Wasco, Hood River, Sherman Counties See 50% Increase In People Experiencing Houselessness
The Point in Time (PIT) Homeless Count highlights better coordination and increases in those accessing shelter services
The Dalles Non-Congregate Houseless Shelter
The results from the January 2022 Point in Time (PIT) count have been collected.
While the numbers have not yet been confirmed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), preliminary data shows an overall 50% increase in people experiencing houselessness throughout Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman Counties as compared to data collected in 2020. Increases in overall houselessness are reflective of few affordable housing options coupled with the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had across the region. Additionally, better count coordination among culturally specific service providers and social service agencies has helped provide a better understanding of how houselessness has impacted our communities.
“In order to best understand how to address houselessness we need to have solid data that assists with our decision-making,” said Kenny LaPoint, Executive Director of Mid Columbia Community Action Council. “We are grateful for the many partners and community volunteers who came together to make the 2022 Count a success.”
Kenny LaPoint
The PIT Count plays a critical role in determining the level of state and federal funding communities receive to address houselessness. It also provides us with key insight into the needs of those impacted by houselessness, including the disproportionate impact houselessness has had on Communities of Color, Native and Latinx community members. Every year, data on sheltered individuals is collected, and every other year, data on sheltered and unsheltered individuals is collected. This year, data on both sheltered and unsheltered individuals was collected.
In Wasco County, there was about a 70% increase in people experiencing houselessness, with a significant increase in the number of sheltered individuals. This is reflective of the increase in the number of shelter beds in the community: there is almost a 1:1 ratio of the number of new shelter beds and the number who were sheltered. Also, in Wasco County, there was a significant increase in the number of Native and Latinx individuals experiencing houselessness, which is reflective of a focused effort by MCCAC to support culturally specific organizations, like Nch’I Wana Housing and The Next Door, in conducting the count among populations they have expertise in serving.
Hood River County saw a nearly 27% increase in houseless community members between 2020 and 2022 (56 were counted in 2020 compared to 71 counted in 2022). There was also a notable increase among Native community members experiencing houselessness in Hood River County.
While the overall numbers were small, Sherman County showed a slight decrease in individuals experiencing houselessness (11 were counted in 2020 and four were counted in 2022).
2022 PIT Count for Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties (+- from 2020 PIT Count):
● 269 individuals experiencing houselessness (+90)
● 177 Unsheltered (+58)
● 92 Sheltered (+32)
● 69 self-identified as having a mental illness (+30)
● 42 identified having a substance use disorder (+20)
● 14 Veterans (+1)
● 30 Native Community Members (+22)
● 42 Latinx Community Members (+22)
● 25 People of Color (+-0)
● 23 Children and Youth under the age of 24 (-11)
By County:
Hood River County
● 71 individuals experiencing houselessness (+15)
● 35 Unsheltered (+22)
● 36 Sheltered (-7)
● 15 self-identified as having a mental illness (+10)
● 7 identified having a substance use disorder (+1)
● 3 Veterans (-2)
● 13 Native Community Members (+11)
● 10 Latinx Community Members (-2)
● 6 People of Color (-1)
● 4 Children and Youth under the age of 24 (-12)
Wasco County
● 194 individuals experiencing houselessness (+82)
● 138 Unsheltered (+43)
● 56 Sheltered (+39)
● 54 self-identified as having a mental illness (+24)
● 34 identified having a substance use disorder (+18)
● 9 Veterans (+3)
● 16 Native Community Members (+10)
● 32 Latinx Community Members (+24)
● 19 People of Color (+1)
● 19 Children and Youth under the age of 24 (+1)
Sherman County
● 4 individuals experiencing houselessness (-7)
● 4 Unsheltered (-7)
● 0 Sheltered (+-0)
● 0 self-identified as having a mental illness (-4)
● 1 identified having a substance use disorder (+1)
● 2 Veterans (+-0)
● 1 Native Community Members (+1)
● 0 Latinx Community Members (+-0)
● 0 People of Color (+-0)
● 0 Children and Youth under the age of 24 (-1)
MCCAC is the Community Action Agency serving Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties. MCCAC’s mission is to build a better future for our community through partnership and equity-centered programs that prevent and eliminate poverty and houselessness.
