OLYMPIA, Wash. — The growth rate of homelessness in Washington slowed in 2025, according to the annual Point In Time (PIT) count and the Department of Commerce’s Snapshot of Homelessness report.
Despite this, the number remains a concern to Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn.
“Too many people in our communities don’t know where they’re going to sleep at night, or if they’ll be safe when they try to rest,” said Director Nguyễn. “Thanks to support from the Legislature and Governor Ferguson, Commerce is investing in programs that help people stay housed, and provide a path back to stability for those who need it.”
On January 30, the PIT count identified 22,173 people experiencing homelessness in Washington, excluding King County’s unsheltered count.
Of these, 33% were unsheltered and 67% were in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or Safe Haven. This represents a 4.4% increase from 2024 and a 25% increase since 2022. From 2023 to 2025, the rate increased by 8.7%, the PIT report said.
Commerce’s Snapshot report showed a similar trend, with 158,791 people in emergency shelters or unhoused in January 2025. This marks a 2.2% increase from January 2024 and an 8.9% rise from January 2022. This data includes figures from King County.
Commerce said the state Legislature has invested about $1.8 billion over the 2025-27 biennium into housing and homelessness initiatives. This includes programs such as the Housing Trust Fund, Connecting Housing to Infrastructure (CHIP) and various homelessness programs for adults, families, and youth.
The Legislature has also made adjustments to funding streams, allowing jurisdictions to conduct the unsheltered PIT count every other year instead of annually.
Director Nguyễn stressed the importance of addressing homelessness as an emergency in Washington. “Thanks to the Legislature’s historic investment, Commerce is ready to take action to help people across the state find and keep stable, safe, and secure housing.”
