SPOKANE — Volunteers across Spokane County are conducting the annual Point in Time Count this week, surveying people experiencing homelessness as part of a federally required initiative that helps secure funding for housing and homelessness programs.
The survey counts people living outside, in shelters or in temporary housing throughout Spokane County. While final data for 2026 won’t be available until this summer, previous years show a declining trend since 2023.
The count has shown a significant decrease in recent years. In 2023, the survey identified 2,390 people living without a permanent place to call home. Last year, that number dropped to 1,806 people. This includes individuals living on the street, in emergency shelters or in temporary housing.
The Point in Time Count serves multiple purposes beyond collecting data. Organizers also view it as an opportunity to connect with a vulnerable community and assess their immediate needs.
“We’re moving through the downtown area today. Over the weekend, we’ll be more out in the neighborhoods,” said Jon Klapp, Point in Time organizer for the City of Spokane.
Volunteers receive deployment assignments and pack supplies to distribute during their surveys. These include new socks, hand warmers, snacks and water.
Street outreach workers accompanied the volunteers, providing familiar faces for many of the people they encountered.
“I ran across one of the girls down here, we got to still talk with her and provide her with services, really still connect with her,” said Lexi Castlio, a street outreach worker.
The survey process involves a phone app to collect information from surveyed participants. Volunteers may ask questions about where someone spent the night, how long they’ve been homeless and other safety-related inquiries.
Street outreach workers noted a significant change this year, observing fewer people camping in downtown Spokane. They attribute this shift to people avoiding citations under the city’s new ordinance. However, workers express concern that the same number of people still need assistance — they’re just located in different areas now.
“We just walked under the viaduct and we didn’t see near as many people. So it may look like homelessness has gone down and maybe it hasn’t,” Castlio said.
Organizers say they conduct the survey throughout the county, regardless of where enforcement happens.
“We just kind of move through the county, regardless of where enforcement or any sort of displacement is happening. We try to do the survey and capture everyone we can,” Klapp said.
The final night of surveying will be February 2. Results will be published and made available to the public this summer.
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