Yakima City Homeless Getting Help And Housing

Yakima City officials have approved the use of nearly $300,000 in federal funds to provide housing for dozens of homeless people living on property in East Yakima. the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments approved the funds Monday to provide housing vouchers for more than 30 homeless people. The residents of the encampment began living at the site last spring. but now some could be moving into rental units by August.
Officials say the one-year vouchers can be renewed next year because the federal funds are revolving. Meanwhile The Conference of Governments also approved money to turn a laundromat at the Roys Market property on south 6th street into a center for the homeless where they'll find restrooms, showers and clothes washers and dryers.
A recently released survey shows that more than 80 percent of Yakima County's homeless population resides in the city of Yakima. The county's annual survey also says the number of people living in the county has dropped below 600 for the first time in the survey's 10-year history.