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Local & State Context and Background This five-year plan builds on and reinforces the goals set forth in the Comprehensive Plans of Kittitas County and its cities. Across all jurisdictions with current comprehensive plans, Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, South Cle Elum and Kittitas County itself, there is strong alignment around several key priorities: expanding access to affordable housing, reducing homelessness through prevention and intervention, supporting vulnerable populations, and fostering coordinated service delivery. These shared goals provide a consistent planning foundation. Each ofthe five strategic goals outlined in this plan is explicitlytied to comprehensive plan policies, ensuring alignment not just in language, but in long-term community intent. Kittitas County's Cu rrent Homelessness La ndsca pe ln 2024, the Point-in-Time (PlT) Count identified 91 individuals experiencing homelessness in Kittitas County. Approximately 65 were sheltered and 26 were unsheltered. The 2025 Pfi Count found 26 individuals experiencing homelessness,Il of which were unsheltered. While the decrease is notable, year-over-year PIT counts should be interpreted with caution, especially in rural communities where visibility and access vary. A number of factors can affect the accuracy of the count, including number of volunteers conducting the count, camping ordinance enforcement, and weather. Ongoing tracking through By-Name Lists and coordinated outreach remains essential for understanding the true scope of local need. HMIS enrollments support the downward trend observed in Kittitas County's PIT counts, which dropped from 91 individuals in January 2024 lo 26 in January 2025. While overall HMIS enrollments decreased slightly from 432 in Fy2O23 to 403 in FY2024, the share of individuals accessing prevention services grew notably. This shift suggests local strategies are not only reaching people earlier but effectively preventing homelessness before it occurs. While the data for SFY2025"was not finalized at the time of this report, these trends point to a positive impact of targeted investments in early intervention and housing-focused support. The chart below shows the breakdown of entries by project type. Kittitas County HMIS Entries by Project Type ! Transitional Housing I PermanmtSupportive Housing I Homelesns Prevention I Oiher Pennanent Housing I Rapid Re-trousing I Emergency Shetier 2024 Emergency Sheher 1r;; : Rapid ReJrousing 2023 Rapid R+Housing Emergency Shelter 47% 2022 Source: Wqshington State Deportment of Commerce The challenges contributing to homelessness in Kitlitas County mirror those seen statewide but take on a distinct form in this rural context. Housing costs have risen sharply over the last several years. Between 2OI7 and 2023, the median gross rent in the county increased by nearly 50%, while household incomes remained below the state average. Asof 2023, nearly one in five renters were spending more lhan5O% of their income on housing, making Page | 7 t Rapid R*Housing 42% Emergscy Shelter uo,L