PORT ORCHARD, WA — Kitsap County has released preliminary results from its 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count that gathers information over a few days about people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January (1/29/26). It provides critical data on the scope and characteristics of homelessness in our community and helps inform funding decisions for housing and related services. The 2026 PIT Count identified 230 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, representing a 23% decrease from 2025, when 297 individuals were counted. The 2026 figure is consistent with average counts observed between 2022 and 2024.
In total, 551 individuals were counted countywide, including:
- 230 unsheltered individuals (42%), living in places not meant for human habitation such as streets, vehicles, and encampments
- 321 sheltered individuals (58%), staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing
Local leaders emphasized that the data reflects both progress and continued challenges.
“While we are encouraged to see a decrease in unsheltered homelessness compared to last year, and we thank our outreach teams for their dedicated work, even one person without shelter is too many,” said Kitsap County Commissioner Root. “These numbers remind us why sustained, responsible investments in temporary housing, behavioral health services, job training, and coordinated outreach remain essential to help our neighbors achieve stable housing and greater self-reliance.”
Survey responses from unsheltered households provide additional insight into the causes and characteristics of homelessness in Kitsap County:
- Housing and economic factors—including job loss, eviction, and lack of affordable housing—were the most commonly reported causes of homelessness
- Health-related challenges, such as mental health conditions, substance use, chronic illness, and disability, were also frequently reported
- Among respondents who shared their last place of residence, 80% previously had stable housing in Kitsap County, underscoring that homelessness is largely a local issue
The PIT Count is conducted annually in communities nationwide and is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To count people experiencing unsheltered homelessness throughout Kitsap County, street outreach groups survey people living on the streets, in encampments, cars, RVs, boats, and abandoned buildings, while volunteers conduct surveys at many locations, including Project Connect Fairs, food banks, and meal sites.
“Kitsap Housing and Homelessness Coalition is proud to support the Point-in-Time Count by creating welcoming spaces where individuals and families can access services and connect to assistance,” said Katie Sharp, KHHC Chair. “Through Project Connect, attendees receive essential care and enroll in critical resources like Coordinated Entry, while providers strengthen partnerships to better serve our community. I’m grateful to the many volunteers and partners who have sustained this effort for over 15 years and look forward to continuing this work to end homelessness in Kitsap County.”
While the PIT Count provides critical data, it is widely understood to be an undercount, as participation is voluntary, and some individuals may not be reached during the survey period.
Kitsap County will continue working with regional partners to expand housing access, strengthen prevention efforts, and address the root causes of homelessness.
For more information, please contact:
Carl Borg, Kitsap County Department of Human Services
ph: (360) 979-6027
