SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., December 12, 2023—The Snohomish County Department of Human Services, in collaboration with community and human service providers, is gearing up for the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Homeless Count on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. This annual initiative remains a cornerstone in Snohomish County’s commitment to understanding and addressing homelessness within the community.
“Every year we have the necessary task of counting how many people are living in circumstances not meant for human habitation,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in homelessness and the resulting impacts on our neighbors and businesses. By doing the PIT count each year, we can understand how the problem is changing and what we need to do to adapt.
About the Point-in-Time Homeless Count:
Scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024, the Point-in-Time Homeless Count is a comprehensive assessment covering individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This includes those in emergency shelters, transitional housing, as well as individuals living unsheltered on the streets or in places not intended for habitation.
- Unsheltered Count (on January 23, 2024): Individuals who were unsheltered on the night of January 22 will be counted between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Service-Based Counts (through January 29, 2024): A collaborative effort involving human service providers, community service providers, and county staff to count families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
While progress has been made since the initiation of the Point-in-Time Count in 2006, the community acknowledges the ongoing challenge of providing sustainable solutions for those experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness.
Data for Impact:
The collected data plays a pivotal role in securing federal and state funding to combat homelessness. It aids in understanding the scope of homelessness in Snohomish County and identifying the most impacted demographics. The Point-in-Time Count is a valuable tool for prioritizing state and national funding and planning local programs and systems.
During the 2023 count, the survey was supported by the efforts of 247 volunteers, County personnel, and partnering agency staff. The 2023 count identified 1,285 people in 1,028 households residing in shelter, transitional housing, or living without shelter in Snohomish County the night of January 23, 2023. In 2023, the total PIT count was up 8.5 percent from 2022, which represents an increase of 101 people. The total PIT count is again the highest it has been since 2012.
County Executive Dave Somers Emphasizes Community Involvement:
“We know we can’t solve homelessness without help from many members of our community,” said Executive Somers. “This is not a bureaucratic exercise but a heartfelt effort to quantify the problem so that we can implement solutions. We appreciate all of the volunteers who lend a hand.”
How to Get Involved:
Interested community members are encouraged to participate in this important initiative. More information on the PIT history and methodology is available on the Human Services Point-in-Time Count webpage: https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/2857/Point-In-Time.
We divide the county into four quadrants, including areas outside the jurisdictions mentioned below:
- North County: Arlington, Marysville, Stanwood, Granite Falls, Darrington, Stanwood
- East County: Sultan, Monroe, Snohomish, Lake Stevens
- Central: Everett, Mukilteo
- South County: Lynwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace
For additional details on the count, please contact at Snoco-PITCount@snoco.org or 425-388-3922.
The Snohomish County Department of Human Services appreciates the ongoing support of the community in addressing homelessness and looks forward to a successful Point-in-Time Homeless Count on January 23, 2024.
