WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A new report is shedding light on who uses supportive housing programs in Whatcom County.

The county commissioned an independent evaluation of its local Permanent Supportive Housing projects (PSH) that just released.

Some of Whatcom’s housing projects include 22 North, Dorothy Place and the YWCA’s Garden Street and Forest Street projects.

The report found that 88% of people who used PSH programs were chronically homeless or in an institution before entering the program.

The vast majority also had a mental health disorder, and nearly a third reported having some type of substance use disorder.

Overall, the authors found that all programs funded by the county align with national standards set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The report noted that the shortage of treatment for behavioral and substance use disorders poses a critical challenge for the programs.

It says increasing staff and streamlining data reporting should be among the priorities for the county moving forward.