington Runstad Department of Real Estate, "Washington State Apartment Market Report," (2023)
28 United States Census Bureau, "DP04-Selected Housing Characteristics- 1year to 5 year estimates,"
29 National Low Income Housing Coalition, "Out of Reach Washington," (2024)
30 Ibid.
31 Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid, "Memorandum to Superior Court Judges' Association, re: Availability of Appointed Counsel
Following 100% increase In Unlawful Detainer Filings" (2023)
32 Robert Collinson and Davin Reed, New York University School of Law, "The Effects of Eviction on Low-Income Households," (2018)
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 12
Demand for assistance exceeds available resources
To prevent episodes of homelessness, many people need housing assistance. Unfortunately, available
subsidized units and rental vouchers in Washington fall short of demand.33 In 2024, Commerce reported that
Washington has approximately 155,214 housing units affordable to households with low or moderate
incomes.34 Public housing authorities manage an additional 64,472 Housing Choice Rental Vouchers.35
However, the US Census Bureau estimates that more than 540,000 households are eligible to benefit from
these programs, with some estimates as high as 700,000.36 Without additional subsidized units or vouchers,
people will continue to face housing instability and homelessness in Washington.
For those experiencing homelessness, the demand for homeless emergency housing exceeds supply. The
January 2024 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count identified 16,215 people living in places not meant for human
habitation across the state.37 According to HUD's 2023 Housing Inventory Count Report, Washington had only
13,909 emergency shelter beds, many of them occupied or reserved for specific sub-populations (i.e., people
fleeing sexual assault or domestic violence).38
Finally, the increased presence of asylum seekers places further strain on homeless crisis response systems.
Riverton Park United Methodist Church in King County estimated more than 2,000 unhoused asylum seekers
sought help between 2022 and 2024.39 With long waits for federal work permits and residency documents,40
many people seeking asylum remain in areas not meant for human habitation while they look for emergency
housing assistance, rent assistance, and permanent housing. In the 2023-2025 biennium, the Legislature
appropriated $32 million in assistance administered by the Department of Social and Health Services Office of
Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (DSHS OIRA) and Commerce's Community Services Division.41 If current trends
in immigrant and refugee arrivals continue, Washington's already overloaded homeless crisis response
systems will struggle to render effective housing and homelessness assistance.
Racist policies continue to impact communities
Native American and Black communities are disproportionately represented among people experiencing
homelessness, as described in the section on Current Conditions of Homelessness. Often the individuals
experiencing homelessness have intersectional identities, that is, they may identify with one or more of the
following: youth, LGBTQIA2S+, survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, having a history of mental
health diagnosis, having an SUD, or having a disability. In addition, they carry the generational trauma of racist
government policies such as the Indian Removal Act, the forced assimilation through the Indian boarding
school system of the twentieth century, chattel slavery, and the Jim Crow system, among many others.
33 Washington State University Division of Governmental Studies and Services, "Status of Fact Finding Year 3," (2023)
34 Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board, "Housing Advisory Plan 2023-2028," (2024)
35 US HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Data Dashboard, (Accessed August 2024)
36 United States Census Bureau, "DP04-Selected Housing Characteristics- 1year to 5 year estimates;"
Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board, "Housing Advisory Plan 2023-2028," (2023)
37 Washington State Department of Commerce, "Snapshot of Homelessness in Washington State for January 2024," (2024)
38 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, "Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Housing
Inventory Count Report," (2023)
39 Gene Johnson, AP News, "Hundreds of asylum-seekers are camped out near Seattle. There's a vacant motel next door" (2024)
40 Anna Patrick, Seattle Times, "State announces where 16.4 million in asylum-seeker aid will go," (2024).
41 Washington State Legislature, "Chapter 153, Laws of 2024, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance," (2024);
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, "Welcoming Washington,"
(2024)
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 13
Consequently, individuals who identify as Native American or Black face significantly higher barriers to re-
housing.42 Members of these communities may have a justified distrust of government and assistance
programs. In addition, they must navigate services that lack a basic understanding of their experiences and
cultural backgrounds. They face daily mistreatment due to implicit bias and outright discrimination, and their
communities have proportionally fewer affordable housing options.43 What housing options exist often remove
people from their community or are located in areas that either lack needed services, have a greater
concentration of environmental hazards, or have limited access to economic opportunities.44
Incarceration perpetuates a cycle of arrest and release to
homelessness
According to the Brookings Institute, “Homelessness and incarceration have long been linked in the United
States, with many people cycling between jails, prisons, and homelessness.”45 As described in the Section on
Current Conditions of Homelessness, many local governments see policing as an effective tool to manage the
visible impacts of homelessness. With the recent US Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, many
local governments are investing more resources in ordinances, encampment clearances, citations, fines, and
arrests to address the impacts of unsheltered homelessness.46 However, strategies that criminalize actions
related to people living outside create a cycle of incarceration, perpetuate inequities for marginalized
communities, and extend homelessness in Washington.47
Those who have been justice-impacted face societal stigma. Formerly incarcerated people face obstacles to
gainful employment and discrimination in securing permanent housing.48 HUD found that more than 50,000
people enter shelters directly from jails and prisons each year.49 That does not account for those who live
outside immediately following incarceration.50 Furthermore, people who are formerly incarcerated are 10 times
more likely to be homeless.51 The Prison Policy Initiative (2018) found that when someone has been
incarcerated more than once, their risk of homelessness is 13 times higher than the general public.52 This
revolving door of incarceration creates a challenge to reducing homelessness.
Inadequate or inaccessible substance use and mental health
treatment
The absence of mental health disorder and SUD treatment options in a community represents a structural
factor that raises a community's rates of homelessness. An individual experience of SUD or mental health
disorder can lead to or perpetuate an episode of homelessness. The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration estimates that 21% of individuals experiencing homelessness have a serious mental
42 Jackie Micucci, National League of Cities, Rooted in Trauma: Homelessness in Native Communities, (2023)
43 National Alliance to End Homelessness, Serving Native Women Experiencing Homelessness: From Trauma to Transformation, (2019)
44 National Alliance to End Homelessness, Homelessness and Racial Disparities, (updated December 2023)
45 Hanna Love and Thea Sebastian, Brookings Institution, Safe places and safe sleeping: Cost effective and humane recommendations
for local leaders after Grants Pass, (2024)
46 City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, No. 23-75, "Slip Opinion," (2023); Matt Vasilogambros and Robbie Sequeira, Washington State
Standard, "'That was my home' Around the U.S., homeless residents face uncertainty as encampment sweeps gain steam," (2023)
47 Washington State University Division of Governmental Studies and Services, "Status of Fact Finding Year 3," (2023)
48 Lucius Couloute, Prison Policy Initiative, Nowhere to Go: Homelessness among formerly incarcerated people, (2018)
49 Urban Institute, Five Charts That Explain the Homelessness-Jail Cycle-and How to Break It, (2020)
50 Ibid.
51 Lucius Couloute, Prison Policy Initiative, Nowhere to Go: Homelessness among formerly incarcerated people, (2018)
52 Ibid.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 14
health diagnosis, and 16% have a SUD.53 Many obstacles exist for obtaining treatment for these issues. The
behavioral healthcare workforce faces critical shortages in providers,54 while narrow or inadequate insurance
coverage makes care inaccessible to those unable to cover the high out-of-pocket costs.55 People seeking to
access inpatient treatment beds face significant financial and geographic barriers. Many who identify as youth,
LGBTQIA2S+ and/or People of Color face additional systemic inequities and discrimination.56 According to the
Washington State Department of Health, although there are 3,000 available licensed inpatient treatment beds,
as many as 500 remain unoccupied at any given time. Systemic barriers block people experiencing
homelessness from assessment and treatment.
Age-related challenges
In 2023, HUD estimated 135,248 adults over the age of 55 experience homelessness in the United States.57
Nationally, nearly 1 in 4 people living in conditions not meant for human habitation were over the age of 55.58
Although the root causes of homelessness in older adults are diverse, some risk factors include “medical
problems, health-related behaviors such as SUD, social factors (e.g., social isolation, barriers to
transportation), and financial insecurity.”59 Similar to the broader population experiencing homelessness,
discrimination, and structural racism affect aging individuals with diverse, intersectional identities.
Conclusion
Available data suggests that significant challenges to reducing homelessness remain. In addition, significant
state and federal investments have proven insufficient or too short-term to combat an increase in
homelessness in Washington. Market rate rent increases mean that at least 10% of Washington’s population
needs to earn higher incomes or receive subsidized rent. While incomes have increased, they have not kept
pace with housing costs. Available assistance does not meet the need. People facing barriers to housing
stability due to substance use and severe mental health challenges struggle to find adequate, affordable
treatment options. The criminalization of living outside does not lead to reduced homelessness. The public
and private sectors must do more in order to achieve lasting reductions in homelessness.
53 Mark Saldua, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Addressing Social Determinants of Health Among
Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, (2023)
54 Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, "Washington's Behavioral Health Workforce Barriers and
Solutions," (2020)
55 Mark, T.L. and Parish, W.J., RTI International, "Behavioral health parity-Pervasive disparities in access to in-network care continue,"
(2024)
56 The White House, FACT SHEET: Improving Access and Care for Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions, (2021)
57 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, "Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless
Populations and Subpopulations," (2023)
58 National Alliance to End Homelessness, Older Adults, (2023)
59 Ibid.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 15
Homeless system performance
Goals and targets
In July 2017, Commerce introduced performance improvement requirements to the Consolidated Homeless
Grant (CHG). For contracts starting in July 2023, new performance requirements integrated concepts
introduced in Chapter 214, Laws of 2021 (ESHB 1277). This law includes concepts of racially equitable access
to homeless crisis response systems and racially equitable outcomes from programs.
For each intervention type funded by CHG, grantees must adopt the required housing outcome performance
measure outlined in Table 2 below. Grantees must also make progress toward the statewide performance
target, which states the level of desirable performance and indicates a high-performing system. Additionally,
the housing outcomes of the exited households must be similar, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Table 2: Required housing outcome performance measures
Performance
Intervention type Performance measure Calculation
target
Increase exits to Of people in emergency shelters who exited, those
Drop-in emergency shelter 50%
positive outcomes who exited to positive outcome destinations
Increase exits to Of people in emergency shelters who exited, those
Emergency shelter 50%
permanent housing who exited to permanent housing destinations
Increase exits to Of people in transitional housing who exited, those
Transitional housing 80%
permanent housing who exited to permanent housing destinations
Increase exits to Of people in rapid re-housing who exited, those who
Rapid re-housing 80%
permanent housing exited to permanent housing destinations
Permanent supportive housing or Increase exits to or Of people in permanent support housing those who
any permanent housing type retention of permanent remained in PSH or exited to permanent housing 95%
(excluding rapid re-housing) housing destinations
Testing:
Testing: of the people in homelessness prevention
Housing retention
who exited to a permanent housing destination, Not
Testing: homelessness prevention after one month
those who did not enter the homeless system after established
Housing retention
exit
after six months
*Drop-in emergency shelters offer night-by-night living arrangements that allow households to enter and exit on an irregular or daily basis and often use
a night-by-night tracking method in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
**Excludes drop-in emergency shelters
Racially equitable outcomes
Starting July 2023, CHG’s performance requirements included the equitable outcomes performance measure.
The measure is a key component to promoting racial equity within the homeless crisis response system. The
equitable outcomes performance measure looks at housing outcomes (specifically, exits to positive
outcomes) of exited households across racial and ethnic demographics. Shelters are considered in
compliance with this performance measure when the housing outcomes of the exited households across
racial and ethnic demographics are not significantly less than the overall rate. This is measured across each
intervention type already included in outcomes-based performance monitoring: drop-in emergency shelter,
emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and PSH. We conducted the mid-point performance
assessment of the equitable outcomes measure in the summer of 2024.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 16
This assessment provided grantees with an update on their performance based on the measure so that they:
Understand the equitable outcomes measure and requirements under the CHG guidelines
Are aware of any outcome disparities that exist in their community and have opportunities for diagnosing
and improving outcome disparities
Are prepared for the formal performance monitoring
Additionally, the mid-point performance assessment provided Commerce the opportunity to test the
monitoring methodology and incorporate feedback from grantees to ensure that future monitoring of this
measure is accurate and meaningful.
Commerce performed an internal assessment of the outcomes data in accordance with the measure. We
reviewed data at the system (county) level to assess disparities across all race and ethnicity categories and all
intervention types. We scored this evaluation against a rubric to assess which grantees will be selected for
technical assistance with the intention of selecting grantees with more significant outcome-based racial
disparities. All grantees received documentation of the results of their community’s assessment.
Performance results disaggregated by race and ethnicity can be found on the CHG Performance Tracker,
which is updated quarterly.
This short video series is available for more information on the background of performance monitoring, current
requirements and racial equity-related performance measurement.
Racially equitable access
Nationally and in Washington, People of Color are dramatically overrepresented in homeless and unstably
housed populations. Commerce supports communities in improving equitable access by publishing access
data, developing resources, and facilitating activities focused on data literacy. Additionally, Commerce
provides technical assistance on strategies that improve access, including support with Coordinated Entry.
These resources and activities include grantee workshops, one-on-one technical assistance opportunities, data
visualizations, trainings, and toolkits.
To assess the impact of equitable access strategies, Commerce maintains the Washington Balance of State
Equitable Access Dashboard. This dashboard compares the race and ethnicity of households entering the
homeless system as measured using Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data to the race and
ethnicity of the homeless and unstably housed population as reported in the Snapshots of Homelessness
reports. Communities are encouraged to use this data to identify underserved populations, assess the impact
of their access strategies and ultimately work to improve equitable access as needed.
In 2024, Commerce provided an Equitable Access Workshop Series in which grantees had the opportunity to
explore equitable access. Each workshop covered a different topic, and attendees heard from Commerce Staff,
outside experts and each other. We recorded each workshop, provided an accompanying toolkit and held
dedicated office hours for attendees to discuss equitable access with the workshop facilitators.
Snapshot of homelessness in Washington
The Snapshot of Homelessness reports (Snapshot reports) combines client information from several state
agency data systems to provide a comprehensive estimate of the homeless and unstably housed population in
the state. We publish it twice a year, in January and July.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 17
According to the Snapshot report, we estimate that there were 198,176 people experiencing homelessness or
housing instability in Washington in the month of January 2024. Of those, 13.1% were American Indian or
Alaska Native and 19.6% were Black or African American.
The Snapshot report can help community members, policymakers, and planners understand service needs in
their communities and the characteristics of individuals who were homeless or unstably housed during the
reporting month.
The Snapshot report is the most comprehensive count of the homeless and unstably housed population. It
combines information on housing status from Provider One (P1), the Automated Client Eligibility System
(ACES), and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
What is P1?
P1 is the Medicaid claims system administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority. When people
access medical services covered by Medicaid, diagnoses and procedure codes associated with homelessness
can be used to identify homeless individuals.
What is ACES?
ACES is a data system management by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Local service
providers use HMIS to collect and manage data gathered while providing assistance to people experiencing
homelessness or a housing crisis.
What is HMIS?
HMIS is a data system management by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Local service
providers use HMIS to collect and manage data gathered while proving assistance to people experiencing
homelessness or a housing crisis. This includes information about their current and prior living arrangements.
Table 3 describes how a person would be categorized as homeless or unstably housed in each data system.
Table 3: Administrative data sources for the Snapshot of Homelessness reports
Data system Homeless Unstably housed
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes that indicate an
P1 No ICD codes for unstably housed
individual is homeless: V600, C601, Z 590, Z591
Client reports one of the following current living arrangements:
Domestic violence shelter
Emergency shelter
Homeless without housing i.e. unsheltered
Inappropriate living situation
Client reports current living arrangement:
ACES
Homeless with housing
Address field: A client reports their address as "homeless," "couch surfing,"
or "general delivery"
IRP activities: A client accessing TANF services has "resolving
homelessness" as a work activity in their IRP
The client is entered into one of the following HMIS project types: Client is entered into one of the following
Emergency shelter HMIS project types:
HMIS Street outreach Homelessness prevention
Safe haven Coordinated entry (first month of
Transitional housing service only)
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 18
Data system Homeless Unstably housed
Day shelter
All permanent housing type projects, including rapid re-housing and PSH:
the first month of services and any time prior to move-in date.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 19
State Plan accomplishments
Homeless Housing Strategic Plan vision, mission and guiding
principles
In 2005, the Washington Legislature passed the Homeless Housing Assistance Act (RCW 43.185C). The act
outlined policies to address homelessness and directed Commerce to "prepare and publish a five-year
homeless housing strategic plan which must outline statewide goals and performance measures."
2019-2024 Homeless Housing Strategic Plan vision, mission and
guiding principles:
Vision: No person left living outside.
Mission: Support homeless crisis response systems that efficiently reduce the number of people living
outside, and when scaled appropriately, can house all unsheltered people.
Guiding principles:
• All people deserve a safe place to live.
• Urgent and bold action is the appropriate response to people living outside.
• Interventions must be data-driven and evidence-based.
Commerce completed the 2019-2024 Homeless Housing Crisis Strategic Plan in November 2019. To learn
more, visit the Strategic Plan, Annual Reports and Audits webpage.
Commerce released the 2024-2029 Homeless Housing Strategic Plan in October 2024. Commerce will
distribute updated guidance to county governments to update their local plans by December 2025.
2019-2024 Homeless Housing Strategic Plan objectives
This is the last report on the 2019-2024 Plan objectives. The new 2024-2029 Strategic Plan will guide the next
five years of state action to reduce and end homelessness in Washington.
Objective 1: Quickly identify and engage people experiencing homelessness through
outreach and coordination with systems that assist homeless subpopulations.
Connection to the goal: People living unsheltered cannot be housed if they are not identified, and progress toward the goal of
ending homelessness cannot be accurately assessed without knowing the universe of people experiencing homelessness.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Trainings continue to be updated in
Office of Family and Adult
preparation for the grant period that aligns
Provide effective problem-solving Homelessness and Office of
with the 2025-2027 biennium, including
strategies and technical assistance Homeless Youth grantees
offerings in diversion and problem solving
on how to identify and engage people access technical assistance. Ongoing
when engaging with people experiencing
living in places not meant for human Coordinated Entry Systems
homelessness. The trainings are led by subject
habitation. comply with Coordinated Entry
matter experts and made available online at no
System requirements.
cost.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 20
All communities are required to work with their
local victim service providers to ensure a safe
Provide technical assistance to and confidential process per the Commerce
ensure coordinated entry process Coordinated Entry guidelines.
accessibility, safety, and Coordinated Entry Systems Commerce provides quarterly training to local
confidentiality for households whose access technical assistance and Coordinated Entry staff including guidance
Ongoing
members are fleeing violence comply with Coordinated Entry regarding processes for people fleeing
(including domestic violence, dating requirements. violence. Most importantly, Commerce
violence, sexual assault, stalking or provided direct technical assistance to
trafficking). communities that had challenges in assuring a
safe and confidential Coordinated Entry
process for people fleeing violence.
Objective 2: Prioritize housing for people who have the greatest need for immediate
access to assistance.
Connection to the goal: When people who have the greatest needs are left outside, they are more likely to experience trauma or
injury, making it more difficult to ultimately bring them inside.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Office of Family and
Provide training and
Adult Homelessness Commerce provides training to local Coordinated Entry staff and
technical assistance on
(OFAH) and Office of Coordinated Entry Committee meetings quarterly. Commerce
the Washington State ongoing
Homeless Youth (OHY) responds to requests for technical assistance on specific, locally
Coordinated Entry
grantees access identified challenges.
Guidelines.
technical assistance.
Assess the coordinated
Assess 60% of counties
entry process
in 2019 and 40% in 2020.
performance and Commerce worked in partnership with local communities in the
compliance with Balance of State region to establish a Coordinated Entry
Develop a plan to ensure 2019-2021
requirements and governance structure in 2021 that complies with federal
compliance with federal
provide technical Coordinated Entry requirements.
Coordinated Entry
assistance on any
Requirements.
deficiencies.
Chapter 214, Laws of 2021 (E2SHB 1277) created a program
that funded project-based vouchers and other housing
assistance services. This program required each county
receiving this program funding to take actions to prevent and
reduce homelessness.
A steering committee was formed to provide recommendations
to satisfy this requirement and create a cross-sectional group of
Explore performance Establish performance
stakeholders to advise Commerce. From November 2021
improvement improvement
through the 2022 calendar year, Commerce and the steering
requirements and requirements and
committee underwent a significant stakeholder co-creation
benchmarks for benchmarks for
2024 process to develop a performance framework in compliance
successful housing successful housing
with the bill. The Steering Committee proposed that each county
placements or housing placements or housing
receiving program funding must take actions associated with
retention of prioritized retention of prioritized
increasing housing capacity, improving financial and supportive
people. people
services, increasing housing placements, and addressing racial
disparities.
Chapter 277, Laws of 2023 (SSB 5386) removed the program
created in HB 1277 that funded project-based vouchers and
other housing assistance services. The changes did not remove
the performance framework but applied it to the Home Security
Fund. Because of this change, the specific performance
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 21
proposals developed by the steering committee were not
feasible and not implemented.
RCW 43.185C.185 required Commerce to develop performance
measures that promote both racially equitable program access
and racially equitable program outcomes. Performance
requirements associated with equitable access and outcomes
were added to the Consolidated Homeless Grant starting in July
2023. The performance monitoring and corrective action
process required by RCW 43.185C.060 will be incorporated into
the Consolidated Homeless Grant starting July 2025.
Annually monitor the
unsheltered Starting in July 2023, the homeless system performance
prioritization requirements included in the Consolidated Homeless Grant were
performance 80% of counties move updated to remove prioritization requirements.
improvement into compliance after 2019-2023
requirements and any corrective action. Performance monitoring was postponed due to the pandemic
provide technical and new legislation directed the development of new measures
assistance on any in RCW 43.185C.185 and 43.185c.060.
deficiencies.
Objective 3: Work toward people living unsheltered having immediate access to
temporary housing.
Connection to the goal: Living outside is a barrier to resolving the issues that contribute to people becoming homeless.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Estimates include:
Publish estimates of the unmet Rents increase at the same
New requirements in RCW 36.70A070(2),
temporary housing and services rate as inflation
35A.21.430, and 34.21.683 provide additional
need and the costs of meeting the Rents annually decrease 2% 2020
targets that local governments are required to
state’s vision that no person is left below the rate of inflation
use as part of the Growth Management Act.
living outside. Rents annually increase by
2% above the rate of inflation
Assess 80% of counties in 2019
and 20% in 2020.
Monitor low-barrier requirements
Counties receive technical 2019-
and provide technical assistance on Monitoring is ongoing through 2024.
assistance plans that, if 2021
any deficiencies.
implemented, would bring them
into compliance with state low-
barrier requirements.
After stakeholder feedback, Commerce is
Support state-funded projects to 80% of counties expand low- requiring that by July 1, 2025, no less than
2022-
reduce barriers and expand low- barrier programs and facility 80% of a county's Consolidated Homeless
2024
barrier requirements access by 2025. Grant-funded projects (programs and
facilities) be low-barrier. This is on track.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 22
Objective 4: Work toward people experiencing homelessness having permanent
housing options.
Connection to the goal: People living in temporary housing are considered homeless, so moving people into permanent and stable
housing options is central to the goal of ending homelessness.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Estimates include:
Rents increase at
the same rate as
inflation;
Publish estimates of the unmet permanent Rents annually New requirements in RCW 36.70A070(2),
housing and services need and the costs of decrease 2% below 35A.21.430, and 34.21.683 provide additional
2020
meeting the state’s vision that no person is the rate of inflation; targets that local governments are required to use
left living outside. and as part of the Growth Management Act.
Rents annually
increase by 2%
above the rate of
inflation
Applications will be submitted on time for annual
Applications include
renewals and new projects in the Balance of State
Apply annually for federal Continuum of new and existing
Continuum of Care competition in 2024.
Care funds for the Balance of State projects.
Ongoing
projects and comply with reporting
Applications were submitted for renewals and
requirements. Submit applications and
new Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project
reports on time.
projects in 2024.
In 2024, all reporting deadlines to HUD for Point in
Actively seek new federal fund
Time Count data and Housing Inventory Count for
opportunities for Balance of State counties Award applications. Ongoing
Balance of State Continuum of Care projects were
to expand housing inventory.
met.
Objective 5: Prevent youth and young adults from experiencing homelessness.
Connection to the goal: Preventing youth and young adults from becoming homeless directly contributes to the goal of ending
homelessness.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Submit a state plan to the In 2020, OHY and the Department of Children, Youth and Families
Legislature by Dec. 31, (DCYF) submitted a state plan to the Legislature focused on:
2019. Develop data- Effective transitions from care
Ensure that youth who tracking mechanisms to Community connections
exit public systems of measure the number of Housing
care exit into safe and youth and young adults
stable housing, per experiencing OHY, DCYF and the Healthcare Authority (HCA) continue to
Chapter 82, Laws of homelessness or housing collaborate through the Chapter 82, Laws of 2018 interagency
2018 (SSB 6560). instability within 12 2018, workgroup to support the transition process for young people in
Public systems of care months of exit from a ongoing child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and inpatient behavioral health
include foster care, public system. Implement treatment. OHY led a Transitional Living Pilot for youth ages 16 and
juvenile justice, and evaluate system-of- 17 and, through Chapter 154, Laws of 2022 (SB 5566) expanded the
behavioral health and care/innovation grants to Independent Youth Housing Program for former foster youth and
the Office of Homeless test innovative young adults in Extended Foster Care.
Youth programs. approaches to prevent
youth from exiting In 2020, OHY and DSHS’s Research and Data Analysis Division
systems of care into developed a dashboard measuring homelessness or housing
homelessness instability among youth and young adults three to 12 months after
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 23
Connection to the goal: Preventing youth and young adults from becoming homeless directly contributes to the goal of ending
homelessness.
exiting public systems. OHY and RDA update the dashboard at least
semi-annually.
In 2022, OHY and state agency partners implemented components
of Chapter 137, Laws of 2022 (SHB 1905), deploying $4,434,00 of
state funds to end exits to homelessness from public systems of
care for:
Forming a Rapid Response Team of OHY, DCYF, HCA, and
DSHS staff supporting youth with complex cases exiting public
systems of care
Expanding flexible homelessness diversion supports for youth
exiting systems of care
Creating grants for Housing Stability for Youth in Courts
(HSYNC) programs in six counties to prevent exits to
homelessness from county juvenile detention facilities
Expanding the System of Care grant program to fund
community-based services that prevent youth from exiting
public systems of care into homelessness
In 2023, OHY hired a Prevention Manager to serve on the Rapid
Response Team and support grantees implementing prevention
initiatives. OHY launched a Prevention Community of Practice for
organizations to share learnings and coordinate approaches.
In 2020, the Legislature tasked the Office of Homeless Youth, with
financial support from the Raikes Foundation, with drafting a
strategic plan to prevent youth homelessness.
After drafting a plan outlining existing prevention efforts and
identifying root causes, OHY and two grassroots, BIPOC-led
organizations worked with a steering committee of people with
lived experience to identify recommendations in the report "Shifting
Services and Systems to Prevent Youth Housing Instability."
The final strategic plan outlines recommendations under four main
pillars of prevention:
Support and invest in whole family well-being
Develop policy and Submit recommendations Eliminate trauma and racism in systems that serve youth and
funding solutions that to the Legislature through families
provide families and the Families and Youth in Shift power to BIPOC communities
2018,
youth in crisis with the Crisis report (2018 Universal support for fundamental human rights
ongoing
supports they need to supplemental operating
become or stay healthy budget, section 127, In 2022, the Legislature directed Commerce to establish an
and resilient. subsection 24). interagency work group to oversee the implementation of the
strategic plan for youth homelessness prevention. OHY received
funding from the Legislature to re-establish the steering committee
of people with lived experience to continue to inform the
implementation of the recommendations outlined in the plan.
In 2024, OHY worked with Communities of Color Coalition (C3) to
re-establish the steering committee of young people with lived
experience to help guide the implementation the state's strategic
plan on youth homelessness prevention. OHY staff also created
and currently co-leads a new interagency Youth Homelessness
Prevention Workgroup alongside partners at the Department of
Children, Youth, & Families and the Healthcare Authority to enhance
the strategic alignment of our collective efforts to prevent and end
youth and young adult homelessness.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 24
Connection to the goal: Preventing youth and young adults from becoming homeless directly contributes to the goal of ending
homelessness.
In 2020, OHY updated the Street Outreach Services grant guidelines
to include diversion as an allowable expense and activity.
Beginning July 1, 2020, the OHY issued grants to operate the
Homeless Prevention and Diversion Fund (HPDF) to provide
diversion services and flexible funding to youth and young adults in
the Anchor Communities (Spokane, Walla Walla, Pierce, and Yakima
counties).
In 2022, the Legislature passed Chapter 137, Laws of 2022 (HB
1905), which included a new flexible fund program for young people
exiting public systems of care to ensure they obtain stable housing.
Make diversion an
Update the 2019-21 Street This new program, the Youth Diversion Infrastructure Project
allowable activity
Outreach Services (YDIP), is a partnership with A Way Home Washington and Building
through the Office of
program guidelines to Changes, which leverages both organizations' expertise in the
Homeless Youth’s
include diversion as an centralized diversion fund model to propagate diversion-first
Street Outreach
allowable cost. 90% of principles within systems of care in Clark, Spokane, Walla Walla,
Services grant. Provide
Street Outreach Services Pierce, and Yakima counties.
technical assistance to 2019,
grantees receive technical
grantees on effective ongoing
assistance. Data reflects A Way Home Washington provides technical assistance and
diversion strategies.
that youth and young delivers a comprehensive curriculum to train community partners
Measure effectiveness
adults served through on diversion best practice approaches and how to utilize flexible
and implement
diversion avoid entering funding to meet the needs of young people to avoid homelessness.
continuous quality
the homeless crisis
improvement
response system. In 2024, Commerce expanded the HPDF program to operate in all
processes.
10 counties participating in the Anchor Community Initiative:
Clallam, Clark, Jefferson, Pierce, Skagit, Spokane, Thurston, Wall
Walla, Whatcom, and Yakima. Additionally, YDIP was able to expand
into King County.
OHY is using the lessons of flexible funding to develop a new pilot
program to provide Direct Cash Transfers to young adults
experiencing or at risk of homelessness and housing instability.
OHY staff are working with national technical assistance provider,
Point Source Youth to co-design this pilot program with young
people with lived experience all across Washington through in-
person and virtual engagement opportunities.
Objective 6: Make certain that youth experiencing homelessness are offered age and
developmentally appropriate access to services that support safe and stable housing,
family reconciliation, permanent connections, education and employment and well-
being.
Connection to the goal: Services can help youth build resiliency that prevents homelessness and promotes stability through
increased income, connections to supportive social networks and general well-being.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Through the Office of Homeless Youth, 2019-21 program contracts The final performance measures were included
lead the Interagency Workgroup on include performance in OHY program guidelines in January 2023.
Youth Homelessness to engage state measures and data-
2019,
agencies in addressing the education, reporting requirements. In January 2023, Commerce published the OHY
ongoing
employment, and well-being needs of The Interagency Performance Dashboard. This dashboard
youth and young adults experiencing Workgroup on Youth illustrates current grantee performance and
homelessness. Implement the Office Homelessness develops guides performance monitoring.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 25
Connection to the goal: Services can help youth build resiliency that prevents homelessness and promotes stability through
increased income, connections to supportive social networks and general well-being.
of Homeless Youth program cross-sector strategies to
performance measures that evaluate address youth and young Performance monitoring began in January of
outcomes related to stable housing, adult homelessness. 2024. Grantees with the most significant
education, employment, permanent performance issues are receiving technical
connections, and social and emotional assistance to improve grantee performance and
well-being. outcomes for youth and young adults accessing
their services.
Objective 7: Address inequities in services and outcomes among people experiencing
homelessness.
Connection to the goal: Systems that cannot effectively engage all people cannot end homelessness.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Conduct data analysis
to understand the
scope of inequities as All newly published performance dashboards included program
it relates to race, outcomes disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and other demographic
Conduct research
ethnicity, disabilities, Ongoing factors. The Equitable Access Dashboard compares the race/ethnicity
and publish a report.
people who identify as of the population in need of services to the population receiving
LGBTQIA2S+, and services.
other marginalized
communities.
RCW 43.185C.185 required Commerce to develop performance
Work with measures that promote both racially equitable program access and
stakeholders to racially equitable program outcomes.
develop equity Hold feedback
measures and sessions with From November 2021 through the 2022 calendar year, Commerce and
benchmarks that are stakeholders to a steering committee underwent a significant stakeholder co-creation
added to the state and identify measures 2021-2023 process to develop a performance framework in compliance with RCW
county report cards and benchmarks 43.185C.185.
and included in after publishing the
contracts for state report.
homeless housing We added performance requirements associated with equitable access
funds. and outcomes to the Consolidated Homeless Grant starting in July
2023.
Procure trainer on
protected classes for
Trainer under 2020,
Commerce homeless Ongoing
contract ongoing
housing staff and
grantees.
Identify subject
Use an equity tool to
matter experts and
review and evaluate
peer state agency
homeless program
consultants to advise
guidelines and The Housing Division and the broader Department of Commerce are
on the equity tool. 2020
policies and ensure developing policies to ensure equitable resource distribution.
Develop policies to
the equitable
use the tool to ensure
distribution of
equitable resource
resources.
distribution.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 26
Objective 8: Maintain an effective, efficient and transparent homeless crisis response
system.
Connection to the goal: Improved efficiency increases the number of people who can be housed with limited resources, and a
system that transparently demonstrates its efficiency is more likely to receive the resources necessary to end homelessness.
Commerce action Measure of success Timeline Update
Publish Washington’s
homeless system Publish performance results 2019,
Continuum of Care System Performance Data
performance as compared annually. ongoing
to other states
Publish state, county, and The Washington State Homeless System Performance
project-level homeless Publish annual and quarterly 2019, County Report Card is updated annually. Program-specific
system performance performance outcomes. ongoing performance dashboards are updated quarterly and can be
outcomes. found on the Data and Performance Unit website.
All federally required reports were submitted on time,
Complete annual state and Submit accurate reports on including the Action Plan, Consolidated Annual
Ongoing
federal reporting. time. Performance and Evaluation Report, Housing Inventory
Count, and Point in Time Count data.
The Consolidated Homeless
Grant contracts include the
Require progress toward
homeless system The Consolidated Homeless Grant contracts include
homeless system 2019,
performance improvement homeless system performance improvement requirements
performance targets as a ongoing
requirements for rapid for rapid rehousing, emergency shelter, transitional
condition of state funding.
rehousing, emergency shelter, housing and PSH. Grantees are required to make progress
transitional housing and PSH. from their baseline towards the statewide performance
The percentage of exits to targets.
Provide technical
permanent housing reaches
assistance and training on We are incorporating the performance monitoring and
the level of the top-performing
homeless system corrective action process required by RCW 43.185C.060
20% of homeless systems
performance improvement into the Consolidated Homeless Grant starting July 2025.
nationwide. Reduce returns to 2019-
strategies. Develop Mid-point performance assessments will occur January
homelessness after exits to 2024
performance improvement 2026 and formal performance monitoring will occur July
permanent housing to less
plans for grantees who are through September 2026.
than 10%. Reduce the average
not meeting performance
length of time homeless to
improvement benchmarks.
fewer than 90 days.
Improve homeless system
performance measures
Meet with the Washington
through consultation with
State Interagency Council on
national experts and peer
Homelessness quarterly. Ongoing Ongoing
agencies on the
Maintain a contract with a
Washington State
performance consultant.
Interagency Council on
Homelessness.
Schedule listening tours and
Engage people who have The Homelessness Assistance Unit launched a lived
meet with advocacy groups to
experienced experience advisory committee. The Committee will
gather feedback on the Office
homelessness to provide provide insight and recommendations to improve,
of Family and Adult Ongoing
meaningful opportunities strengthen, and make more equitable homeless crisis
Homelessness and Office of
for input and experience- response systems across Washington. The first meeting
Homeless Youth program
based advice. took place in November of 2024.
policies.
Pursue federal and state Provide feedback on federal In the 2023-2025 biennium, the Legislature adopted $400
policy changes necessary homeless housing policy Ongoing million in the capital budget for the development of
to achieve the state’s changes and advocate for affordable housing. In addition, the Legislature adopted an
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 27
vision that no person is program improvements. operating budget that included $290 million for homeless
left living outside. Develop budget requests that services and housing programs.
increase funding for homeless
housing programs.
Provide training on the
core competencies of The training plan for the 2025-2027 biennium
homeless service encompasses best practices when engaging with
provision, including individuals experiencing homelessness. The plan includes
trauma-informed care, Homelessness Assistance the following: Racial Equity 101 and Advanced training,
mental health first aid, Unit and Office of Homeless LGBTQIA2S+ Competency and Advanced training,
Ongoing
racial equity, LGBTQIA2S+ Youth grantees comply with Lowering Barriers and Harm Reduction, Trauma Informed
competency, and other the training requirements. Services, and Introduction to Case Management Training
training identified by the Series. Information about how to schedule new training for
Office of Homeless Youth Consolidated Homeless Grant contractors, Coordinated
and Office of Family and Entry staff and Balance of State counties is coming soon.
Adult Homelessness.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 28
Planning, reporting, and auditing
State Strategic Plan and local homeless plans
Commerce produced a 2019-2024 State Homeless Strategic Plan in 2019 and this is the final periodic update
for that plan. Commerce recently published the 2024-2029 State Homeless Strategic Plan.
Local county plans and annual reports are available on the Commerce website.
Audits
More information on state audits and examinations of Commerce’s management of the homeless funding and
programming is on the State Strategic Plan section of the Commerce website.
Procurement
HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance and Emergency Solutions
Grant
Annually, Commerce completes an action plan to secure federal HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
(TBRA) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) homeless housing funding. More information on the annual
action plan and five-year Consolidated Plan for ESG and HOME TBRA is located on the Plan webpage.
Balance of State Continuum of Care
Commerce applies for HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) Program funding on behalf of the Balance of State (BoS)
CoC, which is comprised of 34 counties in Washington (the large counties, including King, Pierce, Snohomish,
Clark and Spokane, each manages their own CoC program). In the federal fiscal year 2023 competition for CoC
and Youth Homeless Demonstration Program (YHDP) grant funds, HUD awarded the BoS CoC $19,159,071 of
annually renewable funding for:
50 renewal projects providing permanent housing solutions to families and single adults experiencing
homelessness
18 renewal and 19 new YHDP projects for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness
5 new permanent housing projects, including some dedicated to serving survivors of domestic violence
New projects started in mid-to-late 2024.
More information on the CoC funding is located on the CoC webpage.
Table 4: Federal grant funds
FFY 2024 HOME Tenant- Non-YHDP BoS CoC BoS Youth Homeless
FFY 2024 Emergency New non-YHDP BoS CoC
Based Rental Assistance Funds for Existing Demonstration Program
Solutions Grant (ESG) Project Funds
(TBRA) Programs (YHDP)
$2,711,119 $2,406,909 $1,654,143 $12,666,588 $4,838,340
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 29
Interagency Council on Homelessness
The Interagency Council on Homelessness met quarterly through state fiscal year 2023 to maintain cross-
agency communication and coordinate activities addressing homelessness. Additional details on the Council's
work are on the Commerce Homeless Councils webpage.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 30
Organizational outline
The Housing Division is composed of eight units and offices in response to legislative requirements and
responsibilities.
Units and offices within the Housing Division:
Housing Division Administration Unit
Homelessness Assistance Unit
Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs
Data and Performance Unit
Office of Apple Health & Homes and Permanent Supportive Housing
Housing Policy and Strategic Initiatives Unit
Multifamily Housing Unit
Home Ownership Unit
Units and offices responsible for the information within this report:
Homelessness Assistance Unit
Office of Homeless Youth Protection and Prevention Programs
Data and Performance Unit
Office of Apple Health & Homes and Permanent Supportive Housing
Homelessness Assistance Unit
The Homelessness Assistance Unit administers state and federal fund sources granted to local governments
and nonprofits.
Table 5: Homelessness Assistance Unit fund sources
Grant Fund source
Consolidated Homeless Grant/ System Demonstration Grant Housing surcharge/document recording fee and General Fund-State
Housing and Essential Needs General Fund-State
Diversion Program Grant General Fund-State
HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Federal
Emergency Solutions Grant Federal
HOME America Rescue Plan Grant Federal
More information is available on the Homelessness Response webpage.
Balance of State Continuum of Care and Reporting Office
The Balance of State Continuum of Care and Reporting Office in the Homelessness Assistance Unit works with
34 counties in Washington's Balance of State Continuum of Care to submit a consolidated application for
funding from Commerce to Housing and Urban Development. It is also responsible for coordinating the annual
Point-in-Time Count.
More information is available on the CoC webpage.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 31
Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs
The Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) Prevention and Protection Programs administers state fund sources
granted to local governments and nonprofits. More information is available on the OHY webpage.
Table 6: Fund sources of Office of Homeless Youth-managed grants
Grant Fund source
Crisis Residential Centers Housing surcharge/Document recording fee
Secure Crisis Residential Centers Housing surcharge/Document recording fees
HOPE Centers Housing surcharge/Document recording fee
Independent Youth Housing Program Housing surcharge/Document recording fee/General Fund-State
Street Outreach Services General Fund-State/Housing surcharge/Document recording fee
Young Adult Shelter General Fund-State
Youth Adult Housing Program Housing surcharge/Document recording fee/ General Fund-State
Transitional Living Program General Fund-State
Ancillary Therapeutic Services General Fund-State
System of Care General Fund-State
Homeless Student Stability Program Housing surcharge/Document recording fee/General Fund-State
Homelessness Prevention Diversion Fund, formerly Centralized
General Fund-State
Diversion Fund
Anchor Community Initiative General Fund-State
Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Federal
Diversion General Fund-State
Housing Stability for Youth in Courts General Fund-State
Community Support Teams General Fund-State
Doorway Project General Fund-State
Arlington Drive Youth Campus General Fund-State
Data and Performance Unit
Homeless System Performance Team
The Homeless System Performance Team leads compliance efforts with coordinated entry requirements for
Consolidated Homeless Grant grantees. In partnership with the Analytics and Reporting team, they produce
reports and dashboards to monitor the performance of homeless housing and services grants.
Learn more about how this office provides information on the Homeless System Performance webpage.
Homeless Management Information System Administration Team
This team administers the state’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). It provides solutions for
the BoS CoC and King County Continuums and data integration technology to bring the other continuum data
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 32
into the statewide database. HMIS is the data source for most of the information used in Commerce's
performance reports. Homeless housing service providers use HMIS to collect and manage data gathered
while providing housing assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
More information is on the HMIS webpage.
Analytics and Reporting Team
The Analytics and Reporting Team produces the Homeless System Performance Reports and County Report
Cards, dashboards on homeless interventions, the Annual Expenditure Report ("the Golden"), and more. They
work in partnership with the Homeless System Performance team and the Homelessness Assistance Unit to
produce reports that assist with monitoring homeless housing and services contracts.
Office of Apple Health and Homes-Permanent Supportive Housing
In the last decade, the Washington Legislature has made significant investments in PSH. In 2022, the
Legislature created a PSH Advisory Committee to provide guidance and recommendations on the
administration of PSH resources managed by the Department of Commerce, including recommendations to
ensure alignment of capital, services, and operating investments and fidelity with the provision of PSH.
RCW 36.70A.030 defines permanent supportive housing as:
Subsidized, leased housing with no limit on length of stay that prioritizes people who need comprehensive support
services to retain tenancy and utilizes admissions practices designed to use lower barriers to entry than would be
typical for other subsidized or unsubsidized rental housing, especially related to rental history, criminal history, and
personal behaviors. Permanent supportive housing is paired with on-site or off-site voluntary services designed to
support a person living with a complex and disabling behavioral health or physical health condition who was
experiencing homelessness or was at imminent risk of homelessness prior to moving into housing to retain their
housing and be a successful tenant in a housing arrangement, improve the resident's health status, and connect the
resident of the housing with community-based health care, treatment, or employment services. Permanent
supportive housing is subject to all of the rights and responsibilities defined in Chapter 59.18 RCW.
Simply put, PSH is housing provided to persons exiting homelessness, with attached services that we
understand as necessary to prevent that person’s return to homelessness.
The Apple Health & Homes (AHAH) Initiative is a multi-agency effort that pairs healthcare services with
housing resources for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. Created under Chapter 216, Laws of
2022 (ESHB 1866), the initiative aligns housing resources (capital financing and rental/operations assistance)
with supportive services through the Health Care Authority’s (HCA) Foundational Community Supports (FCS)
program. FCS provides supportive housing and supportive employment services designed to enable program
participants to lead independent and self-directed lives in their own homes. HCA has contracted with Wellpoint
to be the coordinating entity that confirms eligibility for participants in conjunction with local FCS providers
across the state.
The Office of Apple Health and Homes-Permanent Supportive Housing was created in 2022 to manage
Commerce's role in the AHAH initiative and to manage several other programs dedicated to expanding,
sustaining and increasing the quality of PSH. A full list of those programs can be found on the AHAH-PSH
website.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 33
Homeless housing project expenditure and data report
RCW 43.185C.045 requires that each county in Washington report all expenditures by funding sources (federal,
state, and local) for homeless housing projects in their community. Commerce combines expenditures data
with HMIS data to create a comprehensive report that includes expenditures and links them to outcomes. In
the state fiscal year 2023, projects spent over $600 million assisting households who were homeless or at
imminent risk of homelessness. The table below summarizes the number of beds and cost per intervention.
Table 7: Homeless housing project expenditures for state fiscal year 2024
Service type Beds Total expenditures Cost per day per household Cost per successful exit per household
Rapid Rehousing NA $100,456,462 $55 $24,962
Emergency Shelter 12,933 $255,156,474 $96 $47,338
Transitional Housing 3,435 $31,751,221 $54 $28,649
Homeless Prevention NA $107,996,396 $44 $11,706
Permanent Supportive Housing 12,660 $224,079,350 $59 $332,704
Other Permanent Housing 4,718 $38,584,513 $46 $106,210
Street Outreach NA $26,548,141 $7 $12,009
Services Only NA $33,502,199 $15 $18,922
Coordinated Entry NA $9,516,658 $1 $865
Day Shelter NA $12,025,760 $9 $42,796
Safe Haven 76 $2,521,509 $115 47,576
Other, Unknown, NA NA $38,881,255 $20 $21,487
Totals NA $881,019,938 NA NA
The state fiscal year 2024 homeless housing project expenditure and data report are on the State Strategic
Plan, Annual Reports and Audits webpage. More information on how the Data and Performance Unit uses the
expenditure and data report is on the Homeless System Performance webpage.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 34
State-funded homeless housing reports
Several RCWs require Commerce to report on expenditures, performance and outcomes for the following:
Consolidated Homeless Grant: RCW 43.185C.045
Housing and Essential Needs: RCW 43.185C.220
Homeless Student Stability Program: RCW 43.185C.340
Independent Youth Housing Program: RCW 43.63A.311
Commerce reports include the grant recipient and service area, expenditures, interventions and the number of
households assisted. They may also include additional specific information required in each RCW.
The state fiscal year 2024 state-funded homeless housing reports are on the State Strategic Plan, Annual
Reports and Audits website.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 35
Point-In-Time Count
The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is an annual count of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered
homelessness carried out on one night in January. The Department of Commerce leads the PIT to ensure
compliance with the data collection requirements outlined in RCW 43.185C.030 and CFR Part 578. Commerce
supports local county governments or designated leads in coordinating the PIT Count in each county within the
Balance of State CoC. The PIT is carried out by local paid staff and volunteers.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides guidance on PIT data collection
methodology. The data we collect through the PIT is reported to HUD and used to inform policy, advance
advocacy efforts, and understand the unique landscape of homelessness in our state.
King County does not conduct an unsheltered count annually, so odd years do not include King County.
However, they do conduct a count of those in shelters and housing programs on the PIT night.
Summary of PIT Count results
Homelessness has increased year over year, and this trend continued in 2024, with 31,040 people experiencing
sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in Washington on the night of the PIT Count. This is a 5% increase in
sheltered homelessness from 2023 and a 26% increase in unsheltered homelessness since 2022. When King
County is removed from 2024 unsheltered data, the result is 21,230 people experiencing homelessness, which
is a 4% increase from 2023.
There has been an increase in homelessness across all housing types, with transitional housing programs
seeing the biggest increase at 8% (3,243 up from 2,994 in 2023) and emergency shelter programs increasing
by 4% (11,524, up from 11,035 in 2023). People in transitional housing and emergency shelters meet the
definition of experiencing sheltered homelessness because their stay in those programs is temporary. In 2024,
those experiencing unsheltered homelessness accounted for 52.2% of the total homeless population, at
16,215 people. Sheltered homelessness accounts for 47.8% of the total homeless population, with 37.1% in
emergency shelters, 10.4% in transitional housing, and 0.2% in safe havens (temporary accommodations for
people experiencing homelessness and mental illness). The 2024 Housing Inventory Count indicated that on
the night of the PIT, 7,961 people occupied Rapid Re-Housing beds, and of the 20,735 Permanent Housing
beds (which consists of PSH and OPH housing programs), 17,666, or 86%, were occupied.
The Point-In-Time County Summary, which includes results by county, is available on the Annual Point in Time
(PIT) Count webpage.
Table 8: Summary PIT Count results by housing status, 2022 to 2024
Homelessness category 2022 2023 2024
Emergency shelter 9,636 11,035 11,524
Transitional housing 2,852 2,994 3,243
Safe Haven 55 54 58
Unsheltered 12,909 6,316* 16,215
Totals 25,452 20,399* 31,040
*2023 unsheltered and total counts exclude King County, as they did not complete an unsheltered count that year. King County typically represents
approximately 50% of the total unsheltered count.
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 36
Figure 4: Changes in total people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered
homelessness, 2022 to 2024
35,000
31,040
30,000
25,452
25,000
16,215
20,000
12,909
15,000
11,524
10,000 9,636
5,000
Safe Haven, 58
Safe Haven, 55
2,852 3,243
-
2022 2024
Transitional Housing Safe Haven Emergency Shelter Unsheltered TOTAL
HOMELESSNESS IN WASHINGTON 37
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