Community and Economic Development Committee

The Point in Time Count presentation revealed significant methodological changes and challenges in measuring homelessness. Chris D'Onofrio and Teri Bryant explained that 2024 data collection faced unprecedented difficulties, with street outreach teams reporting much greater resistance from unsheltered individuals to participate in surveys. This led to reliance on Housing Pool data from the Coordinated Entry system as a more consistent measure, showing homelessness levels remained relatively stable compared to 2023. A critical finding emerged that 47% of survey respondents identified housing affordability as the primary cause of their homelessness - the first year this option was separated from general "eviction/loss of housing." This data point supports broader housing policy discussions about the need for a…

**Chris D'Onofrio (Whatcom County Health & Community Services)** emphasized the limitations of Point in Time Count data and the value of multiple data sources for understanding homelessness. Advocated for rapid rehousing program expansion, noting success rates of approximately 80% for participants remaining housed after one year. **Teri Bryant (Opportunity Council)** presented a compelling critique of the current federal funding system, describing it as creating "special populations" that must compete for limited resources. She advocated for upstream support to prevent people from becoming chronically homeless and suggested radical approaches like direct cash assistance, noting California spends $42,000 per homele…

**Teri Bryant, on federal funding structure:** "If you don't belong to a special population, you're inside the onion. You never get served. And so that might explain a little bit why people who are in the middle of the onion and fill out their form year after year, which has a lot of personal stuff on it, don't want to do it anymore." **Teri Bryant, on direct assistance:** "What if we gave 42,000 to every homeless person directly? Would we have the amount of homeless we have, homelessness we …

The 2024 Point in Time Count methodology shifted significantly, with greater reliance on Housing Pool data due to reduced survey participation rates. This represents a fundamental change in how homelessness is measured locally. Winter shelter operations will be county-led rather than contracted to external operators, creating different operational and funding dynamics. The absence of Road2Home as an operator creates a gap of approximately 30 beds compared to last winter. The YWCA expanded its mission to include emergency shelter services specific…

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham City Council's Community and Economic Development Committee met on October 21, 2024, to receive briefings on homelessness services and housing initiatives. Committee Chair Jace Cotton led presentations on the 2024 Point in Time Count, winter shelter plans, the new YWCA emergency shelter, and the interim shower program. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Point in Time Count (PITC):** An annual federally mandated survey conducted on a single night in January to count individuals experiencing homelessness in the community. The 2024 count surveyed 846 individuals comprising 671 households. **Coordinated Entry Housing Pool:** A database of households eligible for housing services who have contacted Whatcom County's coordinated entry system. This provides a more consistent measure of housing needs throughout the year compared to the one-night snapshot of the PITC. **Severe Weather Shelter:** Emergency overnight shelter that opens when weather conditions meet certain criteria and the health department determines conditions are unsafe, as opposed to winter shelter that operates every night during winter months. **Rapid Rehousing:** A strategy to quickly move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing with short-term rental assistance and supportive services. Success rates have been around 80% with participants remaining stably housed after one year. **Chronic Homelessness:** Individuals who have been homeless for more than one year or have experienced four episodes of homelessness in the past three years totaling at least 12 months. **Housing Cost Burden:** When households pay 30% or more of their income on housing costs. Approximately one-third of all Whatcom County households are cost-burdened, with more than half of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jace Cotton | Committee Chair, At-Large Council Member | | Hannah Stone | First Ward Council Member | | Hollie Huthman | Second Ward Council Member | | Chris D'Onofrio | Housing Program Supervisor, Whatcom County Health & Community Services | | Teri Bryant | Director, Whatcom Homeless Service Center, Opportunity Council | | Tara Sundin | Community and Economic Development Manager, City of Bellingham | | Alle Schene | CEO, Bellingham YWCA | | Marisa Schoeppach | Homeless Outreach Team Coordinator, Opportunity Council | ### Background Context The presentations highlighted persistent homelessness challenges in Whatcom County despite ongoing efforts. The 2024 Point in Time Count found that 47% of survey respondents…