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5. Gaps and Duplication in Services: Describe how your proposed project fills a gap in <br />homeless and/or affordable housing services in Kittitas County. lnclude a description of <br />how the project is or isn't a duplication of current services. (250 words max.) <br />Currently, no affordable housing pro1ects are pending in the city or the coung despite a <br />significant need for affordable housing. Since 2017, HopeSource has documented a <br />nearly 400o/o increase in services to individuals and families experiencing <br />homelessness. On average, there are approximately 45 homeless households in Kittitas <br />County at any given time, 20 of which are in temporary housing/shelter units. Many of <br />these households are in shelters awaiting an affordable housing option to become <br />available. The demand for affordable housing in the county far exceeds the availability. <br />Population increase in Ellensburg is outpacing Affordable Housing production; to keep <br />up with demand, we would need an additional 330 units of new housing per year. <br />The Ellensburg Housing Needs Assessment shows a clear need for one-bedroom <br />apartments to relieve the ongoing housing cost burden: "As of 2017, about 70o/o of all <br />households in Ellensburg have only 1 or 2 members. Yet only 28o/o of housing units <br />offered are studios or 1-bedroom. The relief of having affordable housing allows <br />households to provide themselves with lifesaving prescription and medical care, food, <br />and decent basic clothing." lntended residents can maintain pride in their independence <br />and ability to care for and provide for themselves without living in fear of being without <br />food, without basic necessary medical care, and being homeless with nowhere to turn. <br />I <br />Doc lD: 4ad059697713e4eb6b6522ca80bfcd3afea75bdb