WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Whatcom County Health Department has released their annual report on homelessness in the county, and the numbers are not promising.

The county’s Health and Community Services (WCHCS) reviews the state of homelessness in the region at the beginning of August annually.

Overall, the number of unhoused people in the county has largely remained unchanged from last year.

This year, the points WCHCS focuses on include fewer shelter spaces, unstable housing and homelessness in youth and a decrease in veteran homelessness.

The report says that more people are sleeping in unsheltered spaces which mean tents, doorways, vehicles and other locations.

They attribute this to the loss of pandemic-era funds for motel vouchers and a lack of shelter space at Civic Field for the winter season.

Another problem the department drew attention to is a report from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) that details homelessness in school-age children.

The OSPI’s report says instability in housing for kids in Whatcom County is higher than the state average.

Statewide-average homelessness for kids in school districts is 4.3% for the most recent count. Four districts in Whatcom County are above that average, including Lummi, Mount Baker, Bellingham and Nooksack Valley.

An encouraging bit of information is a decrease in veteran homelessness, which WCHCS says shows their resources for vets are working.

My Bellingham Now previously reported the department recently received accolades for their veteran program, winning an achievement award from the National Association of Counties.