National Point-In-Time statistics

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WENATCHEE — The number of homeless people recorded in the Wenatchee area dropped about 25 percent between January of 2011 and January of 2012.

This doesn’t mean that the actual numbers of homeless people are lower, says an official with the city of Wenatchee.

“Our sense is that homelessness is not down,” said planning manager Monica Libbey. “Just talking with the service agencies that help the homeless, they’re not seeing any slowing in demand for services. That’s what we go on; they’re on the front lines.”

Libbey said she does not know why the count of 664, taken last January, was down from the count taken in January of 2011 of 879. The count was 778 in 2010 and 748 in 2009.

For 2012, the homeless count of 664 breaks down as 241 people who are living in shelters but are homeless, 40 people who are unsheltered, and 383 people living with family or friends.

State homeless numbers were 20,336 in 2012, and 20,290 in 2011.

The count of homeless people is taken on a specific day every January, with data included in a national Point In Time survey. Figures for this year are expected in April, Libbey said.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that communities receiving federal funds from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program conduct a point-in-time count at least every other year.

In the Wenatchee area, the count is conducted annually.

— Dee Riggs, World staff