“When people have a stable home and access to supportive services, they are better able to move beyond crisis and focus on their health, relationships, and future,” said Derrick Belgarde, Chief Executive Officer of the Chief Seattle Club
For Belgarde, the latest King County data on permanent supportive housing confirms what providers have seen for years.
An analysis of more than 5,300 residents in supportive housing programs across King County found that jail bookings declined nearly 27% in the first year after people moved into housing and continued to fall over time, reaching a 37.6% reduction within three years.
“This data reinforces the impact that stable housing can have on long-term well-being and stability,” Belgarde said.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence showing that stable housing helps people reduce their involvement with crisis systems, including jails, emergency rooms, and hospitals.
For many residents, permanent supportive housing provides something that has often been missing for years: stability.
Views from Birch Grove, DESC’s 20th permanent supportive housing building made possible through support from multiple public and private funders, including King County’s Operating Support, Rental Assistance and Supportive Services (ORS) and Housing Finance Program (HFP).
People experiencing homelessness are more likely to come into contact with the criminal-legal system through survival-related circumstances and repeated crises. Housing helps interrupt that cycle by providing a safe place to live alongside voluntary services and supports.
Providers say the impact extends far beyond a housing placement.
“The data confirms what residents, providers, and communities experience every day: housing creates the stability people need to move forward,” said Daniel Malone, Executive Director of DESC. “Many people enter supportive housing after years of navigating homelessness, health challenges, and repeated crises. When people have a safe place to live and access to support, they are better able to focus on their health, reconnect with their communities, and build a more stable future.”
Dr. Susan McLaughlin, Director of King County’s Department of Community and Human Services, said the findings reflect not only the value of supportive housing, but also the dedication of the providers and frontline staff who make these outcomes possible.
“These findings reflect what providers and residents experience every day,” McLaughlin said. “Our nonprofit partners and frontline staff play a critical role in helping people move from homelessness to stability. Their work, alongside safe and stable housing, helps residents focus on their health, reconnect with community, and build a more stable future.”
The findings are particularly meaningful for culturally responsive providers like Chief Seattle Club, King County’s only Native-led permanent supportive housing provider. Native people continue to experience homelessness and crisis-system involvement at disproportionately high rates due to generations of systemic inequities.
“Through our partnership with King County as its only Native-led housing provider, we have expanded culturally responsive housing opportunities for Native people experiencing homelessness,” Belgarde said.
While the analysis found reductions in jail bookings across all racial and ethnic groups, it also highlights the importance of investing in housing and services that reflect the communities they serve.
The data also underscores the role providers play in helping residents remain housed over time. For example, across King County’s Health Through Housing permanent supportive housing system, 93% of residents remain housed after placement.
Those outcomes are especially important as homelessness continues to rise throughout King County and across the country. Demand for housing continues to outpace available resources, leaving many people waiting months for housing opportunities to open up.
Still, providers remain focused on what they know works.
“This analysis comes at an important moment,” Malone said. “The data shows that when people have access to supportive housing with services, they experience greater stability over time. These are outcomes that benefit not only residents, but the broader community as well.”
As King County continues working in partnership with providers, local governments, and community partners to address homelessness, the latest findings reinforce a simple but powerful reality: housing creates the foundation for stability, and stability creates the opportunity for people to move forward.