1. Kittitas County 5-Year Homelessness Plan 2025-2030

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State Trends Homelessness continues to rise across Washin gton State. The official2O24 Point-in-Time (PlT) Count identified 31,554 people experiencing homelessness, an increase of 12.5%from the 2023 total of 28,036. Chronic homelessness surged by 56% year-over-year and now accounts for nearly half of the state's unhoused population. Washington ranks third nationally in total homelessness, behind only California and New York. ln2025, the statewide count identified22,t73 people experiencing homelessness. However, this total excludes King County's unsheltered population, which was not counted that year. ln previous years, King County accounted for approximately half of the state's unsheltered homelessness, meaning the 2025 data significantly underrepresents the actual number of individuals experiencing homelessness statewide. Woshington State PIT Count Results Changes in Homelessness Over Time (excludes Klng County unsh€lrerod count) 20,399 21 17,767 7,223 640s 5,224 55 2,852 9,636 3,243 2,954 11,035 11,524 .11,934 173 6,316 54 2,994 202? 2023 2024 r Emergency Shelter r Transltional Housing - Safe Haven - uns,trgllsysd Source: Washington Stste Department of Commerce 62 2025 -Total This trend reflects growing pressure on emergency shelters, transitional housing, and street outreach systems, particularly in rural areas and smaller counties where housing and service capacity are limited. The Washington State Homeless Housing Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 outlines five strategic priorities for addressing these trends. These include promoting equity and accountability, strengthening the provider workforce, focusing on prevention, prioritizing those facing the highest barriers, and ensuring access to housing that meets people's individual needs. The Kitlitas County plan mirrors these state-level objectives in its goals and implementation strategies. Kitlitas County's 2025-2030 Homeless Housing Plan aligns closely with these priorities, applying them through a rural lens and in coordination with local comprehensive plans. National Trends and Poticy Shifts At the national level, homelessness has also increased significantly. fhe 2024 PIT Count found 77I,480 people experiencing homelessness across the U.S., a record high and an 18% increase over the prior year. More significant than the numbers, though, are the shifts in federal policy. ln 2025, the U.S. lnteragency Council on Homelessness (USICH), which previously coordinated efforts across HUD, HHS, the VA, and other agencies, was dissolved. Without a single coordinating body, each federal agency is now Page | 9