Annual Snapshot Estimate of Spokane County's Homeless Population Shows Overall Decrease for Second Year in a Row

Spokane County's annual Point-in-Time Count, conducted on January 22, indicates a continued decline in homelessness for the second year in a row, with 1,806 individuals counted. The number of people in emergency shelters fell from 1,578 to 1,189, largely due to improved coordination and the navigation center-specialized site model, which has successfully placed 40 percent of individuals into permanent housing. Organizers adopted enhanced methodology this year, deploying volunteers to known encampments rather than random searches, which improved data accuracy and outreach. Despite this progress, the count noted an increase in unsheltered individuals, rising from 443 to 617, partly due to the new survey approach. Mayor Lisa Brown stated that ongoing engagement and navigation to treatment and housing remain critical to addressing homelessness.

In response to the count, the City of Spokane has closed four encampments, achieving an 80 percent success rate in housing referrals. The data also revealed that 43 percent of adults surveyed suffer from serious mental illness, and 52 percent reported substance use disorders. As the city continues to expand shelter capacity, the focus remains on providing safe indoor spaces for those in need.