Trends in Ending Homelessness - King County

Veterans and Human Services Levy

Trends in Ending Homelessness

Ending homelessness is one of the four priority service areas
for the Veterans and Human Services Levy, a priority for King
County government, and a regional priority.

Department of Since the levy was approved in 2005, the landscape has
Community and Human Services changed considerably. Efforts to prevent and end homelessness
are more strategic and better coordinated. Homelessness
remains a serious issue, however, and the lingering recession
and resulting budget constraints are straining the broader
service systems serving those who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness.

Our Efforts are More Coordinated and Strategic

Our investments are cost-effective. Thanks to regional outreach, supportive housing and improved

information systems, people being served are safer and achieving stability, resulting in savings for

courts, jails, emergency rooms and other crisis response. For example, adults who were chronically

homeless and chronically chemically-dependent who moved into the 1811 Eastlake Apartments have
decreased their use of public systems by about 53 percent, compared to those living on the streetsi.

Many partners are working together to serve the most vulnerable clients. Through collaboration and
shared data systems, including the Homeless Management Information System and the High Utilizer
List, we can now identify those who are at the greatest risk of extreme harm or are the highest users of
expensive public services and prioritize them for supportive housing. In addition, both government and
philanthropic funders have overcome bureaucratic barriers and now meet regularly to establish and
coordinate regional priorities and funding for homeless housing and services. In the past, agencies
submitted redundant applications to many funders with competing priorities. Now, agencies submit a
single application that is jointly reviewed by multiple funders in one coordinated funding round.

We have created more dedicated housing using models that work. Since 2005, the region has
developed 3,756 new homeless housing units. Our region is a national leader in fostering “housing first”
for single adults. Rather than withholding housing until certain behaviors are performed, the first step in
creating stability for very vulnerable people is getting them housed as quickly as possible. Another
innovation, the Landlord Liaison Project, has recruited private landlords to serve formerly homeless
families and individuals by limiting the risk involved with renting to a tenant with a history of
homelessness.

We are working harder to prevent homelessness. In addition to serving those who have been living on
the streets for many years, investments have been increasingly targeted toward efforts that prevent
families and individuals from becoming homeless. Local prevention programs, including one-time
emergency rental assistance, help over 5,000 people each year to stay in their home when faced with a

December, 2010

Veterans and Human Services Levy

financial crisis. The cost of this direct assistance averages $2,200, a small investment compared to the
high cost of homelessness.
More Progress is Needed to End Homelessness in King County

Homelessness remains a problem throughout King County. While we have made great strides toward
ending homelessness, many vulnerable King County residents are still in need. According to the 2010
One Night Count, nearly 9,000 members of our community were homeless on a single nightii. People
using shelters and transitional housing come from all parts of the county, with the highest proportions
coming from Seattle and South King County. Additionally, African-American, Latina/o, and Native
American residents are disproportionately represented in the homeless population. King County is
committed to achieving Equity and Social Justice for all populations and this inequity must be addressed.

The recession has put more families at risk. In addition to the current population of people
experiencing homelessness, the ongoing recession is putting a greater strain on low-income families and
individuals and pushing previously stable residents to the brink of homelessness. Economic indicators of
poverty and risk of homelessness, including high unemployment, loss of unemployment benefits,
increased bankruptcies, increased foreclosures, and increased food bank demand, continue at high
levels.iii While poor economic conditions have not created an immediate tsunami of new homeless
families, there is likely a lag between job loss and homelessness as people work through savings, credit
limits, foreclosures and eviction, and the assistance of family and friends. As the economy fails to
improve, it puts more families at risk of homelessness each day. For more information on these
economic risk factors, see “Changing Demographics in King County”.

New plans for reforming the family homelessness system end ending homelessness among veterans
require sustained support. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, King County has
created a new family homelessness plan, set to begin implementation in 2011. Under the plan, a new
coordinated entry system will be created to provide families with a central point of information, which
will triage and refer them to the appropriate resources rather than the family wasting valuable time
navigating a confusing array of service providers. In addition, we will soon complete and begin
implementing a veteran’s homelessness plan, in coordination with the federal Department of Veterans
Affairs’ Five-Year Plan to End Homelessness among Veterans.

Cuts to the Human Services System Challenge our Efforts to End Homelessness

Our regional approach to ending homelessness relies upon the greater social services systems, including
primary care, mental health, substance abuse treatment, employment training, and other services. With
tax revenues still declining as a result of the recession and budget reserves largely drained, the state,
county, and local governments have made spending cuts that reduce necessary services to vulnerable
residents. For example, Washington State recently implemented across-the-board reductions to mental
health and other services. If clients who have severe mental illnesses lose access to their needed
medications and other treatment, they will have a greater challenge to remain stable in their housing.
Work in the 2011 State Legislative Session will attempt to ensure stable and adequate funding for critical
health and social services for homeless populations and those most at risk of homelessness.

i Health Care and Public Service Use and Costs Before and After Provision of Housing for Chronically Homeless
Persons with Severe Alcohol Problems. JAMA, April 1, 2009—Vol 301, No. 13, http://jama.ama-
assn.org/content/301/13/1349.full.pdf+html

December 2010

Veterans and Human Services Levy

ii King County Housing and Community Development, 2010 One Night Count Survey Data
iii Communities Count Data Update, November, 2010

December 2010