Washington pays for homelessness, and pays and pays and pays
State has spent $5 billion over 12 years, without measurable impact
Topline: The State of Washington spent $5 billion on homelessness prevention programs over the last 12 years, but there has been little measurable impact so far. There are currently more homeless people in Washington than at any point since at least 2016.
Key facts: From 2013 to 2021, Washington spent an average of $131 million per year on homelessness prevention and affordable housing, according to Cascade PBS. Since 2022, the state has spent an average of $1.05 billion per year on the same programs.
Yet according to the state’s biannual Snapshot of Homelessness reports, there are currently more people in need of housing than ever. Washington had 126,091 homeless people in January 2016, but 158,791 people in January 2025 — a 26% increase.
Washington’s total population has only grown by 9% since 2016, meaning homelessness is outpacing population growth despite an unprecedented amount of spending designed to prevent that trend.
Washington will spend $1.8 billion on homeless services and housing in 2026 and 2027, or $900 million per year. The money comes from taxes and from the $303.50 Recording Fee, a charge for filing documents with the county auditor that is used to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to reduce racial disparities in homeownership.
Fee revenue is expected to decrease because of declining real estate transactions, meaning a higher percentage of homeless spending will now come from taxes.
Background: The Washington Department of Commerce, which coordinates the state’s homeless response, spent $64 million on payroll last year. There were 142 employees who earned at least $100,000. Director Michael Fong made $217,400, making him the first person at the agency to ever earn more than $200,000 in one year.
Search all federal, state and local salaries and vendor spending with the world’s largest government spending database at OpenTheBooks.com.
Summary: Washington’s vulnerable communities deserve actionable solutions that achieve tangible results, not an endless stream of funding increases.
