OLYMPIA, Wash – More people report being homeless in Washington, but the growth rate of homelessness appears to be slowing.
That’s the information released Wednesday from the Department of Commerce.
The report is based on the annual point-in-time count and the state’s Snapshot of Homelessness report.
The point in time count showed a 4.4% increase since 2024 and a 25% increase since 2022.
The snapshot report says 158,791 people were living in emergency shelters or on the streets in January up 2.2% from 2024.
“The number is still too high,” said Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn
“Too many people in our communities don’t know where they’re going to sleep at night, or if they’ll be safe when they try to rest,” Nguyễn said. “Thanks to support from the Legislature and Governor Ferguson, Commerce is investing in programs that help people stay housed, and provide a path back to stability for those who need it.”
The Commerce Department referenced the legislature investing $1.8 billion over the 2025-2027 biennium to address housing and homelessness.
You can read the data from the point in time count here.
Data for the snapshot report can be found here.
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