King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) today announced the release of updated data to the Health Through Housing (HTH) Annual Reporting Dashboard. For the fourth consecutive year since the dashboard’s launch, data shows strong outcomes for Health Through Housing residents, providing further evidence that permanent supportive housing delivers positive outcomes for people exiting chronic homelessness.
The updated dashboard highlights significant improvements in housing stability, health outcomes, and criminal legal system involvement among residents living in Health Through Housing sites across King County.
“These results reaffirm what we’ve long known: when people have stable housing paired with supportive services, lives improve,” said Dr. Susan McLaughlin, DCHS Director. “Health Through Housing is helping people move out of homelessness, improve their health, and build stronger connections to their communities. This progress is only possible because of the collective commitment of cities, service providers, health care partners, community organizations, and residents across our region.”
Health Through Housing continues to deliver strong outcomes
The updated dashboard shows that in 2025:
- 93% of permanent supportive housing residents remained housed or moved to other permanent housing.
- 79% of all HTH residents remained housed or transitioned to permanent housing.
- After two years, residents experienced 30% fewer hospital days, 41% fewer inpatient stays, and 39% fewer emergency room visits after moving into housing.
- Residents experienced 18% fewer jail bookings, while 77% of residents with prior bookings saw a reduction in their involvement with the criminal legal system.
- HTH sites maintained high occupancy rates in 2025, with buildings ending the year with an average occupancy rate of 92%.
- Three new HTH sites opened and one site underwent a second phase of lease up in 2025, adding 109 housing units and expanding the program’s reach across King County.
Investments in permanent supportive housing are improving lives
The data also demonstrates Health Through Housing’s continued focus on serving people with the highest barriers to housing. In 2025, 67% of residents reported a mental health condition, 42% were over the age of 50, and 56% identified as Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color (BIPOC).
Notably, 98% of residents had ties to the communities where they now live, reinforcing the program’s commitment to helping people remain connected to their neighborhoods, support networks, and local resources.
“The dashboard tells a powerful story about what happens when we invest in evidence-based solutions,” said Jelani Jackson, Acting Director of DCHS’ Housing and Community Development (HCD) Division. “Permanent supportive housing works. Residents are staying housed, using emergency systems less frequently, and experiencing greater stability. These outcomes represent meaningful progress for individuals and demonstrate the value of sustained public investment in housing and supportive services.”
The dashboard also reflects King County’s continued commitment to equity. Since 2022, the percentage of residents identifying as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous has increased significantly, driven in part by partnerships with culturally responsive providers such as Chief Seattle Club. The county anticipates continued progress in serving disproportionately impacted communities as additional residents move into newly opened sites operated by community-based organizations, including The Booker House, operated by Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.
“Native people continue to experience homelessness at disproportionately high rates as a result of generations of displacement, systemic erasure, and barriers to housing. Health Through Housing has helped create opportunities for culturally grounded permanent supportive housing where Native people can reconnect with community, culture, and a sense of belonging while building stability in their lives,” said Derrick Belgarde, CEO of the Chief Seattle Club. “These positive outcomes show that when we invest in housing solutions designed by and for the communities most impacted by homelessness, people thrive. We’re proud to partner with King County to ensure Native people have access not just to housing, but to healing, community, and pathways toward long-term well-being.”
The opening of Sweetgrass Flats in 2025 expanded Chief Seattle Club’s Health Through Housing portfolio to four sites, joining Sacred Medicine House, Salmonberry Lofts and Sharyn Grayson House. These culturally grounded housing communities help connect Native residents to stable housing, supportive services, and community.
Regional partnerships drive progress across King County
Health Through Housing continues to expand through strong partnerships across local governments, housing providers, health systems, behavioral health providers, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations throughout King County.
“Addressing homelessness requires coordinated action across sectors and jurisdictions,” said Dr. McLaughlin. “The success reflected in this dashboard belongs to our many partners who work every day to connect residents to housing, health care, behavioral health services, transportation, food access, and community support. Together, we are building a system that helps people not only leave homelessness behind but thrive in housing.”
In addition to new outcome measures, the updated dashboard includes enhancements to improve accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including updated visual design elements and expanded access to underlying data through screen-reader-compatible tables.
About Health Through Housing
The Health Through Housing initiative has 15 locations in seven cities, providing housing for over 1,000 residents throughout the region. Health Through Housing plays a key role in helping reduce homelessness and heal the trauma of living outside. Approved by King County voters in 2020, the program combines affordable housing with supportive services designed to help residents maintain housing stability, improve health outcomes, and reduce reliance on emergency systems.
You must be logged in to post a comment.