In a recent government meeting, officials reported a significant increase in the number of families seeking assistance, highlighting a growing urgency in the community's need for support. The central access point for family assessments revealed that the number of unduplicated assessments rose from approximately 3,000 in 2019 to over 5,600 in 2023. This surge reflects the ongoing challenges faced by families, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.

The data presented indicated a troubling rise in families living in precarious situations. For instance, the number of families reporting they were living in their cars increased from 738 in 2019 to 1,241 last year. Additionally, families facing eviction rose sharply from 218 to 709 during the same period. These figures underscore the escalating housing crisis affecting many families in the region.

Officials noted that while they prioritize families in urgent need—those living in cars or facing imminent eviction—there remains a significant number of families who do not yet meet the criteria for immediate assistance but still lack stable housing. This broader group, defined under the McKinney-Vento Act, is currently underserved due to the overwhelming demand from those in crisis.

To address these challenges, the organization has shifted its strategy over the past seven years towards a practice known as diversion, aiming to prevent families from entering the system altogether. Last year, they successfully diverted 1,200 families from needing emergency shelter, while an additional 872 families required shelter services. When shelters are at capacity, overflow arrangements into hotels are utilized to accommodate families in need.

Despite the complexities and imperfections in the data, officials expressed optimism, noting a decrease in the number of families entering the system compared to previous years. This suggests that their diversion efforts may be yielding positive results, allowing them to focus resources on the most urgent cases while still addressing the broader housing crisis.