From housing, behavioral health care, and child care to education, resources for people with developmental disabilities, and support for veterans, DCHS empowers communities across King County.  

King County’s Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS) released new data highlighting the department’s transformative impact. Last year, DCHS reached more than 477,000 residents through services including affordable housing, behavioral health treatment, child care, education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults, support for veterans, and resources for people with developmental disabilities.  

For the first time, department-wide data includes all five divisions, giving a more comprehensive look at DCHS’ impact, including the location of funded services, where participants live, how services were accessed and investments made, among other findings.  

“DCHS investments empower residents to live happier, healthier lives—whether through affordable housing, accessible child care, expanded mental health services, or critical support for veterans,” said Kelly Rider, Director of King County DCHS. “Data is our compass for greater transparency and accountability. By harnessing it effectively, we can work to ensure that every public dollar is spent with purpose and delivers tangible improvements in the lives of the communities who rely on us.” 

DATA IN ACTION 

Last year, DCHS worked with 583 service providers, including community organizations and nonprofits, to provide services in a wide variety of ways to meet communities’ diverse needs. In total 47% of contracted partners provided virtual or telephonic services, 53% provided home or community-based services, and 67% provided office or facility-based services. Over 1,100 locations across King County provided on-site services. 

Some 2024 data highlights from DCHS programs and initiatives include:  

  • Health Through Housing served over 1,200 and ensured people struggling with chronic homelessness had a roof over their head. As a result, 95% of the program’s permanent supportive housing residents maintained housing and decreased ER visits by 17% when compared to the year before they moved in. 
  • The King County Veterans Program connected over 3,000 veterans, servicemembers and their families to financial assistance, housing, employment, behavioral health, wellness, and other supportive services. 

UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH 

In 2018, DCHS began releasing data annually at the request of King County Council. Initially, the department was required to report on just a few of its initiatives and programs, including Best Starts for Kids, the MIDD Behavioral Health Sales Tax, and the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy.  

Since then, DCHS has grown significantly. Between 2020 and 2025, DCHS funds doubled, enabling the department to achieve greater impact. This includes delivering on COVID response and recovery, and three new initiatives: the Crisis Care Center Levy, Health Through Housing, and the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account.  

COMMITTMENT TO TRANSPARENCY  

DCHS is dedicated to using data alongside its provider partners to create positive change, inform programming and policy decisions, and be accountable for public funds. Newly released data includes several examples that show how data informed program and policy shifts. Read more here.  

HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION  

The Housing & Community Development Division (HCD) builds stronger communities by supporting people with housing stability and affordable housing. HCD oversees several programs, including Health Through Housing and the Housing Repair Program. Last year, HCD services reached over 14,000 people.  

“Affordable housing and services that meet the diverse needs of residents are foundational to a thriving King County, and our updated data dashboard reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and meaningful community impact,” said Sunaree Marshall, Division Director of Housing and Community Development for King County. “This tool helps illuminate the progress we’re making—while also identifying where continued investment and collaboration are needed. By making this data accessible, we’re empowering residents, partners, and policymakers to work together toward a future where everyone in King County has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing and programs.” 

According to DCHS’ most recent data, the division’s Health Through Housing program helped 95% of permanent supportive housing residents maintain a stable home. The data also shows improved health outcomes, including 33% shorter hospital stays, 22% fewer hospital stays, and a 17% decrease in ER visits for residents when compared to before they moved into Health Through Housing buildings.   

Health Through Housing ensures more people have a place to call home.

“After being homeless for over 20 years off and on, I can finally shut my door,” shared a Health Through Housing resident. “I can use my bathroom and take a shower without asking for permission. I have a laundry room and have clean clothes. I’m finally able to go to all my doctor appointments. I even started a garden to grow vegetables and flowers for everyone.” 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & RECOVERY SERVICES DIVISION 

The Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Division (BHRD) connects individuals, families, and communities affected by mental health and/or substance use conditions to behavioral health services. Last year, BHRD’s services reached 73,000 residents. 

The division’s work includes a network of over 55 community providers, as well as initiatives like the local behavioral health sales tax known as MIDD.  A reliable local funding source, MIDD makes behavioral health treatment more available, accessible, and effective, serving over 20,000 people across the region each year. 

“Thanks to our unique local funding sources, we’ve made monumental strides investing in things like more crisis teams to help people in person, vending machines with overdose prevention supplies, places to walk in for medication, a new residential treatment facility, and our first-ever Crisis Care Center,” said Susan McLaughlin, Division Director for BHRD. “This progress makes recovery easier for everyone to achieve and relieves the burden on our emergency rooms and first responders, too. As we move forward, our goal will continue to be for mental health and substance use care to be as robust and easy to get as physical health care, and we are closer than ever.” 

BHRD also oversees the voter-approved Crisis Care Center Levy, ushering in one of the largest local investments in behavioral health care. The levy invests in a robust response system that includes someone to call (988), someone to respond (mobile crisis response teams), and somewhere to go (Crisis Care Centers). Last year, mobile crisis response teams conducted 2,576 outreaches and have even more capacity today.

Mobile rapid response teams are trained to support people in crisis.

“We’re here and we’re in lieu of a police officer,” said Joe Vela, Crisis Services Director at SOUND, part of King County’s Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Teams. “We are better equipped, both clinically and making connections with our peers, to deal with someone [experiencing a behavioral health] crisis in the community.” 

As of this year, Connections Kirkland, the first Crisis Care Center, is now open and serving around 28 patients per day. 

ADULT SERVICES DIVISION  

The Adult Services Division (ASD) supports adults with housing, financial stability, healthy living and social engagement. The division serves veterans, servicemembers and their families, as well as older adults and caregivers. ASD oversees the Veteran, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, the King County Veterans Program, the Keep King County Housed program, and more. Last year, ASD reached over 73,000 residents.  

“We’ve always believed in the power of human services to transform lives, and now we have even more compelling evidence,” said Michael Bailey, Division Director for ASD.  “New data shows the significant positive impact these programs have on our community. From housing veterans and providing social engagement opportunities for seniors to helping resilient communities reach financial stability, our investments have made a difference in the lives of real people in our community.”

In 2024, over 63,000 King County residents were positively impacted by the Veteran, Seniors, and Human Services Levy’s investments. This includes:   

  • Supporting over 2,194 caregivers for seniors and persons with disabilities with resources, resulting in 89% experiencing stress relief and 95% reporting improved connection to a community.  
  • More than 1,700 seniors who participated in healthy aging programs. 83% reported improvements to their health and wellness. 
  • The award-winning Collaborative Case Management program that helped 114 individual households receive housing voucher applications, with 85 moving into housing.  
  • The King County Veterans Program that connected over 3,000 veterans, servicemembers and their families to financial assistance, housing, employment, behavioral health, wellness, and other supportive services.  

“I am a veteran. When I first arrived, I signed up for housing. I was homeless, living out of a backpack with nowhere to stay. Now I’m living in a beautiful studio apartment that is fairly new. Thank you so much for making my dream come true. Bless all of you there at the KCVP Northgate office. I thank you with all my heart,” shared a veteran supported to gain stable housing through King County Veterans Program. 

DCHS programs bring communities together.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES & EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORTS DIVISION

The Developmental Disabilities & Early Childhood Supports Division (DDECSD) offers a range of programs and services to support children prenatal to five, including their families and caregivers. The division also supports people with developmental disabilities and delays and their families, as well as community-based organizations. 

“At the heart of our work is connection, making sure every family with young children and every child, young person, and adult with developmental delays or disabilities feels supported, included, and valued. Guided by our mission to champion equitable, culturally rooted, and linguistically responsive services and systems change in deep collaboration with families, communities, providers, and funders, we help ensure people have what they need to thrive,” said Magan Cromar, Division Director for DDESCD. “When families and individuals have access to the right resources and opportunities, they can dream bigger and create futures where belonging is a given. We see those transformations every day, and the data simply reflects what we already know in our hearts: Connection changes lives.” 

Last year, DDECSD services reached over 16,000 people. This includes 6,974 children served through the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program, which partners with families and caregivers of children birth to age three who have developmental delays or disabilities. ESIT provides services like occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, and specialized instruction to help children reach their full potential. In 2024, 79% of children in the program made progress in their social-emotional development. 

DCHS programs work in collaboration with families and communities to ensure they have the tools they need to thrive.

Another DDECSD program, School-to-Work, provides employment services for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 2024, the School-to-Work Program served 301 students and assisted 28% of students exiting school in finding employment within six months, and 86% of students in successfully transitioning to adult services with access to long-term, individual supported employment funding. 

“The program was really helpful with getting ready for my first job. I had good communication with my job coach. I would tell anyone who is thinking about doing School-to-Work that at first, it’s a little scary, but after the first two weeks you will love it.” said Joey Kagan, a recent graduate of the Northwest Center School-to-Work Program. 

CHILDREN, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT DIVISION

The Children, Youth & Young Adult Division (CYYAD) supports an array of programs to help young people thrive with a focus on education, employment, housing and rental support, as well as legal system assistance. The division oversees programs for young people ages five to 24, and child care efforts like Best Starts for Kids and the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account.  Last year, over 48,000 children, families, and young people participated in CYYAD programs. 

“Since voters first passed the Best Starts for Kids Initiative in 2015 and the Children, Youth, and Young Adult Division was created in 2018, it has been inspiring to see how many young people and families we reach every year. This data, which shows how many people we have supported, and how meaningful those supports were in pursuing their personal, education, and career goals, affirms our value that investing in the well-being of our young people is just good policy,” said Jennifer Tanaka, Division Director for CYYAD. 

The Best Starts for Kids Youth Development program supports young people with mentoring, leadership training, positive identity development, mental health and well-being resources, and connection to healthy relationships. In 2024, Youth Development program partners enrolled 5,335 young people, and 70% reported an improvement to their health and well-being. The Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy also helped 974 families cover the cost of child care for 1,618 children with 87% of primary caregivers reporting a positive change in their career or education. 

“The Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy program is making a positive difference by helping families like mine afford quality child care. It’s been particularly helpful in supporting access to before-and after-school programs for my kids, which allows me to focus on work and have time for self-care.” said a Best Starts Child Care Subsidy recipient. 

Best Starts for Kids makes it easier for families to access child care.