Pierce County executive highlights point‑in‑time count: homelessness rising and county programs show 84% two‑year housing retention

Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello told the Pierce County Council on Aug. 19 that the county’s recently released point‑in‑time count shows homelessness has risen and that housing affordability remains the primary driver.

"Over the last decade, homelessness has doubled. The other thing that has doubled in the same time period is the median home price and rental prices," Mello said, summarizing trends in the county's annual count. He said the most recent year‑over‑year count increased by about 11 percent.

Why it matters: County leaders said the numbers point to an affordability crisis rather than a narrowly defined social-services failure and urged continued investment in housing and shelter access.

Mello described elements of the county’s response, including a new 24/7 shelter access hub and programs funded by the county that target housing stability. "84 percent of the people who have received services from interventions that we have funded in Pierce County... have not fallen back into homelessness after 2 years," Mello said.

Mello also noted the point‑in‑time count is a single‑night census that relies on volunteers; more than 300 volunteers deployed across Pierce County for the most recent count. He said detailed breakdowns — including numbers of veterans, people with children, people sleeping in vehicles, and sheltered versus unsheltered people — are available on the Pierce County website and will be briefed more fully to the council in a committee meeting.

Council context and next steps: Mello said the council will receive more detailed briefings from the Health and Human Services Committee on the count and its implications for the county’s capital facilities and shelter planning. He urged continuing and scaling successful interventions cited in county data.