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 shows a continued decline in homelessness, marking the second consecutive year of reduced numbers. Conducted on January 22, the survey counted 1,806 individuals, revealing a significant drop in sheltered homelessness from 1,578 to 1,189. This improvement is linked to enhanced coordination through a navigation center model, which reported a 40 percent success rate in placing individuals into permanent housing. Despite this, the number of unsheltered individuals increased from 443 to 617, a shift attributed to a more targeted survey methodology involving outreach teams. An 80 percent success rate in referrals to housing followed the closure of four encampments in the city.

Mayor Lisa Brown stated that ongoing engagement and navigation toward treatment and housing are effective strategies. The city continues to focus on expanding shelter capacity based on actual facility utilization. With 106 veterans counted and a notable percentage of adults facing mental illness and substance use disorders, the data highlights ongoing challenges in addressing homelessness.