After improvement in 2023, San Juan County unhoused population now at 5-year high
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY SAN JUAN COUNTY
The 2025 San Juan County “Point-In Time” (PIT) Unhoused Count identified 69 unhoused people who have no stable place to live. This is up from the 59 unhouse people identified in 2024. The Washington State-mandated count was conducted on Jan. 30, 2025, and is a yearly, nationwide event with a mission: to identify and better serve unhoused individuals and families.
Of the 69 people identified as unhoused, 23 people were living out of doors, in vehicles, or in abandoned buildings, and another 46 were living in an RV or boat that lacked one of the following: drinking water, a restroom, heat, the ability to cook food, or the ability to bathe. These individuals are considered “homeless” by the Washington State Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In addition, 55 survey respondents were identified as at risk of being unhoused. These families reside in temporary, unstable living arrangements with family and/or friends, or live in substandard housing. In 2024, the count had identified 59 unhoused and 75 at risk of being unhoused. The 2023 count surveyed 51 people who were unhoused and 97 at risk.
The one-night PIT Count is by definition variable and in San Juan County can fluctuate greatly from year to year. The annual count represents a snapshot, and the true number of households unstably housed in our community is higher than the number of households surveyed. San Juan County has prioritized consistency in its PIT methodology as part of SJC’s Five-Year Homeless Plan, and is currently in the process of updating that five-year plan.
The count was initiated by the State of Washington in 2005, and the Washington State Department of Commerce oversees the count statewide. The first San Juan County count, conducted in 2005 counted 21 homeless or at risk of homelessness. The numbers have varied with an overall upward trend since then.
PIT count organizers and volunteers worked with local family resource centers, food banks, churches, healthcare providers, senior centers, libraries, the sheriff’s office, schools and pre-schools, and many other community support service providers to conduct the count. SJC Housing Program Coordinator Ryan Page extends his sincerest thanks to all the many volunteers involved in the count.
The information we collect during the PIT plays a pivotal role in informing policymakers at the local, state, and national levels. This data is sent to the Washington State Department of Commerce and the HUD, giving them a snapshot of San Juan County residents experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. This invaluable information helps:
- Secure millions of dollars in funding for vital resources, including affordable housing
- Inform policy at the local, state, and national levels
- Guide local resource allocation and planning
- Drive advocacy efforts
If you are interested in volunteering in next year’s PIT count and survey or working on the update to the County’s Five-Year Homeless Plan, please call 360-378-4474 to learn more.
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