Survey shows small decrease in Whatcom County residents experiencing homelessness

Whatcom County’s population of people experiencing homelessness has slightly decreased in the past year, which housing officials believe is because of increased resources made available during the pandemic.

Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) and Opportunity Council released the annual report that gives a glimpse into the number of county residents experiencing homelessness. The report shows the number of people without homes decreased 3 percent after record highs in 2021 while the number of homeless households, an individual or family who lacks a regular shelter, increased 2 percent.

The point-in-time survey has been conducted one night per year, typically in late January, since 2008. High Covid-19 levels pushed this year’s count to be done in February, according to a WCHD and Opportunity Council news release on the new report. Service providers counted the number of people experiencing homelessness in shelters and outdoors because Covid-19 was still a concern.

WCHD housing specialist Chris D’Onofrio wrote in a statement that the expansion of housing support programs in the past few years brought permanent housing, rental assistance and a huge increase in eviction prevention support. Over 1,350 households with 2,335 individuals received housing support, which housing officials point to as supporting a decreased number of people experiencing homelessness in 2022.

Below are some of the findings from the 2022 point-in-time survey:

• There was a 3 percent decrease in individuals without homes, from 859 to 832, which housing officials believe is because of increased programs during the pandemic.

• Homeless households increased 2 percent, from 625 to 639, which housing officials believe is because of an increase in households with only one person.

• Of people experiencing homelessness, 72 percent were staying at a shelter or transitional housing while 28 percent were unsheltered in places such as a tent or vehicle. This is a 17 percent decrease in individuals who lived unsheltered, which housing officials believe is because of expanded shelter and transitional housing resources.

• Single adults made up 84 percent of households experiencing homelessness.

• Families with children made up 13 percent of households experiencing homelessness. Five families with children were unsheltered and 77 families were in interim housing. There was a 15 percent decrease in homeless households with children compared to 2021.

• The median age of people experiencing homelessness was 39.

• The oldest person without a home was 83 and the youngest person was an infant.

• Race and ethnicity show to be correlated with homelessness. American Indian and Alaska Native residents made up about 5 percent of county residents in poverty but 7 percent of residents experiencing homelessness. Housing officials believe the number of non-white residents experiencing homelessness could be much higher because Covid-19 prevented the survey from being conducted on Lummi Nation or Nooksack Indian Tribe

reservations.

Whatcom County residents who need help with rent payments can visit the Opportunity Council website at bit.ly/3RXsgCx or call 360/746-3826. To read the 2022 point-in-time survey, visit bit.ly/3zG4lAJ.