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State Trends <br />Homelessness continues to rise across Washington State. The official2O24 Point-in-Time (PlT) Count identified 31,554 <br />people experiencing homelessness, an increase of 72.5% from the 2023 total of 28,036. Chronic homelessness surged <br />by 56% year-over-year and now accounts for nearly half of the state's unhoused population. Washington ranks third <br />nationally in total homelessness, behind only California and New york. <br />ln2O25, the statewide count identified22,t73 people experiencing homelessness. However, this total excludes King <br />County's unsheltered population, which was not counted that year. ln previous years, King county accounted for <br />approximately half of the state's unsheltered homelessness, meaning the 2025 data significantly underrepresents <br />the actual number of individuals experiencing homelessness statewide. <br />Washington Stote PIT Count Results <br />Changes in Homelessness Over Time (excludee King Gounty rnsheltered counr) <br />20399 2l <br />17 - 7,223 <br />6,405 <br />5,224 <br />55 <br />\852 <br />9,636 <br />58 <br />. 3,243 <br />11,035 11"934 <br />173 <br />6316 <br />54 <br />2994 <br />2022 2023 2024 <br />r Emergency Sheher <br />- <br />Transitional Housing r Safe Haven <br />Source: Washington Stote Depdrtment of Commerce <br />62 <br />29v <br />- 11,524 <br />2025 <br />rUnshettered <br />-Total <br />This trend reflects growing pressure on emergency shelters, transitional housing, and street outreach systems, <br />particularly in rural areas and smaller counties where housing and service capacity are limited. <br />The Washington State Homeless Housing Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 outlines five strategic priorities for addressing <br />these trends. These include promoting equity and accountability, strengthening the provider workforce, focusing on <br />prevention, prioritizing those facing the highest barriers, and ensuring access to housing that meets people's <br />individual needs. The Kittitas County plan mirrors these state-level objectives in its goals and implementation <br />strateBies. <br />Kittitas County's 2025-2030 Homeless Housing Plan aligns closely with these priorities, applying them through a rural <br />lens and in coordination with local comprehensive plans. <br />National Trends and Poticy Shifts <br />At the national level, homelessness has also increased significantly. The 2024 PIT Count found 771,,480 people <br />experiencinghomelessnessacrosstheU.S.,arecordhighand an\8%increaseovertheprioryear.Moresignificant <br />than the numbers, though, are the shifts in federal policy. <br />|r'2A25, the U.S. lnteragency Council on Homelessness (USICH), which previously coordinated efforts across HUD, <br />HHS, the VA, and other agencies, was dissolved. Without a single coordinating body, each federal agency is now <br />Page | 9