Point‑in‑Time count: 1,806 people counted countywide; city outlines post‑PIT investments and warns of federal funding risks

Amanda, a Continuum of Care staff presenter, briefed the Urban Experience Committee on the 2025 HUD-mandated Point‑in‑Time (PIT) count and the Housing Inventory Count (HIC). She explained the methodology and presented countywide results. Key numbers: Amanda said the PIT recorded 1,806 people and about 1,500 households across the Continuum of Care (countywide). Unsheltered people numbered about 617; transitional housing counted about 303 people and emergency shelter nearly 900. On the inventory side the HIC counted 4,856 beds with systemwide utilization around 80 percent (inclement-weather beds were 91 percent utilized on the night of the count; year‑round beds about 83 percent). Demographics and special populations: Amanda presented disaggregations by household type, youth status, veteran status and other barriers. She noted a HUD distinction between parenting youth and unaccompanied youth and said chronic homelessness counts were roughly 346 unsheltered and 345 in emergency shelter. She also said the majority of respondents reported living in Spokane County before the current homelessness episode, but the committee discussed differences in wording in prior counts ("before you became homeless" versus "before you became homeless this episode") and how that changes interpretation. Post‑PIT actions and new local investments: Don and other staff said the city and partners have added 65 scattered‑site beds since January, made 39 permanent housing referrals, used the sobering center for community referrals, and advanced an RFP process for the HEART affordable‑housing initiative (staff said a $7.5 million RFP for affordable housing is moving forward). Staff said next funding rounds include a daytime navigation center, inclement-weather NOFOs, homeless prevention funds administered through the county ($3.4 million to be passed through to the city) and combined investments totaling about $18.6 million slated for RFPs this summer and fall. Federal funding risks: Staff warned about potential federal cuts. They said Community Development Block Grant (CDBG, roughly $3.4 million to the city annually) and the HOME program (about $1.5 million) are both uncertain at the federal level. Staff also noted that the Continuum of Care funding stream is substantial (roughly $6.8 million this cycle) and that proposed federal changes could require communities to recompete or alter the NOFA cycle; staff described those risks as material for Spokane providers. Questions about data: Council members and staff discussed survey sample sizes, the geographic scope volunteers were asked to cover and inconsistencies in some earlier reports. Staff said the PIT is imperfect by design and that the HMIS and system‑performance reports provide a fuller picture for program performance and decision making. Ending: Staff asked for stakeholder suggestions on survey wording and methods for next January’s count, and the committee scheduled follow‑up materials on program investments and the HIC methodology.