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Home My WebLink About01/13/2026 03.B. Homeless Strategic Plan Updates • l'.4" BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 3.B. For Meeting of: January 13, 2026 ITEM TITLE: Homeless Strategic Plan Updates SUBMITTED BY: Victoria Baker, City Manager SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Yakima County Commissioner Kyle Curtis will present an update on Homeless Strategic Plan. The presentation will include information on the state of homelessness, current challenges, the homeless response system and funding with open discussion. ITEM BUDGETED: N/A STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: A Safe and Healthy Yakima RECOMMENDATION: No Action ATTACHMENTS: 1.13.26_Homeless Strategic Update_Presentation.pdf 9 YAKIMA COUNTY C HUMAN SERVICES ; . _ 5 -YEAR HOMELESS _A- HOUSING STRATEGIC , _....,44 ,—*� PLAN . .. , , , . ., ...... , , , , ,, , ,,,,,,,,,,,: wow 4, , , . Presentation to the City of Yakima s gilt • • January 13, 2026 P i .,:if -.,-.4 ,,,,,,., ,,_; „, ' )N . Homelessness in .,.: ik Yakima County . . - t • State of Homelessness ' , 4 i ' lr • Current Challenges i .. .0 sisik,s <� • Homeless Response System & Funding / . - , • Homeless Housing Strategic Plan • Open Discussion , i 1 �►.. 1. 4 YOUR Yakima CountyCommissi....„ , , . oners 4"` e `- ' f(.41\1 r � .16 4 .:0 0.1V im • 11114 ? ). "It _ AP4i fi 4 i'L ' 7, 1 / LJ.-1111.111: r l is • .va : r i Amanda McKinney Kyle Curtis LaDon Linde -District 1 - -District 2- -District 3- El Yakima County Human Services Department Mission Our mission is to improve and enhance the quality of life for residents of Yakima County through strategic investments in our community and innovative collaboration with local partners. Vision Ensuring that we live in a community that supports a baseline quality of life for all residents through access to housing and supportive services, and providing accountability to the community for the use of public funds. Values Transparency, efficiency, accountability, maintaining a collaborative spirit, holding ourselves and others to a high performance standard while maintaining high psychological safety. Programs Community Grants and Partnerships (primary focus areas: homelessness and behavioral health) Affordable Housing Veterans Program Finance and Admin State of Homelessness *in Yakima County YAKIMA COUNTY HOMELESS POINT-IN -TIME DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SURVEY RESULTS 2025 Every January, Yakima County conducts a Point-in-Time (PIT) survey to assess homelessness in our county. This one- day snapshot captures the characteristics and situations of people without housing. 602 individuals were recorded in the 2025 Point in Time as staying on the streets or in shelters. By comparison, approximately 2,070 people connected to our homeless crisis response system across the entire year of 2024*1.The Point in time should not be interpreted as a complete count of homelessness, but rather an annual survey that provides unique insights into local homelessness, providing data that is not typically captured throughout the rest of the year. PEOPLE RECORDED PEOPLE CONNECTED TO 602 IN THE POINT-IN-TIME2 070 OUR HOMELESS CRISIS SURVEY RESPONSE SYSTEM (2024) *1 14 Why do people become homeless? THERE ARE MANY CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS THE TOP THREE MOST COMMONLY REPORTED REASONS FOR LOSING HOUSING WERE: 24% EVICTION/LOSS OF HOUSING 22% 22% FAMILY CRISIS OR BREAKUP 19% ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE i,i,i, State of Homelessness *in Yakima County MENTAL HEALTH IS THE MOST COMMONLY REPORTED DISABILITY THE TOP FIVE MOST COMMONLY REPORTED DISABILITIES" WERE: 35% MENTAL HEALTH 27% CHRONIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE 21% CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION 19% PERMANENT PHYSICAL CONDITION 10% DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY iii iii ` ikKN nnZ,` � 16 «, T State of Homelessness *in Yakima County MOST TOLD US THEY LIVED IN YAKIMA COUNTY BEFORE THEY BECAME HOMELESS 0 Yakima County 0 Other WA Counties 0 Outside of WA 0 Not Reported 12%OTHER 73%YAKIMA COUNTY WA COUNTIES 8% 7% • NOT REPORTED OUTSIDE OF WA 0. TOP FIVE JURISDICTIONS WHERE PEOPLE LAST HAD HOUSING 42p /0 City of Q City of 8% Toy enish 4% White Swan 3% Sunnyside �Q Yakima Wapato pp 53% 1:2 m OF HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED II EXPERIENCING CHRONIC ii ilk HOMELESSNESS 12 i,i,i, C m Current Challenges - Cost to Taxpayers „ , 1 Lji : ... r ' i ., 4 \ , 1.40....., �' `:. Syr `t IN!' ----fl\ ... ---- - ---.- 7-4 , = .4r :, i - - -- -: el, a „ - ht„ ''', A '''t ;-7-3'.\-*' .01,0",.- - - " ":4714.- A k ' I • $6.7 Million -1,768 visits to Emergency Room (2023) • $1.5 Million — Yakima County/City Encampment Cleanups (2024) • $150,000 Thousand- 6,108 Incident Calls into SunComm (2024) • Courts, Jails, Code Enforcement, overdoses, etc. 1 18 What is the Homeless Response System? An entire network of resources within a community meant to serve individuals experiencing homelessness. Includes (but is not limited to) • outreach • permanent supportive housing • transitional housing • housing choice vouchers • case management • rental and eviction assistance • low-barrier overnight shelters (including cold-weather emergency shelter) • domestic violence shelters and emergency services • drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs • mental health programs • employment assistance 19 , , / 7, ./f/ ONDITIONS OF HOMELESSNESS .%,,,.... ..:::../. ND PATHWAYS OUT ,;,..,.: PATHWAYS OUT 1 = • • ■ • ■ Affordable — o ��' Housing = _ .. Unsheltered Sheltered Transitional Housing Hi PATHWAYS IN • Street • Night-by-Night • Time-limited Homelessness Shelter sober living • Sanctioned •• Extended Stay •• Time-limited Market Encampment Shelter supportive Housing housing g :-:: �s,% CONDITIONS OF '`'\\\ HOMELESSNESS Supportive L`\\` Housing I \ cA i _ 1 20 Funding ma, Mil III „ oil inn l � 1 Its .._ _.... . . . . . . . us .. FEDERAL STATE LOCAL & r1 U NICIPAL HOME Program (HUD) Emergency Solutions Grant (HUD) Rental Assistance (HUD) Emergency Housing Vouchers (HUD) • Consolidated Homeless Grant (Commerce) • Housing Essential Needs (Commerce) • Motel/Motel Vouchers (Commerce) • Permanent Supportive Housing (Commerce) 1 • Document Recording Fees (2163/2060) • Mental Health Substance Use Sales Tax • HB 1406 Sales Tax Retain f' . ;, ELESS RESPONSE t9 ,l \\\\a ;`...`.x � STEM COUNTY FUNDING virPROGRAM TYPE TOTAL BY CATEGORY Capital Improvement $ 419 , 576 Coordinated Entry $ 106 , 638 Outreach $ 313 , 434 Permanent Supportive Housing $ 210 , 000 Rental Assistance $ 3 , 677 , 605 E Sanctioned Encampment $ 1 , 004 , 446 Shelter $ 1 , 909 , 709 Note:This amount reflects all current active contracts funding homeless and housing programs,with some awards ending at the end of the fiscal year(June 2026),and some ending at the end of the calendar year(December 2025) I ik,_ C69&SPBT7\. \.� Homeless Response System Outputs and Outcomes The following data has been pulled from the Homeless Management Information System(HMIS).Please note that all 2025 data represented below was pulled on December 15,2025, and does not reflect final 2025 data—including backdated data for services rendered prior to December 15,2025 that had not yet been entered by programs. Yakima Union Gospel Mission,the largest shelter in Yakima County,did not begin entering data until partway through 2024.Yakama Nation data,including Iniitnu't Cold Winter Shelter and Village of Hope,is also not represented as they are still transitioning to using HMIS.That means that,while this is the best data available,these numbers are known to be an undercount of outputs and outcomes for the homeless responses system since 2020. While total HMIS entries are unduplicated for the year,they may be duplicated year over year. Total HMIS Exits to Exits to Income Income Unknown No Interview Data Not Entries Permanent Transitional (Government (Earned Destination at Conducted at Collected at (Households) Housing Housing Support) at Income)at Program Exit Program Exit Program Exit Pro.ram Exit Pro.ram Exit 2020 1963 770 55 342 137 573 246 137 2021 2126 572 59 340 130 588 299 129 2022 3315 1024 48 398 212 984 534 122 2023 5522 2190 109 935 547 1060 413 231 2024 4412 1891 95 638 424 1091 772 116 2025 4089 1761 54 754 377 1011 720 220 TOTAL 21427 8208 420 3407 1827 5307 2984 95 23 Strategic Plan Updates ---------J--- --- -- -- ............ YAKIMA, WA _„_. cKIMA arkf ,.. _v* I.1110.- MC rl _ :....4ii -4*14raF4019, HOMELESS C , LITIONI DISCUSSES 5 YEAR .^KIMA ACTION NEWS PLAN TO SOLVE CRI1S s s•, a* L- L - 1 24 February • Strategy Session #1 (full day) Introduction to plan, process,data, requirements. Break out into P ROC E S S stakeholder groups to discuss needs,gaps,and opportunities. March/April • YHC Data Committee Meetings TIMEI- INE Interpret feedback from Strategy Session#1, review available data. Community Listening Sessions • • Yakima County conducts SWOT Analysis on five state objectives in accessible community settings. May • Strategy Session #2 (full day) Review SWOT Analysis results and data prepared by Data Committee. Propose Objectives, Strategies,and Measurables. June/July • No Meetings Yakima County Human Services staff develop first draft of Objectives / based on all information collected so far. :,�/�� August • Strategy Session #3 (full day) Review draft of Objectives, Strategies,and Measurables. September/October • YHC Data Committee Meeting % . Ensure Objectives have Measures that can be tracked with available data. November • Strategy Session #4 (partial day) Review draft of plan document and present final thoughts. December • Board of County Commissioners Study Session BOCC approves and adopts final draft of plan. • • STRATEGIC SESSION PARTICPANTS In lieu of regularly scheduled YHC meetings, Yakima County hosted four Strategic Sessions in 2025 open to all members of the YHC and to stakeholders from the broader community. It was at these Strategic Sessions where the Objectives, Tasks, and Subtasks were developed and assigned priorities. The Strategic Sessions engaged 129 different stakeholders from across 79 unique agencies and departments. Engagement was targeted across 10 key stakeholder sectors: Behavioral Health, Community, Education, For-Profit Business, Government, Healthcare/Public Health, Homeless Services, Housing Developers, Lived Experience, and Public Safety. siiI , C 7'Z a! i�= 26 YOUR Yakima CountyStrategic Plan Oil Focus Area Focus Area 2: Focus Area 3: System Focus Area 4: Improvement and Prevention and Accessibility and Community Impact Accountability Early Intervention Housing and Engagement Objective 5: Prioritize Objective 1: Promote an Objective 7: Reducing Objective 3: Prevent • those with the most equitable, accountable,e, episodes of significant barriers to stigma by increasing and transparent awareness, challenging Namelessness housing stability and Nameless crisis whenever possible. the greatest risk of stereotypes,and response system. harm. changing language. [objective 8: Balance Objective 2: Strengthen Objective 4: Increase Objective 6:Seek to outreach strategies with the harneless service income opportunities house everyone in a public space praviderwarkforce. for Low-income stable setting that stewardship and safety households. meets their needs. to reduce homelessness in critical areas. oil r--" es „. Objective 1 Objective 1: Promote an equitable,accountable,and transparent homeless crisis response system. Task Responsible Due Date Measurables Data Source Funding Priority Parties Required 1.1 Improve service coordination and accessibility 1.1.1 Develop a centralized Yakima County December Create a functional information Observe information hub with clear Human 2026 hub(available as a website, whether service maps and navigation Services, handout and hotline)that can be measurable tools for providers and Washington 211 utilized easily by providers and a was achieved individuals experiencing second hub for community homelessness. members and local businesses. Integrate some form of navigation tool that includes eligibility components and a needs survey. 1.1.2.Strengthen referral Yakima County February Adopt drafted CE Policy& Observe $ processes and codify them Human 2026 expand website to include Policy whether with formal procedures and Services, Committee Outcomes. measurable MOUs to ensure follow-ups Coordinated was achieved and reduce duplication of Entry PoLicy February Evaluate CE policy team Observe $ services. Expand Coordinated Team, service 2026 participation for missing whether Entry to serve as an improved providers organizations (housing authority, measurable county-wide hub for case DOC,vets), invite necessary was achieved conferencingand players not yet involved. • ‘_ L1_ L= 28 4 fi l • I � '- I:. • 1 ;' tow- .,75 a r"� ti l 1 ... ,i.., i ';, .ram. ' rf .', a: s N r A h:> fll t r �{ U TTT °Q k, ro,,,ik ,,ig4 1� �jn rt�C`:t rj .�1..J 1 _#! I d ,,... -- _ �A �.j •1.y> • .!'l,. „,- 1-:. . _ ' i \ , Illitilifi.''' ./i s " g_ i addition to creating a plan that reflects the needs and _ .vith the statewide goals established at the state level. :aectives are. V -..- 1 ' F untable and transparent homeless crisis response system. >ervice provider workforce. 4 i t- • ' relessness whenever possible. ;: e most significant barriers to housing stability and the greatest risk z - one in a stable setting that meets their needs. 1 Op , il, :+ attain additional objectives gener the local level as well. ' - estado de Washington.Aderas.`it un plan que refleje las - I s a nivel local,el plan debe a -•ar. -v obj-'vos establecidos a ni a r t j - ), Ian Estrategico Estatal de Vivi-3 • • 'n Hogar son: -- � _' ="K4 0> _ ma de rez uesta a la crisis de per' l •uitattJo resod 0 t r, rza laboral de los.rov „ayaa. r. a� .(1!. "i. 1 A i 1 f . z, - , - , _ il :. I ___-1-.1 .._ , 4 _,_ , .. . _ . , !,, A' 1 it - 4 _ -` A K - v 29._,_ / `: � F - ---_ _ - - : - 1 - I(- $ _ AimmiL • Ns%......._.......___ _-------_......_---------._....„_----------_.._._ ___-----------_=__-------------------_------------.„.__ _ ___„_;___7_:::.,_, YAKIMA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES tallik THANK ,, __ .: _ '-A- YOU . . 1 The five-Year Plan is developed by the Yakima County Homeless Coalition with feedback from the community, supported by the Human Services Department, and approved by the Board of County Commissioners. To stay informed on items related to homelessness in Yakima County, you are invited to join the Yakima County Homeless Coalition (YHC). Please email the Human Services Department to be added to the distribution list. .....4.4 — HumanServices@co.yakima.wa.us i,i,i. . l \� M! i�= 1 30 C: r Commissioner Curtis ' Perspective 1 . Medical Detox 2. Additional strategic permanent supportive housing & long term care 3. Regional Shelter System 4. Objective 8 Commissioner Curtis' Perspective ■ Solutions are not complicated but they are complex ■ One size doesn't fit all ■ We additional strategic permanent supportive housing & long term care ■ The response system has to be able to adapt, flex and change Commissioner Curtis' Perspective ■ We are a "reactive local system" to state driven policies ■ We will always be able to do more for less together ■ Need to look at the Homeless Response System as a COMMUNITY Response System