Point-in-Time Count shows decline in unsheltered people but ‘there is still a lot of work to do’

The number of unsheltered people in Snohomish County has decreased by 5.8%, according to this year’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count results.

In a May 14 news release, the county said the expansion of temporary and permanent shelter beds, as well as the recently-opened Tulalip Tribes pallet shelter, may have contributed to the increase in sheltered people.

The annual PIT Count provides a snapshot of people experiencing homelessness on a single night. The count includes people staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing, as well as people living without shelter.

The Jan. 26 PIT Count results show that the number of unsheltered people in the county decreased from 536 in 2025 to 505 this year. The proportion of unsheltered people also declined from 53.8% of the total count in 2023 to 43.4% this year.

The number of unsheltered child-only households (households with only children 18 years and under) increased from zero in 2025 to one this year. The number of sheltered child-only households increased from 17 in 2025 to 18 this year.

The results saw an increase in the total percentage of people who are American Indian, Alaska Native or Indigenous, multi-racial, and white. The percentage of people who are Asian or Asian American, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latina/o/e, and Middle Eastern or North African decreased.

The total percentage of those ages 0-17, 25-34, and 65 or older decreased this year. The percentage of those ages 18-24, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 increased also this year.

The total percentage of women decreased from 40.5% in 2025 to 39.3% this year. The percentage of men increased from 58.3% in 2025 to 59.3% also this year.

Non-binary, transgender, and people of more than one gender accounted for 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.5% of the total, respectively. Those who are of a different identity or are questioning their gender accounted for less than 0.1% each.

The total percentage of adults who reported having a mental health issue increased from 46.6% in 2025 to 48.3% this year. The percentage of adults who reported a substance use disorder decreased from 45.8% in 2025 and 41.6% this year. Out of these adults, 29.4% reported experiencing both issues.

The total percentage of individuals who were chronically homeless decreased from 47.2% in 2025 to 45.6% this year.

“While there is still a lot of work to do, it is encouraging that more people were connected to shelter, services and support this year,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said in the news release. “I will continue to fight to preserve our homeless housing system while working alongside our community partners to plan for the future and face challenges including the risk to federal funding for this crucial work.”

This year’s PIT Count involved 275 volunteers and partner agency staff. Law enforcement embedded social workers, first responders, outreach workers, social service agencies and county Human Services Department employees helped, too.

State and federal governments require the PIT Count. It affects federal, state and local funding that addresses homelessness. The count helps showcase trends, track programs and craft solutions.

More information on the PIT Count is available here.

Angelica Relente is a Murrow News Fellow covering housing and related issues in South Snohomish County for the My Neighborhood News Group. Contact her at [email protected].