Homelessness continues in the city of Yakima as city leaders and social service organizations work with homeless people to solve problems and get treatment and housing.
WHAT ARE COMMUNITY PARTNERS DOING TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS?
It is part of the round tables of the council for the center and the first street. The council discusses how community partners such as the Yakima Union Gospel Mission and Camp Hope, Neighborhood Health, Yakima Homeless Network and Triumph Treatment are helping the homeless in Yakima and addressing current homelessness issues on North First Street and other places popular with the homeless.
Everyone is looking for answers.
HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVE ON THE STREETS OF YAKIMA
Each year, homeless people in Yakima County are counted through what’s called the spot survey. The most recent survey found increases in homelessness in Yakima. The Yakima County Department of Human Services conducted the survey on February 24 in Yakima County. The 2022 survey included 670 homeless people in Yakima County, a 4 percent increase from the previous 2021 PIT survey.
THE MAJORITY OF THE SENSES LIVE IN SHELTERS IN THE AREA
Of the 670 people counted, 183 were homeless, 59 were in a sanctioned camp, and 428 were hosted in an emergency shelter or transitional housing. The number of people without shelter decreased by 5% compared to the previous year, while the number of emergency shelters increased by 40% compared to the previous year. Social services officials say they expect the numbers to rise when the 2023 time point survey is conducted.
