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17 <br /> <br />Addressing Challenges <br />Community engagement through surveys, focus groups, and direct feedback identffied persistent challenges that <br />must be addressed to build a more responsive and effectfve homeless response system in Kittitas County. These <br />challenges align with what natfonal best practfces highlight and reflect the lived experiences of those navigatfng local <br />systems. Addressing them directly will help advance this plan’s vision: that all residents have access to stable housing <br />and the individualized support they need to thrive. This work is anchored in our guiding principles of client-centered <br />care, access for all, collaboratfon, and accountability. <br /> <br />Reducing Reluctance to Participate <br />Stfgma, trauma, and mistrust of systems are well-established barriers to partfcipatfon among people experiencing <br />homelessness. Community input reinforced this reality, with many individuals citfng fear of judgment, concerns about <br />system involvement, or prior negatfve experiences as reasons for not seeking help. Natfonal best practfces <br />consistently emphasize that building trust and offering low-barrier, trauma-informed engagement are foundatfonal <br />to increasing partfcipatfon (USICH, HUD). <br />In alignment with these principles, Kittitas County is already expanding outreach efforts and improving frontline <br />training to build trust and engagement (Goals 2 and 4). The forthcoming communicatfons and educatfonal toolkit <br />(Goal 1) will further equip providers and community partners to present services clearly and respectiully. These <br />efforts will help ensure that individuals feel safe and welcome when seeking assistance, supportfng the plan’s <br />commitment to client-centered care and equitable access. <br /> <br />Improving Service Access <br />Complex intake processes, inconsistent communicatfon, and fragmented navigatfon pathways create unnecessary <br />barriers to accessing services—a challenge highlighted by both local stakeholders and natfonal best practfces (HUD <br />Coordinated Entry guidance, Housing First models). Individuals in crisis benefit from simple, clear, and coordinated <br />pathways to services, yet community feedback indicated that many stfll encounter confusion and delays. <br />Improving service access directly supports the <br />plan’s goals of transparency, accountability, and <br />collaboratfon (Goal 1) and aligns with natfonal calls <br />for streamlined Coordinated Entry systems and low- <br />barrier service models. It also reflects prioritfes found in local Comprehensive Plans, which emphasize equity, <br />community health, and inclusive service delivery. Kittitas County will contfnue to strengthen Coordinated Entry and <br />cross-system coordinatfon (Goals 1 and 3), while also simplifying intake and referral processes and promotfng <br />consistent communicatfon across partners. These efforts will help ensure that people receive tfmely and appropriate <br />support, further advancing the plan’s vision of access for all. <br /> <br />“People don’t reach out because they’ve been burned too many times. They don’t trust the system anymore.” <br />— Focus group partfcipant. <br />“By the time you get an answer, you’ve already given up.” <br />— Community survey response.