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Skagit County Public Health Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
May 19, 2023
Contact
Andrea Harrison
360-416-1500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Skagit County Releases Point-in-Time Count of People Experiencing Homelessness in 2023
The annual Skagit County Point-in-Time (PIT) count took place on January 26, 2023, led by Community Action of Skagit County in partnership with Skagit County Public Health, many community partners, and dozens of volunteers.
The purpose of the PIT count is to estimate the number people experiencing homelessness in Skagit County based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of homelessness which includes individuals who are unsheltered, and those residing in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and safe havens. It does not include people temporarily living with family or friends, those in detox or other behavioral health facilities, or individuals who are incarcerated.
Though the annual PIT count cannot provide an exact number of people experiencing homelessness in Skagit County, outreach efforts targeted known areas of unsheltered people and included general canvassing around the community to capture the most complete picture possible. This year's PIT count findings reveal an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness, particularly for unsheltered people and individuals defined as "chronically homeless" with long histories of homelessness.
Key findings for the 2023 PIT count include:
- The PIT count identified a total of 533 people experiencing homelessness (a 70% increase from 2022).
- For unsheltered individuals, the count increased 191% from 75 people in 2022 to 218 in 2023.
- In comparison to the 2022 count, the number of identified unsheltered chronically homeless people increased by 241%, from 39 to 133.
- 19% (103) of identified individuals experiencing homelessness were 18 years and under - 84% were sheltered.
- Roughly 4% of those experiencing homelessness identified as veterans.
- The number of identified sheltered individuals also increased from 239 to 315 (32%), likely due to an increase in the number of shelter beds available, including seasonal cold weather shelters and motels.
The chart below shows trends of the PIT count over time. Note that the unsheltered count was suspended in 2021 due to COVID-19.
"While the increase in the number of sheltered individuals is encouraging, we still have a lot of work to do and too many Skagitonians are unsheltered. We need to work together to build more effective systems of care and invest in housing so that every member of our community has a place to call home,” said George Kosovich, Skagit County Public Health Community Services Manager.
Addressing the issue of homelessness is of top priority for Skagit County. In July 2022, County Commissioners and the Mayors of Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley signed a call to action to address homelessness and behavioral health challenges in our communities. Consecutively, North Star was established, a long-term effort to align resources and implement cross-sector solutions, including but not limited to expanding housing options and creating more effective systems of care. Since the call to action, robust assessment and asset mapping have taken place to identify gaps and opportunities, and an advisory group and multiple task forces have been formed and activated to improve the various aspects of crisis response, coordinated care, and housing.
Additionally, in May of 2023, Catholic Housing Services of Washington opened Martha’s Place in Mount Vernon, providing 70 units of permanent supportive housing to individuals who have long histories of homelessness and struggle with mental health, substance use, or a disability. These housing units will help to address the increase in the number of individuals who are unsheltered or experiencing chronic homelessness and provide a community of support for individuals to live more stable lives.
It is important to note that the annual PIT count results do not provide a complete and definitive picture of the scale of homelessness or housing issues in Skagit County. PIT counts rely on self-reported data and can miss segments of the homeless population, particularly those who are unsheltered and youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, there are different definitions of homelessness. For example, school districts identify youth experiencing homelessness as those who lack a “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”. Some examples of children who would fall under this definition include children who are “doubling up” and sharing housing, imminently at risk of losing their housing, as well as those in shelters that are unhoused. During the 2021-2022 school year, 605 youth in Skagit County met this broader definition of homelessness.
For additional information about the 2023 PIT count, contact Dulce at (360) 588-5722 or dulcevc@communityactionskagit.org.
Community Connect Event at Skagit Valley College
Saturday July 8th, 2023 10 AM to 4 PM
Immediate Financial Need for our Homeless Support Services Program. This program encompasses our Essential Needs, Peer Support, Winter Daytime Shelter, and our Year-round Overnight Safe-parking Programs. Donate or volunteer now.
We Miss You Mama Bear
We are terribly shocked and extremely saddened to announce the very sudden and unforeseen passing of Cora Dell Steinhauer on the morning of December 2nd, known to many as Mama Bear. She was a member of the Welcome Home Skagit board, as well as the wife of President and Executive Director Curtis R. Steinhauer. She loved everyone she meet and was a major advocate for those who are unhoused or at risk of becoming so. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. If you wish to honor her, please make a donation in her memory. We miss you Mama Bear!
We are looking for volunteers, donors, and advocates to help us work to reduce the number of people experiencing housing instability and homelessness.
Emergency Weather Day Shelter
Because most of us at Welcome Home Skagit have experienced living on the streets, we know how devastating extremely cold weather can be. As a result, many of us ushered in the new year by hanging out with our friends who still live on the streets. An emergency weather day shelter for our homeless community was hosted by The Mount Vernon SDA Church and Managed by Welcome Home Skagit between December 27, 2021, and January 7, 2022. During this time, we served a total of 20 people. We offered prayer, compassion, hot meals, and a warm safe place for people to rest their heads.
Although each individual who stepped foot through those doors touched my heart, one particular instance stands out the most. Tired, cold, and seemingly defeated, a young couple arrived with two small children. They were living in their car with no place to go for warmth. Little did they know that less than two hours later they would leave the building with a new sense of hope; a precious commodity not always easy to grab ahold of in such circumstances. BUT GOD had a plan for this young family all along.
We immediately initiated an intake with Family Promise. From there an interview was scheduled for the very next day. However, if they were accepted in the program, no space would be available until the following week. We then contacted Friendship House and were able to get them a hotel voucher until space became available at Family Promise. Only through the collaborated efforts of each of these entities and the grace of God was any of this possible.
Thank You to Skagit County Emergency Planning and Skagit County Health Department for your coordinated efforts and quick planning during this emergency weather event. Thank you, Skagit Transit, for faithfully providing transportation to and from the church every two hours that first week of snow. Thank you to the Community Action Street Outreach Team, The Skagit County Sheriff's Office, and the Mount Vernon Police Department for getting the word out and being the front-line workers who daily battle homelessness in Skagit County.
Thank you to Nancy Brown who hand delivered all the food that was provided by Tri- Parish Food Bank. Thank you to all the Volunteers who jumped at the opportunity to serve when you saw the need. Thank you to Family Promise and Friendship House for providing such needed programs within our county. Thank you to the Mount Vernon SDA Church for your compassionate hearts which led you to open your doors. Most importantly, THANK GOD for putting it all together!
The collaboration and teamwork that was demonstrated by so many individuals and organizations is an awesome example of how much can be accomplished if we coordinate our efforts and resources to meet the needs at hand. May many more of our unhoused neighbors find hope, courage, and shelter as we work together to make our community a better place!
By Sarah Vogt
Director of Homeless Support Services
Welcome Home Skagit
#ENDHOMELESSNESS
