South Snohomish News

A count conducted by a county agency has found that the number of people experiencing homelessness in Snohomish County is at its highest level since 2012 and up 36.6% from 2015. 

There have been notable demographic changes in the local homeless community, with chronic homelessness increasing and families of color being disproportionately represented, the Snohomish County Human Services Department reports. A total of 1,132 homeless persons were counted.

This data comes from a report on homelessness in 2020 by the Snohomish County Human Services Department using a metric called Point-in-Time (PIT) that was conducted in January. PIT surveys and documents the number of people experiencing homelessness around the county, including those living in emergency shelters and transitional housing, and those without shelter. 

The increase in the number of people experiencing homeless from 2019 to 2020, up by 16, was actually less than anticipated considering the overall upward trends, the report states. 

The PIT count in 2020 increased despite the fact that the county completed 142 housing units built for individuals experiencing homelessness. The report states this is due to the fact that Snohomish County rapidly lost low-income housing while its population grew. 

In response to this crisis, the Housing Affordability Regional Taskforce has been created in order address the housing situation in Snohomish County and will begin implementing recommendations in the fall.