EVERETT — The number of people experiencing homelessness in Snohomish County decreased slightly in 2025, according to the county’s annual point-in-time count.
Each year, the county conducts a survey of people experiencing homelessness on a single night. On Jan. 22, the county identified 1,140 people either living without shelter or in transitional housing or a shelter, a 1.8% decrease from 2024 and an 11% decrease from 2023.
“The Point in Time Count is important to help us better understand homelessness in our county and the impact of local programs working to reduce homelessness,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said in a press release Wednesday. “While there is still a lot of work to do, it is good news that this year’s count is slightly lower than last year, marking a decrease for the second year in a row.”
The 1,140 people identified this year came from 890 households, according to the report. More people were sheltered than last year, likely due to cold temperatures on the night of the count, Snohomish County Human Services Department spokesperson Mohamed Bughrara said in the release. On Jan. 22, near-freezing temperatures meant cold weather shelters were open, which wasn’t the case in 2024.
The number of people who reported being chronically homeless — meaning for at least 12 months over the past three years — decreased by 19%. The number of people ages 25–34 and 45–54 decreased by an average of 13%, while other age groups increased by an average of 10%. The number of women increased while the number of men decreased, each by 2 percentage points.
An annual point-in-time count is required by the federal government and the state, which both use the data to guide homelessness assistance funding priorities. The county also uses the data to track its progress on reducing homelessness.
This year, 340 volunteers helped with the count, according to the release. The county also partnered with social workers, first responders, outreach workers and social service agencies. The county used data from its Coordinated Entry system to reach households that otherwise could have been undercounted, the release said.
The annual point-in-time count and Coordinated Entry system are Continuum of Care programs, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Snohomish County was set to receive $16.7 million in Continuum of Care grant funding for the next year starting July 1, but the funding is now at risk. In May, the county joined seven other local governments across the country in suing the Trump administration for imposing unlawful conditions on the funding, including needing to comply with certain federal executive orders.
“Our County has strong partnerships with organizations that work to connect people with shelter or housing and to keep them housed,” Somers said in the release. “Federal funding is at risk for this crucial work, and I will continue to fight to preserve our homeless housing system while working alongside our community partners to plan for the future.”
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
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